One common question asked to us is what is the difference between peer-to-peer (P2P) messaging and (application-to-person) A2P messaging?

P2P text messages are two-way messages sent between two people by short message service (SMS) or multimedia messaging service (MMS). They are usually enabled via mobile phone numbers (aka “long codes” or “long numbers”) and usually characterized as low-volume. In the United States, P2P messaging works through 10-digit North American Numbering Plan (NANP) telephone numbers. (Yes, we live in an industry of acronyms!)

A2P text messages are messages that are automatically generated from an application – generally a web app – to a subscriber in the form of alerts, verification codes, updates, chat bots, one-time passwords (OTPs), PIN codes and marketing blurbs. Generally, A2P messaging provides one-way SMS to recipients and those recipients do not reply. However, it is becoming more common for A2P messages to have two-way customer conversations. This still falls under A2P and is enabled by short codes or long codes.

Carriers in the United States and Canada have a strict definition of A2P and consider all messaging that passes through IP Link or other messaging platforms to be A2P.

A2P messages are subject to local country regulations (i.e. India and France) and have delivery implications. Let us know if you would like to hear more details about the regulations and/or messaging services and one of our experts will hop on a call with you.