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Plivo Toll-Free Numbers

  • How can I buy a Plivo toll-free number?

    You can get a toll-free number from the Plivo console (Phone Numbers > Buy Numbers) or through the Plivo API.


    Screen_Shot_2020-05-20_at_6.15.26_PM.pngAll of our toll-free numbers are voice-enabled by default. To add SMS functionality to a toll-free number, we need to validate the message content and your use case. Begin that process by filling out the Plivo Toll-Free Questionnaire form. After you submit it, our customer success team will validate your use case. If it's approved, you'll be able to search for and rent SMS-enabled toll-free phone numbers from the console or via the API.

    You can read more about toll-free best practices and guidelines in our documentation. 

  • Guidelines for Toll-Free Numbers

    Plivo is dedicated to enabling high-quality, high-integrity business communications. We don't allow spam or unconsented messaging. Plivo encourages our customers to adhere to best practices for sending messages to protect both our network and their businesses. Users of Plivo’s software, APIs, and gateway services are all held to the same standards and expectations. The guidelines in this document govern the usage of Plivo’s toll-free numbers. 

    Validation: To protect the integrity of text messaging networks and services, including the business operations of legitimate service providers, senders of high-throughput text messaging must pass a basic validation test during onboarding with a service provider.

    Consent and content: Consumers must give appropriate consent to receive each type of message content.


    Types of Consent:

    Implied Consent

    Express Consent 

    Implied consent is acceptable when:

    • The first message is always sent by the consumer
    • The conversation is two-way
    • The message responds to a specific request

    If the consumer initiates the text message exchange and the business only responds to each consumer with relevant information, then no verbal or written permission is required. 

    Express consent is required when:

    • The first message is sent by the consumer or business
    • One-way alert or two-way conversation
    • The message contains information

    The consumer should give permission before a business sends them a text message. Consumers can give permission over text, on a form, or website, or verbally. Written permission also works.

     

    Types of Content:

    Conversational

    Informational 

    Promotional

    Conversational messaging is a back-and-forth conversation that takes place via text. If a consumer texts the business first and the business responds quickly with a single message, then it’s likely conversational. If the consumer initiates the conversation and the business simply responds, then no additional permission is required. 

    Informational messaging is when a consumer gives their phone number to a business and asks to be contacted in the future. 


    Appointment reminders, welcome texts, and alerts fall into this category because the first text sent by the business fulfills the consumer’s request.

    A consumer should agree to receive texts when they give the business their mobile number.

    Promotional messaging is when a message is sent that contains sales or marketing promotion. 


    Adding a call to action (such as a coupon code to an informational text) may place the message in the promotional category.

    Promotional content is not allowed on toll-free numbers.

     

    Consumer opt-in and opt-out must work correctly

    Consumer opt-in and opt-out functionality is enforced at the network level via the STOP and UNSTOP keywords. This functionality cannot be disabled for service providers or message senders.
    Examples of valid opt-out messages:
    “STOP”
    “Stop”
    “stop”
    “STop”

    Example opt-out confirmation message:

    NETWORK MSG: You replied with the word "STOP," which blocks all texts sent from this number. Text back "UNSTOP" to receive messages again.

    Opt-in keywords and messages

    A consumer can opt back in at any time to receive messages by texting the keyword “UNSTOP” to the sender’s phone number. The keyword is not case-sensitive and triggers an opt-in only when sent as a single word with no punctuation or leading spaces (any trailing spaces are trimmed). If the consumer uses the opt-in keyword within a sentence, an opt-in is not triggered.
    Examples of valid opt-in messages:
    “UNSTOP”
    “Unstop”
    “unstop”
    “UNStop”

    Example opt-in message text:

    NETWORK MSG: You have replied "unstop" and will begin receiving messages again from this number.                                                                                         

    Phishing, spam, and illegal and illicit content is prohibited

    Message content that deceives or threatens consumers, including phishing, is not permitted. (Phishing is the practice of sending messages that appear to come from reputable companies, but in fact trick consumers into revealing personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers.) Even if a consumer consents to receive messages, the messages must not be deceptive; TCPA compliance alone does not satisfy this condition.

    Marketing messages must be truthful, not misleading. When appropriate, marketing messages must be backed by scientific evidence in order to meet the standards of the Federal Trade Commission’s Truth In Advertising rules. The FTC prohibits unfair or deceptive advertising in any medium, including text messages.

    Messages that constitute fraud or scam or that involves wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain are prohibited.