Skip to main content

Powerpack

  • What are the benefits of adding a short code to my Powerpack?

    Short codes are the product of choice when it comes to scale and delivery rates. Combining them with Powerpack enables you to run multiregion SMS campaigns and also reach networks not supported by your short codes.

    Running multiregion SMS campaigns

    Short codes are country-specific and can send messages only to countries for which they are provisioned. When sending messages to multiple countries, Powerpack defaults to other numbers in your number pool if no short code belonging to the destination country is added to the Powerpack. This provides a seamless flow of outbound messages.

    For example: If you have a US short code in your Powerpack and want to run a campaign spanning the US and Canada, Powerpack will use the US short code for your US traffic and will use long codes in the pool for Canadian traffic.  

    Reaching networks not supported by your short code

    Even though short codes can reach most destination mobile networks, some networks may not support them. In these instances, Powerpack intelligently defaults to using other numbers in the pool. 

    For example: Suppose you're sending messages to destination networks C1 and C2 using Powerpack. C2 is not supported by the configured short code. Powerpack will use long codes in the pool to send messages to the C2 mobile network and use the short code for C1.

  • How do I remove a short code from my Powerpack?

    To configure your Powerpack to remove a short code number, disable the “prioritize short code” feature. This ensures that any subsequent messages from that Powerpack will not use a short code as the source number.

    To permanently remove a short code from your Powerpack. open a ticket with our support team.

  • Can I add the same short code number to multiple Powerpacks?

    No. Each short code can be added to only one Powerpack.

  • Can I add a short code number to my Powerpack?

    Yes. You can add US and/or Canada short codes to your Powerpack.

    Once you have the short code added to your Powerpack, you can use the “prioritize short code” feature in Powerpack to manage the use of short codes through Powerpack.

    •   Enabled: Powerpack will use a short code to send outbound messages if the destination network and country are supported by the short code. Otherwise, Powerpack will fall back to using other numbers in the number pool.
    •   Disabled: Powerpack will not use short codes to send outbound messages. Instead, other numbers in number pool will be used as the source for all outbound messages from that Powerpack. 

    Contact our support team for help adding short codes to your Powerpack.

  • Can I use PHLOs to handle incoming messages in my Powerpack?

    Yes. You can associate any existing PHLO to a new or existing Powerpack:

    To add a PHLO to an existing Powerpack: 

    1. Navigate to Messaging > Powerpack > Add New Powerpack on console. 
    2. In the Application Configuration, select PHLO as the application type, then select the name of the PHLO you want to associate the Powerpack from the Plivo App drop-down.
    3. Complete the remaining configurations for the Powerpack.
    4. Click on Add Powerpack.

     To update an existing Powerpack:

    1. Navigate to Messaging > Powerpack
    2. Click on the Powerpack you want to update.
    3. In the Application Configuration, select PHLO as the application type, then select the name of the PHLO you want to associate the Powerpack from the Plivo App drop-down.
    4. Click on Update.
  • How can I send 6,000 or more SMS messages per day using a long code in the US?

    We don't recommend sending large volumes of SMS messages using long codes. Consider applying for a short code or an SMS-enabled toll-free number for such use cases.

    If your use case warrants the use of long codes, we encourage you to send fewer than 200 messages per day from each US long code number you purchase from Plivo.

    You might consider distributing your messaging traffic over a large pool of long codes. Powerpack enables our customers to run personalized communications at scale using long codes. It automatically distributes your SMS traffic across a pool of source numbers, while ensuring that messages to a particular destination number are always sent via the same long code. 

  • What happens when a Powerpack SMS or MMS recipient replies with an opt-out keyword?

    When an SMS or MMS recipient replies with a STOP keyword:

    1. The subscriber is added to the suppression list for the source number that was used to send out the SMS or MMS message. 

    Subsequent messages from that source number to the subscriber are blocked by Plivo. The message is marked as “failed” with the Plivo error code 200. The block will be removed only if the subscriber texts an opt-in keyword to the Plivo number. 

    1. If the SMS or MMS message was sent via Powerpack, then the recipient's phone number is also added to the suppression list for the Powerpack. 

    Subsequent messages from that Powerpack to the subscriber are blocked by Plivo. The message is marked as “failed” with the Plivo error code 200. The Powerpack level block will be removed only if  the subscriber texts an opt-in keyword to any Plivo number associated with that Powerpack.

  • How can I remove an application from Powerpack?

    To remove an application associated with your Powerpack

    1. Navigate to the Powerpack page on the console.
    2. Click on the Powerpack you wish to update.
    3. In the application setting section, select any application type. In the application name drop-down menu, select "-------".
    4. Click update.

    After you remove an application, all incoming messages to numbers in this Powerpack will remain marked as received and will not be posted to your message_url. 

  • How can I modify an application associated with a Powerpack?

    To modify an application associated with a Powerpack:

    1. Navigate to the Powerpack page on the console.
    2. Click on the Powerpack you wish to update.
    3. In the application setting section, select the correct application type and application name from the drop-down menu.
    4. Click on update.
  • How are incoming messages to numbers in my Powerpack handled?

    As with any Plivo number, you can associate a Plivo application with your Powerpack. Incoming messages to any number in the Powerpack will be posted with the message_url in your Plivo application.

    To associate a Plivo application with your Powerpack, select the application type and the application name on the Powerpack to create and update the screen on the Powerpack UI in your Plivo console.

  • How can I send SMS and MMS messages using Powerpack?

    You can send messages using Powerpack by specifying the UUID of the Powerpack you wish to use in the Send SMS/MMS API request. Our Powerpack introductory guide includes code samples for several programming languages.

  • What happens if I unrent a Powerpack phone number?

    If you unrent a phone number that was part of a Powerpack, the number is automatically removed from the Powerpack number pool, and all smart sender mappings against the number are also removed. 

     

  • How can I configure my Powerpack source number pool?

    The Powerpack management console at Messaging > Powerpacks allows you to configure the source number pool for your SMS and MMS traffic needs.

    Screenshot_-_2020-10-30T131957.800.png

    Specify how many phone numbers you'd like to add to your Powerpack for a country, region, or area code. Plivo will automatically rent the specified number of phone numbers for your account and add them to your Powerpack number pool.

    We recommend you use the Advanced Settings options to configure your number pool. For region-based number resolution to work best, you should have a well-balanced number pool with an adequate number of phone numbers across all the regions you intend to reach.

     

    Screenshot_-_2020-10-30T132551.012.png

    Specify how many phone numbers from each area code or region that you'd like to add to your Powerpack number pool. Estimate this number based on your expected outbound daily traffic to each region.

    Pro tip: If you don’t need to get more granular than state-level or regional matching, simply specify the total count of numbers against any prefix of that state.

     

  • How does Powerpack's Local Connect region-based source number resolution work?

    Local Connect is designed to make message communication personal by ensuring that messages get sent using a local phone number with the same area code or regional prefix as the destination number whenever possible. Here's an example that illustrates how it works.

    Article6.png

    Suppose you’re sending an SMS message to a San Francisco number beginning with area code 415:

    • If a phone number with prefix 415 is present in the number pool, Powerpack will use it to send the outbound message.
    • If a phone number with a 415 prefix is not found in the number pool, or if all the phone numbers with a 415 prefix in the pool have already been used to recommended capacity (150 messages per day), Powerpack will deliver the SMS message through any other phone number in the same region as the destination number (in this case, California).
    • If no phone numbers in the same region are found in the Powerpack, the message will be sent via a random US phone number.
    • If no US phone numbers are found in the pool, the message will be sent via a Canadian number.
  • What is Local Connect?

    Local Connect is a Powerpack feature that helps you personalize conversations by using the same area codes and local numbers as your users. We use area code matching and prioritize local numbers over other numbers in the Powerpack pool.

    You can manage Local Connect preferences from the Powerpack management console.

  • What is Smart Sender?

    Smart Sender ensures that a destination number always receives texts from the same source number. This stickiness enables two-way conversations by keeping the conversation thread intact. 

    Once a Powerpack number is assigned to a destination number, all subsequent texts to that destination are automatically sent from the assigned Powerpack source number.

    You can turn on Smart Sender from the Plivo console's Powerpack dashboard. 

     

  • What is Powerpack?

    Powerpack makes SMS/MMS communication using long codes effective and reliable. It's designed to meet your overall SMS/MMS throughput and volume requirements regardless of scale.

    By automatically distributing your overall SMS and MMS traffic across a pool of source numbers, Powerpack keeps you compliant with per-day and per-second throughput limits defined by the CTIA.

  • Introduction to Powerpack for SMS and MMS

    The US and Canada heavily regulate SMS and MMS messages that are sent using regular 10-digit phone numbers (a.k.a. long codes). Long codes, however, remain the medium of choice for most businesses seeking to engage with their customers via SMS. Long codes add a personalized touch to a conversation and are relatively easy to procure, which is why they remain popular with most Plivo clients. 

    To make SMS and MMS communication using long codes effective and reliable at scale, you can use Plivo's Powerpack feature. It's designed to meet your SMS and MMS throughput and volume requirements, regardless of scale, while keeping you compliant with the best practices laid out by the CTIA. Powerpack keeps you compliant with the CTIA's per-day and per-second throughput limits by automatically distributing your SMS and MMS traffic across a pool of source numbers. Adhering to the CTIA's best practices has a direct positive impact on delivery rates.