Where are the details for obtaining a five digit mobile phone text
reply numbers in the UK. E.g if you reply to competitions via mobile
phone text to the newspaper 'Metro, their number is 82222

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Request for Question Clarification by purplecat-ga on 09 Nov 2002 12:17 PST

Hi david24-ga,

In which context do you mean this? Do you hope to find out to whom a
particular five digit mobile phone text number belongs? Or are you
seeking to obtain your own five digit mobile phone text number?

Regards,

Purplecat.

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Clarification of Question by david24-ga on 10 Nov 2002 06:26 PST

Hi Purplecat,

The latter - I want to know how to obtain my own five digit mobile
phone text number.

Regards

David24

These are the results I was able to obtain by running a Google search
using the search terms "reverse billing sms short number".

The initial search returned the following results, should you wish to
duplicate my search:

://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=reverse+billing+sms+short+number&btnG=Google+Search&meta=cr%3DcountryUK%7CcountryGB

It appears there are several companies offering SMS short numbers,
which cover all major networks in the UK. There are a number of
options available. For example, you could have a shared short code,
ideal for short term contracts of around 3 months, or a dedicated
short code for long contracts of 12 months or more. You can also
choose whether to have reverse billing [where the customer is charged
to receive information back] or whether the customer should just pay
for a standard text message. In addition, you may opt for a number of
different tariffs to be charged, which vary according to your chosen
short number service provider and/or mobile network.

An interesting article about the use of SMS short numbers and/or
reverse billing, is available online at:

http://www.i-txt.com/downloads/upmobile%20iss1%20book.pdf


The links below will take you to companies in the UK who can provide
you with a SMS short number:

http://www.deltica.com/sms/docs/premium.sms.asp

http://www.deltica.com/default.asp?referer=google

http://www.24x.com/sms.htm

http://www.telecom1.com/services.asp

http://www.telecom1.com/services_smsproducts.asp

http://www.reverse-billing-sms.co.uk/sms/reverse_billing/

www.txtbak.co.uk/how.asp

One provider,

http://www.mobilemessagecentre.com/sms/pro/prorev.asp

details the various tariffs that may be charged across 3 of the main
networks, Orange, O2 and Vodafone.

http://www.send-a-text.co.uk/public/index.cfm?mode=solutions
www.csoft.co.uk/cs/services/its_arrived/revenue.htm


However, all reverse billing and short text number services must
comply with the ICSTIS Code of Practice. This is normally available
from:

http://www.icstis.org.uk/.

Unfortunately, when I visited their site, there was a message saying
they had temporary server problems. But I was able to find an
alternative source at:

http://www.oftel.gov.uk/publications/numbering/2002/icstis_cop0202.pdf.

There must also be an option provided for subscribers to unsubscribe
by text message.

I hope this information helps. Good luck.

Regards,

Purplecat.

Great. Comprehensive. Thanks.