About SMS with Parthenon

Parthenon's SMS platform is a powerful way to engage with your community. Common use cases include event invites, mass notification, or legislative updates. 

In this article, you'll learn more about SMS with Parthenon and how to get started.

Things to know

Here are some things to know before getting started.

• SMS is available as an add-on feature with Parthenon Nexus or Reach.
• Before you can send text messages, you need to subscribe to Parthenon's SMS Platform, then submit an application for a 10DLC number and be approved.
• The SMS platform works on a credit-based billing system.

Definitions

Here are a few terms you'll come across as you use SMS with Parthenon.

• SMS application – a required administrative process that you must successfully complete to set up your SMS account. 
• SMS – a text message sent to a SMS contact.
• MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) – multimedia content that is included in a SMS and sent to a SMS contact (i.e. images or GIFs).
• Organization name – your organization name is visible in your text and compliance messages. It must clearly identify you to your SMS contacts.
• Sender ID –
• 10DLC – 10-digit long code. A mobile number that organizations use to send text messages and make phone calls. They include an area code and a local number.
• Brand name – the title of your organization that you want associated with your account. This is how you represent yourself to the general public (ex: Councilmember Jane Doe).
• SMS credit – a unit of payment that determines the number of SMS or MMS (US or Canada only) you can send to your subscribed SMS contacts.
• Rate limit – 
• Throttling –
• Quiet hours – the hours outside of a certain time range that limit marketing text messages from being delivered to your audience. Quiet hours vary based on sending country requirements.

How it works

Short Message Service (SMS) is used to send text messages to mobile phones. Using Parthenon's SMS platform, you can set up a texting program for your organization, collect SMS opt-ins from contacts, and send messages to contacts. Use MMS to add an image or GIF to your message.

Like email contacts, SMS contacts are stored in your Parthenon account. Parthenon allows you to track the "subscribed" or "unsubscribed" status of your contacts. Contacts can opt out of messages from you at any time, just like email.

To get started, subscribe to Parthenon's SMS Platform and submit an application. Once your application is approved, you can begin sending text messages.

SMS consent

With limited exceptions, SMS requires consent from a contact before you can send text messages to them. SMS consent is expressed, verifiable permission by an individual to receive messages from you. You are responsible for supplying or obtaining this consent in compliance with applicable law. If you believe your use case falls outside of the standard SMS consent laws, read our exemptions policy article first, then contact our support team if you have additional questions.

Consent is required by our Terms of Service.

Carrier rate limits and throttling

XYZ

Character limits and message counts

The number of characters in an SMS determines the number of individual text messages required to complete a send. The type of content used also impacts the message count. Text messages that exceed the character limit for a single message are split into multipart (concatenated) messages which require individual SMS credits. 

Parthenon allows for 2 types of SMS.

• Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) – a standard character set that includes letters, numbers, and some special symbols (ex: !%$).
• Unicode (non-GSM) – used if your message contains characters not supported by GSM (ex: Emojis ❗✅💰)

GSM

• 160 characters per 1 SMS
• 153 characters for multipart sends (2+ SMS)

Unicode

• 70 characters per 1 SMS
• 67 characters for multipart sends

If you message requires more than 1 text message to send, it will automatically send as a multipart message with a different character limit. Modern smartphones will reassemble multipart messages so that it appears to be 1 message for your recipients.

Multipart messages require additional SMS credits to complete. Check out About SMS Credits to learn how to calculate credits for text messages.

If you want to add multimedia content to your text message, use MMS. MMS have different character limits to consider.

MMS

• 1,600 characters per 1 MMS

Compliance keywords

Opt-out

When a contact replies with any of the following keywords (case-insensitive) to your text message, Parthenon will automatically block further messages to that recipient from that number.

Parthenon send an automatic confirmation (e.g., "You have successfully been unsubscribed. You will not receive any more messages from this number. Reply START to resubscribe.”) and adds that contact to your opt-out list.

Opt-In and Help Keywords

• START or UNSTOP: Removes the unsubscribe status and allows messages again.
• HELP or INFO: Triggers an informational response about the sender (you).

Quiet Hours

Parthenon enforces "quiet hours" to maintain compliance with TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act) requirements. Generally speaking, no automated text messages may be sent before 8:00 AM or after 9:00 PM recipient local time.

Next Steps

Now that you're up to speed on Parthenon's SMS platform, check out these resources to get started!

• About SMS Credits
• Import Records Into Parthenon
• Create and Send a SMS