- What is a Text Message?
- What is SMS?
- Is There a Difference Between E-mail and Text Messaging?
- Can Everyone Receive a Text Messsage?
- Supported U.S. Carriers
- What Does It Cost for a Customer to Receive a Text Message?
- How Long Can a Text Message be?
- What is a Short Code?
- What is a Keyword?
- Once I Register a Keyword, How Long Do I Own It?
- What Does It Mean to OPT-IN?
- What Does It Mean to OPT-OUT?
- Who Regulates Text Messages?
- How Long Does It Take for a Text Message to be Received Once It Is Sent?
- Is There a Limit to How Many Text MessagesI Can Send?
- How Much Does CMSText’s Service Cost?
- If I Have Message Credits Left Over at the End of the Month, Do They Carry-over to the Next Month?
- How Can I Upload, or Enter Mobile Phone Numbers to One of My Marketing Lists?
- Do I Need to Put Software on My Computer?
- What If I Just Want to Run a One-time 3-Month Long Campaign?
- What If I Need More Text Message Credits?
- Quick Starts Package $149
What is a Text Message?
A Text Message is a short message that can be sent to and from a cellular phone. When someone says text, texting, or SMS, or if you see TXT in print, all of these are referring to text messages.
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What is SMS?
SMS is an acronym for Short Message Service. It is a worldwide standard for communicating textually between cellular phones.
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Is There a Difference Between E-mail and Text Messaging?
While most phones can send and receive an email, email is not the same as text messaging. There are many differences, for example a text message is sent to a cell phone number, while an email is sent to an email address.
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Can Everyone Receive Text Messsages?
Nearly every cellular phone in use in the United States can receive text messages. Most wireless carriers include text messaging in their standard plans. Text messages sent to a short code through all of the major cellular phone carrier -US Tier 1 Providers such as AT&T, T-Mobile Verizon Wireless, Sprint, Nextel, Virgin Mobile, Us Cellular, Alltel are members of CSCA (common short code association). Smaller regional companies and some pre-paid cellular companies, who don’t belong to CSCA are unable to receive messages when texting to a short code. Because of the popularity of texting more of these companies are becoming a member of CSCA because their customer want the ability to use short codes ie vote during American Idol.
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Supported U.S. Carriers
AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, Nextel, T-Mobile, Alltel, Virgin Mobile, Cellular One, US Cellular, Boost, Appalachian Wireless, Bluegrass Cellular, Cellular One of East Central Illinois, Centennial Wireless, Immix Wireless, Revol, Wireless, Unicel, West Central Wireless, Cellcom, Cellular South, Cincinnati Bell, ACS Wireless, GCI Communications, Illinois Valley Cellular, Inland Cellular, Nex-Tech Wireless, Thumb Cellular, United Wireless, Cricket Communications.
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What Does It Cost for a Customer to Receive a Text Message?
Some carriers do not charge their customers to receive text messages. Others include a certain number in their standard plans, these usually cost less than ten cents a message.
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How Long Can a Text Message Be?
A standard text message is limited to 160 characters. Characters mean letters, numbers, spaces, symbols and punctuation.
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What is a Short Code?
A short Code (officially called a Common Short Code) is essentially a shortened phone number. The short code is usually 4 to 6 digits making it easier to use than a standard 10 digit number.
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What is a Keyword?
A keyword is a short word or acronym (which may include numbers) that customers will text to our 41513 short code to register with a company’s mobile marketing program. The keyword is input into the message body of the text message to identify a specific business.
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Once I Register a Keyword, How Long Do I Own It?
Your keyword remain s in your account for as long as you make your monthly subscriber payments. If you cancel your account or fail to make you payment, the keyword becomes available for other to register after 60 Days.
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What Does It Mean to OPT-IN?
To Opt-In is to join the mobile marketing program for a particular business. This can be done by sending a text message containing your KEYWORD to our SHORTCODE, or by entering your phone number into a web based form when available. This action signifies that a customer has asked you to send them a message.
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What Does It Mean to OPT-OUT?
A subscriber Opts-Out (unsubcribe) when they quit your list. By replying to any text message with the word STOP a subscriber will automatically remove themselves from your mobile marketing service.
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Who Regulates Text Messages?
In the United States the FCC regulates the cellular phone industry.
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How Long Does It Take for a Text Message to be Received Once it is Sent?
Messages are sent instantly and arrive within seconds of you sending them. If a customer’s phone is turned off, or is in an area without coverage (such as inside an elevator), their carrier holds the message and delivers it as soon as the customer re-enters a coverage area.
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Is There a Limit to How Many Text Messages I Can Send?
There is no limit to how many messages you can send using our text messaging service. However, depending on your business and the demographic of your customers it will vary on the frequency of messages sent. You want to send enough messages to add value to your customers and yet not too many that they feel imposed upon. You don’t want your clients to Opt-out of your service because they feel your messages are a nuisance. The number of message cannot exceed the number that you disclosed that you would send your customers for a given month. Full disclosure, compliance and no spam messages is why consumers like text message marketing.
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How Much Does the Service Cost?
CMSText is very affordable and can be se up in just minutes. With CMSText you only pay for what you use, so you can control how much you spend on your mobile marketing.
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If I Have Message Credits Left Over at the End of the Month, Do They Carry-over to the Next Month?
Message credits included in our plans do carry over. They have no expiration date as long as you are a subscriber to the service.
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How Can I Upload, or Enter Mobile Phone Numbers to One of my Marketing Lists?
If you have a list that you need imported please contact us. Lists must meet compliance guidelines as to the disclosures the consumers where provided when they opt-in.
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Do I Need to Put Software on my Computer?
No software is required. We provide a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform that allows you to log in with a unique username and password from any location that has internet access.
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What If I Just Want to Run a One-Time 3 Month Long Campaign?
With CMSText you don’t have to sign a long term agreement, you can select a month to month plan. However, 1 and 2 year agreements do offer significant savings.
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What If I Need More Text Message Credits?
In the CMSText operating site, under Account Management, you select how many message credits you want to purchase and they are instantly credited to your account. If you are on one of the CMSText “Unlimited Text “ plans message credits are automatically loaded into your account.
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Quick Start Package $149
The CMSText Quick Start Package includes the following:
- 2 months of service
- Unlimited text message credits
- Point of Purchase marketing materials (POP)
- Money Back Guarantee
- No Long-Term Contract (month to month plans)
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