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SMS Guidelines for Chile: Best Practices and Technical Overview

When sending SMS messages in Chile, understanding the technical and compliance requirements is crucial for effective communication and adherence to local regulations. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of SMS guidelines, including two-way messaging, number portability, message concatenation, and compliance considerations.

Key Technical Specifications

Two-Way SMS Support

Two-way SMS is supported in Chile, enabling users to both send and receive messages. This feature is vital for businesses that rely on interactive SMS services, such as customer support or marketing campaigns.

Number Portability

Number portability is available in Chile, allowing users to retain their mobile number when switching between service providers. This is essential for maintaining seamless customer communication.

Concatenated Message Support

Concatenated messages are supported, meaning longer messages are split into smaller segments and rejoined at the receiving end. Note that limitations may apply based on the sender ID type and message encoding.

Message Length and Encoding

The character limit for a single SMS depends on the message encoding. Messages exceeding this length are split into multiple segments, but recipients see them as a unified text.

MMS Support

MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) is not directly supported in Chile. Instead, MMS messages are converted to SMS with an embedded URL linking to the multimedia content, ensuring recipients can access the media via a web link.

SMS to Landline Numbers

Sending SMS to landline numbers in Chile is not possible. If attempted, the Sent REST API returns a 400 error with code 21614, and the message will not appear in the logs, nor will the account be charged.

Compliance Considerations

Adhering to local laws and regulations is essential when sending SMS in Chile. Consulting with legal counsel is strongly advised to ensure compliance, especially for marketing and non-essential communications.

Best Practices

  • Opt-In Consent: Obtain explicit opt-in consent from users before sending any communication, particularly for marketing messages.
  • Daytime Communication: Avoid sending SMS messages outside of daytime hours unless urgent. Respecting users' time is key to maintaining a positive relationship.
  • HELP/STOP Support: Ensure SMS campaigns support HELP and STOP messages in the local language, allowing users to manage their subscription and opt-out if needed.
  • Do-Not-Call Registries: Avoid contacting users listed on do-not-call or do-not-disturb registries to prevent legal consequences.

Message Delivery to M2M Numbers

Messages sent to machine-to-machine (M2M) numbers in Chile are delivered on a best-effort basis. Sent will attempt delivery, but success is not guaranteed.

Conclusion

Understanding the SMS guidelines for Chile is essential for businesses and developers aiming to engage with users in this region. By adhering to the technical specifications and compliance best practices outlined above, you can ensure your SMS campaigns are effective, legally compliant, and user-friendly.

For more detailed information, consult with legal experts to ensure your messaging strategy aligns with local regulations. For official guidelines, refer to the Subsecretaría de Telecomunicaciones website.