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Sender ID Guide

What is a Sender ID? A Sender ID is the name or number that an SMS appears to come from ('from address') when you receive a message on your phone; for example a mobile number or company name. Clickatell currently provides the ability to customize the Sender ID. This is useful if you would like to set your mobile number as the Sender ID in order to receive replies to your mobile phone, or so that the recipient can identify you as the sender. It is also useful for branding of a message by setting the Sender ID as your company's name. Please Note: The Sender ID feature only applies to network operators who support this feature. For example, you cannot use custom Sender IDs when delivering messages to the United States of America due to certain limitations with USA network operators. For more information about delivery routes please visit: http://support.clickatell.com/product_guides/clickatell/routing.php Customizing a Sender ID The ability to customize a Sender ID of an SMS can result in abuse by using it as a tool for spamming and spoofing. Spoofing is when a person or company masquerades as another by falsifying data, thereby gaining an illegitimate identity. For example, someone can spoof you by setting their Sender ID as your mobile phone number. This could be used as a tool to defraud or harass, such as like luring children to a specific location or writing something malicious and have it appear to come from a particular person. To reduce the abuse and ensure the legitimate use of this feature to protect you, while still providing you with the ability to customize the Sender ID, Clickatell follows a strict process whereby each Sender ID must be registered and authenticated with Clickatell before it can be used. Registering a Sender ID: As per our Sender ID process, you are required to register the Sender ID you would like to use within your account when sending messages. The requested Sender ID is subject to approval from Clickatell . Below are two methods available for Sender ID registration: Automatic Registration By default, after registering for one of our products, you will be able to use the number that you used to activate you account with as a Sender ID, as it has been verified to be your number via the account activation steps process. No further action is required. Online Registration An online interface is also available where you can apply to register custom Sender IDs. To register a Sender ID online, follow these steps: Step 1: Log into your account at http://www.clickatell.com/ Step 2: Click on the My Settings tab. Step 3: Click on Manage Sender IDs link. Step 4: Click on Add Sender ID . After completing these steps, the online interface will guide you through the process of applying for a custom Sender ID. You will receive email notifications if any further action is required for the process to continue. The Manage Sender IDs interface will list the status of your requested Sender IDs (such as 'approved', 'pending approval' etc.) Mobile numbers will be registered in real-time. Clickatell will send the specified mobile phone number an activation code and you will be required to enter this code at the relevant webpage, thereby verifying that you own the mobile number you wish to use as a Sender ID. Names and numbers such as company names and landlines that cannot be registered in the above manner will be processed through a manual verification process that can take up to 72 hours. You will be required to submit a motivation through the online interface and will receive the outcome from Clickatell via an email and the online interface. By default the only number you will be able to use without registering it as a Sender ID is the mobile number you used to register their account with us, as this number is verified via the activation code.   If you use a Sender ID that has not been approved, it will be overridden by a default number assigned by Clickatell when the message is sent. Examples Below are examples of a Sender ID: Numeric: 27825551234 Alphanumeric: Helpdesk Alphanumeric: 1800House Alpha and/or numeric (depending on the Sender ID set , both for alpha) must be supported in order to enable the Sender ID feature. If a leading '+' sign is inserted, this constitutes an Alpha Sender ID. If the recipient replies to the SMS, and you've set the Sender ID as your own mobile number (e.g. 27825551234), the reply will come back to your own mobile phone. For a more detailed explanation, download the Clickatell Sender ID User Guide.