All short codes must be reviewed by mobile carriers before they can be used. The approval process has two parts:
Plivo review process (a week to a week and a half):
Plivo will review your application and help you refine it before submitting it to the carriers. This helps speed up the process. We'll collect rental fees, hosting, and setup charges at this time.
Carrier review process (four to six weeks):
Your carrier will then review your application and any related websites or mobile apps. If questions arise, Plivo will work with the carrier to answer them. The carrier will add the short code to its network and test it at this time. Upon final carrier approval, your short code will go live. We will then notify you that your short code is ready to be used.
Note: Carriers require leasing payments up front in minimum three-month payment intervals. Therefore, we collect those fees with your application submission. You'll be billed for your short code from the beginning of the application process onward. In the event that your application is not approved or is delayed, we'll work with you to edit or resubmit another application.
Please note that Plivo does not control carrier regulations and is not in a position to interpret any laws, rules, or regulations. Plivo will work with you and the carrier to help address short code compliance issues; however, we advise that our customers seek legal counsel in regard to laws, regulations, and their companies' specific practices. Each carrier reserves the right to suspend short code service for any user at any time.
For more best practices regarding short codes, see this article. You can also visit the Mobile Marketing Association's Code of Conduct for Mobile Marketing.