System Issue: August 18, 2023
Subject: 55678 Shut Down by T-Mobile
URGENT Notice - 55678 Shut Down by T-Mobile Effective - 8/17/2023
Please be advised that T-Mobile has taken immediate steps to shut down traffic on short code 55678 as a result of a severity-0 audit for traffic operating on the code. This means that messages sent on 55678 to T-Mobile handsets will likely fail.
While we have taken numerous steps to educate/train users and resellers alike, as well as implement safeguards to block prohibited content, a user was able to send a message promoting "FREE BEER" without proper age-gating. As a result, T-Mobile flagged the traffic for violation of age-gating requirements. Due to the shared nature of the code, T-Mobile has indicated that messaging on the code is not eligible for restoration.
We regret that we have to inform you on a Friday evening of this punitive action and the likely impact it will have on your users. Please note that we are working diligently with our upstream partners to identify any potential workarounds or resolutions that might be available to us. However, we anticipate that this process will take a few weeks to navigate and play out.
In the meantime, it is imperative that you work with your users to transition them from 55678 to either another short code that is available, or to a dedicated Toll-Free or 10DLC #. You will need to clearly communicate in your text messages that the # for the business has changed to a different # so that consumers are not caught off-guard by the messaging they will receive from a new messaging code.
Those of you that have taken preemptive steps in the past few months to register and verify your dedicated 10DLCs and Toll-Free #s will be able to transition rather seamlessly to new dedicated codes with minimal downtime. However, those that have not yet started the process will have to switch to another shared code, OR start submitting their verification forms asap. Our team can assist you with this task and can have Toll-Free #s ready in a "pending" state within a couple of days of submission.
Again, we regret that we have to send this email informing you of this adverse action against our code. We ask that you take this time to re-educate your users on the rules and guidelines of text messaging. iVision Mobile can only do so much to build safeguards and protections within the system. Ultimately it is the responsibility of each and every one of us to educate our clients and ensure they are operating based on the rules.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our Support Team by email - support@ivisionmobile.com.
Thank you,
iVision Mobile
-- UPDATE -- 8/29/2023 3:07 PM PT
Here is an update on the status of 55678 as well as guidance on some additional questions and next steps.
We have been informed that 55678 has been temporarily reinstated by T-Mobile.
Deliverability - Both inbound and outbound messaging on 55678 and T-Mobile / Sprint handsets will now work again.
Temporary (90 Days) - This reinstatement is temporary and will allow for 90 days (until Monday, November 27th) to allow for a seamless transition of your users to dedicated messaging codes. The reinstatement can be revoked at any time for any violation of the carrier guidelines. VIEW RULES
Communication with Clients - Communication with your customers is critical! Please reach out to them. Make sure your clients understand they cannot mention alcohol in messaging without proper age verification on their mobile campaigns. Let them know you're moving them to a dedicated code that will be exclusive to them. Work with them to determine if a 10DLC, Toll-Free #, or dedicated short code works best for their needs.
Communication with Opted-In Contacts - The temporary reinstatement of 55678 by T-Mobile will allow you and your clients to better communicate the transition from 55678 to another code. You'll want to send a message to contacts letting them know the code is changing. Here is a sample:
- From 55678: Joe's Pizza: Please note our # is changing from 55678 to XXX-XXX-XXXX. Save us as a contact: <shorturl>
- From NEW Dedicated Code: Joe's Pizza: Please note our new #. We’ll be sending you offers from here from now on. Save us as a contact <shorturl>
vCards - Including a Short URL > vCard in your message makes it really easy for contacts to save the new phone # into their phones. Plus, you can customize the vCard to include the client's logo for a nice branded feel to the messaging.
Verifications - Send in your verification forms. We've received a flurry of 200+ requests in the past week and are working through the submission process. For those resellers that have not yet started the transition from 55678 to dedicated codes, we will be implementing a mandatory verification & migration process in the coming weeks to ensure we meet the 90-day timeline imposed by T-Mobile.
Re-Provisioning - We will be working with T-Mobile to reprovision the 55678 short code in a way that may potentially support multiple businesses resuming operations on the code. This process will take time and remains uncertain.
Our team is standing by to assist you with this process and ensure minimal downtime/confusion for your users. Please take advantage of our services.
If you have additional questions or concerns, please reach out to our Support Team by email - support@ivisionmobile.com or you can Request Time with Support here: https://urlme.us/C5I7I
Thank you,
iVision Mobile
System Updates URL https://urlme.us/C4E6E
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