Forum Discussion
[Announcement] BIG NEWS: You can now text shortcodes! 🎉
Any news on this, George ?
Since I joined Smarty on June 2nd this year (2023) it’s been great, I hope I have been a decent contributor to this forum, but I may have to sadly switch to another network simply because Smarty does not allow its users to use short codes.
In the little over three months since I have been with Smarty, I have received, and been expected to reply to, short codes from my water company, doctors surgery and now my bank. All of which of course I cannot currently reply to using Smarty. I emailed my water company, but as you can imagine, ringing my GP surgery and bank was a massive user of time, “You are number 19 in the queue” etc when a simple 5 second text message would have got the job done….
Do I want to leave Smarty ? Heck no, I don’t, but Smarty really needs to get its backside in gear re short code texts, which seem to be increasing in their use by various organisations. If Smarty doesn’t rectify this issue very quickly, they will be responsible for eroding their own customer base, which would be a crazy state of affairs.
JJP2 I do wholeheartedly agree with you here.
Although I do not seem to be personally affected as my utilities and GP/Hospital don't seem to use short code texts requiring a reply - YET!, I can see that it is a massive inconvenience for many people.
It's not as if we have had any explanation as to why it cannot be done.
Hi MSF I presume, but don’t know for sure, that Three, Smarty’s parent company, allows short code texts. That being the case, it’s not as if Smarty would need to deploy a systems change, software upgrade, etc.
I really don’t want to switch networks, but circumstances beyond my control may sadly force my hand into making a switch.
Three do support shortcodes (including where there could be a charge for them - they just get added to your billing in a separate section).
JJP2 MSF are there many other MVNOs that support this service? I recall that iD Mobile had/has the option to switch on 'premium' within the account settings if that's what you want to do, to enable use of these services.
I know Voxi do support shortcodes “out of the box”.
The fact that ID Mobile, also an MVNO on Three, supports short code use, even on an “opt in” basis, shows that this is possible for Smarty.
