[keith_erskine]

You can get a shortcode in three days - $500 for a random 5-digit, $1,000 for a vanity 5 or 6-digit. The biggest gating item is the approval process with the carriers. That will take 6-8 weeks.

If you're getting a prototype working, textmarks might be the way to go. You'll have to prefix your SMS command set with a keyword. Longer term you want your customers/members to identify with your own shortcode. Imagine them getting messages from two services on 41411

[arasakik]

Right. The approval process with carriers is what makes getting a short code so time consuming. What was it like working with the Aggregators? I've heard mixed stories.

[keith_erskine]

mBlox was good in getting us feedback and suggesting fixes during the process. You spend most of the time waiting for the carriers to respond to applications and testing.

[jamescoops]

from what i hear your own shortcode doesnt matter as people generally dont remember them anyway they just read them online/ on paper and text them