What is A2P Messaging? Your Ultimate Explainer

Application-to-person SMS messaging is an easy yet powerful way to communicate with your customers. A2P messaging allows businesses to reach customers at scale via text to increase engagement and grow.

In this article, you’ll learn more about A2P messaging, how it works, and how it can benefit your business. 

Jump right to:

• What is A2P Messaging?
• How Does A2P and P2P Messaging Compare?
• 6 Key Benefits of A2P Messaging
• Top A2P Messaging Use Cases for Business
• How Can Companies Send A2P SMS

What Is A2P Messaging?

A2P messaging is a method of sending SMS text messages to mobile users through a software application or web-based platform. 

SMS messages not originating from an individual’s mobile phone or personal device are considered A2P messages. Mobile carriers consider all texts sent via a platform like Textedly to be A2P SMS. It’s important to note that A2P messages can be both one-way mass texts and two-way conversational messages. The key is the message comes from a business’ messaging software and goes to an individual.

Businesses use A2P messaging for a variety of customer communications. For example,  businesses can send informational texts like order updates or promotional messages about new products or discounts. A2P messaging is also popular for two-factor authentication and fraud alerts.

A2P messaging is often called business SMS or enterprise SMS. It's a cost-effective way for businesses to increase engagement with consumers. 

How does A2P messaging compare to P2P messaging?

If you’ve heard of A2P messaging, you may have also heard the term P2P messaging. So what is P2P messaging? And how is P2P different from A2P messaging?

P2P (Person-to-Person or Peer-to-Peer) messaging is two-way communication between two human beings and their personal devices — the kind most of us use daily. Chances are you send P2P messages to friends and family daily.

Examples of P2P messaging include:

• Text communications between friends and family
• Slack messaging with your colleagues
• Exchanges between you and your Uber or Lyft driver
• Chats on mobile messaging and social media apps like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp

On the other hand, A2P  SMS messages are sent by a business from a software application to a person’s mobile device. A2P messaging platforms equip businesses with the ability to text many people at once with mass texting and set up special features like auto-replies.

6 Key Benefits of A2P Messaging

Let’s dive into some of the most cited benefits of A2P messaging for businesses.

Businesses Can Bulk Text

A2P messaging makes mass texting possible for businesses. Mass texting is defined as sending a single message to many contacts at once, initiating separate text threads with each person. This makes A2P messaging ideal for marketing campaigns, customer support, and text alerts.

P2P messaging is not built for mass messaging many people at once. It’s more about reaching individuals one at a time or in groups.

See Higher Throughput

One major benefit of A2P messaging is its high throughput compared to P2P pathways. It allows businesses to send many messages quickly to large groups. Mobile carriers have created mobile phone number types that fit well for A2P messaging, like 10DLCs and short codes.

Access to More Features

A2P messaging platforms offer businesses the features they need to make text communication possible and profitable. Some examples of SMS features include:

•  Advanced analytics
• Message personalization with variables
• Automated messages
• Scheduled messages
• Text message inbox
• Drip campaigns
• Keywords
• AI texting

These features enhance the customer experience and optimize communication strategies.

Compliance protections

 Using an application to text your contacts ensures you follow opt-out rules and protect customer data. By using an application for messaging, companies can easily manage opt-out preferences, ensuring they respect customers' requests to stop receiving messages. 

At the same time, using a messaging platform ensures you follow opt-in rules and comply with the TCPA. By using P2P pathways, you put your business at risk.

Direct Line of Communication

When it comes to ensuring your contacts see your messages, A2P SMS outperforms email. SMS messages have higher open rates and are more likely to be read promptly, ensuring that businesses can reach customers in real-time.
That’s because SMS messaging provides a direct line of communication to customers and reaches them on their mobile devices.

Keep Your Work and Personal Life Separate

When you use an A2P messaging platform, you will keep your work communication separate from your personal communication. Instead of using your mobile phone and personal number to text clients to schedule appointments, you use a number provided by the SMS platform. This is a positive for many small service businesses.

Top A2P Messaging Use Cases for Businesses

Here are some of the most popular ways businesses use A2P text messaging.

• SMS Marketing: SMS marketing allows companies to promote new products, share event invites, and offer discounts.  Given the rise in mobile commerce, SMS marketing is an ideal solution for businesses looking to increase sales. In short, it gets promotional messages directly into the hands of consumers. 

"Hi [Name], enjoy 20% off your next purchase! Use code SAVE20 at checkout. Hurry, the offer ends in 24 hours!" 

• Appointment reminders: Whether it's for a doctor's visit, salon booking, or a business meeting, SMS reminders help reduce no-shows and ensure customers arrive on time. Since most people read text messages almost immediately, SMS reminders provide a reliable, direct way to keep appointments top of mind and minimize scheduling errors. 

"Hi [Patient Name], this is a reminder about your dental appointment tomorrow at 10:00 AM. If you need to reschedule, please reply 'RESCHEDULE' or call us at [Phone Number]. See you soon!" 

• Customer service: Providing businesses with an efficient way to address customer inquiries and offer real-time support. Through SMS, businesses can send quick responses, resolve issues, and keep customers informed without overwhelming their support team. A2P platforms let you set up text templates for  frequently asked questions, share status updates for ongoing issues, and personalize communication. This enhances the overall customer experience. 

"Hi [Customer Name], we’ve received your inquiry regarding your billing issue. Your case is being reviewed, and we will update you shortly.” 

• Order updates: By sending SMS notifications, businesses can keep customers informed about the status of their orders. For example, businesses could send confirmation messages, shipping alerts, delivery details, or any potential delays. These updates help improve customer satisfaction by offering transparency and reducing the need for customers to contact support for status inquiries. With A2P messaging, businesses can automate and personalize these notifications, ensuring timely and clear communication throughout the entire order process.

"Hi [Customer Name], your order #[Order Number] has shipped! It’s on the way and should arrive in 3-5 business days. Track your order here: [Tracking Link]. Thank you for shopping with us!" 

• Reservations: A2P messaging is an effective tool for businesses that manage reservations, such as restaurants, hotels, or event venues. By sending SMS notifications, businesses can confirm, remind, and update customers about their reservations, reducing no-shows and enhancing customer experience. These automated messages can include reservation details, reminders, special instructions, and even follow-up requests for feedback. 

"Hi [Customer Name], this is a reminder for your reservation at [Restaurant Name] on [Date] at [Time]. We look forward to serving you! If you need to make any changes, please reply to this message or call [Phone Number]." 

• 2FA: A2P messaging is widely used for Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), an essential security measure that helps protect customer accounts and sensitive data. By sending a time-sensitive, one-time passcode via SMS, businesses can ensure that only authorized users can access their accounts, add extra layers of security, and prevent unauthorized access. 

"Your One-Time Passcode (OTP) for [Bank Name] is 456789. Enter this code to complete your login. If you did not request this, please contact us immediately." 

How Can Companies Send A2P Messages?

There are two key steps for companies to start sending A2P messages. Let’s explore them.  

Step one: Choose an SMS platform:
When implementing A2P messaging for your business, you must choose a reliable SMS platform. SMS is A2P when it is sent through a platform or application designed for business use, which offers scalability, compliance, and the features required to manage large messaging campaigns effectively.
To choose the best SMS platform for your business, you’ll want to consider a few things like:

• Your budget
• The features you need
• SMS use case
• SMS platform reviews 
• Customer case studies

2. Pick and register a phone number type:

The next step is to choose the phone number type you want to send text messages from. Once you decide, you’ll want to register that phone number. Here’s a look at the three main types of phone numbers for A2P messaging.

• A2P 10DLC (Application-to-Person 10-Digit Long Code): A2P 10DLC refers to 10-digit long code numbers used for application-to-person messaging, These numbers are designed for businesses to send high volumes of messages with a local area code. s. A2P 10DLC numbers balance affordability and reliability and are often used for business texting  in the U.S.
• Toll-free Numbers: Toll-free numbers are phone numbers with recognizable 800, 888, or 833 prefixes.  These phone numbers are commonly used for customer service texting, order updates, and marketing purposes. Toll-free phone numbers are the most cost-effective options for business texting. 
• Short codes: Short codes are 5-6 digit phone numbers primarily used for high-volume messaging such as large-scale marketing campaigns, two-factor authentication, or emergency alerts. This phone number type is easy to remember and gives businesses the highest throughput. However, it is also the most expensive and takes the longest to register. 

Reach Customers at Scale With Textedly’s A2P SMS platform

Textedly’s A2P messaging platform allows businesses to communicate with their customers, leads, or employees effectively and quickly. Textedly’s web-based platform lets you text from a computer and manage conversations in a simple-to-use inbox. Plus, Textedly’s SMS pricing plans are affordable, starting at just $26 per month. 

Ready to start business texting? Create a Textedly account today and get the service free for 14 days.