Toll-Free Number

Toll-free numbers (TFNs) allow for 3 messages to be sent per second, making them an excellent fit for a variety of SMS campaigns, including:

• Mass-SMS
• Click-to-Text SMS
• Bi-Directional SMS

Average turnaround time for procuring a new TFN and configuring the phone number to be used within the LiveVox platform is about 5 days.

Toll-free numbers do not require provisioning (unlike shortcode).

Shortcode

LiveVox will work on your behalf to provision a shortcode with phone carriers once you have leased (or LiveVox has leased) a shortcode. 

Provisioning of an SMS shortcode is a more in-depth and drawn out process than a TFN, often taking between 8 - 12 weeks. Shortcodes require:

• Education on carrier rules and regulations
• CTIA Handbook and TCPA compliance
• Carrier testing and direct work with aggregators to finalize shortcode provisioning process (allowing traffic to traverse carrier networks) (handled by LiveVox, not you!)

Following the lease of a shortcode, LiveVox will work through the requirements listed above and will make sure that all necessary actions are taken to execute the provision properly.

Shortcodes allow for 1500 messages per second, ideal for very high volume SMS campaigns (example: 500,000+ messages sent per day). 

If you are interested in provisioning a shortcode but cannot wait 8 - 12 weeks to begin SMS campaigning, LiveVox recommends using a TFN in the interim until the shortcode provisioning process can be completed. Once the shortcode is provisioned, LiveVox will configure the shortcode to replace the TFN, sending a message to all customers notifying them of the change.