What is a "Shortcode"?

In Malaysia, a "Shortcode" is a 5-digit number used as a destination number for SMS. There are 3 types of commercial shortcodes:

(a) 2-series shortcode (2xxxx): These are telco-marketed shortcodes. Contents from these shortcodes are branded as a telco product.The marketing and promotions of the contents are funded and managed by the telco. But in actual fact, the contents are usually from a 3rd-party Content Provider (CP). The contents are usually chargable to the end-user depending on service type and content type.


(b) 3-series shortcode (3xxxx): Maxis calls these "External Content Providers", but they are available for all telcos (Maxis, Digi and Celcom). The owners of these shortcodes are 3rd-party Content Providers. CPs have a better revenue share on the 3-series shortcode platform, as all marketing and promotions are done by the CP themself. The contents are usually chargable to the end-user depending on service type and content type. However, there are clear guidelines regulating CPs using these 3-series shortcodes.


(c) 6-series shortcode (6xxxx): Any shortcode starting with 6 are Bulk shortcodes. The messages sent out from these shortcodes are non-chargable to the end-user. Most of them contain promotional material or information. It can get quite annoying if you receive many of these messages in your phone's inbox. Also known as SPAM SMSes. The only way to block these messages are to complain endlessly to you telco. Ask them to notify the sender to remove your phone number from their database. However, do note that some banking services use the 6-series shortcode. If you block the shortcodes, you may not receive the banking contents (eg. banking TAC, promotions, notifications, mobile banking).

In the picture above, if you REALLY send "ON DOA" to 37777, you are participating in a subscription service where you will be charged RM 0.50 per SMS until you cancel the subscription. More info on subscription next.