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POST
/
v1
/
api
/
sms#france
Send SMS (France)
curl --request POST \
  --url 'https://api.withallo.com/v1/api/sms#france' \
  --header 'Authorization: <api-key>' \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data '
{
  "sender_id": "MyCompany",
  "to": "+33612345678",
  "message": "Bonjour, ceci est un message de test"
}
'
{
  "data": {
    "from_number": "MyCompany",
    "to_number": "+33612345678",
    "type": "OUTBOUND",
    "content": "Bonjour, ceci est un message de test",
    "start_date": "2024-01-15T10:30:00"
  }
}
To send SMS in France, you need a verified Sender ID. Contact the Allo team to register your Sender ID before using this endpoint.
French operators block SMS sent from standard mobile numbers (+33 6xx / +33 7xx) via API. You must use an Alphanumeric Sender ID or a Short Code to send business SMS in France.

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Why standard mobile numbers don’t work

French operators (Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom, Free Mobile) prohibit using mobile numbers for business SMS. ARCEP — France’s telecom regulator — formalized this ban in January 2023.If you try to send SMS from a +33 6 or +33 7 number via API, operators block the message at the network level. Numbers that exceed volume thresholds are automatically suspended.Allo offers two compliant alternatives: Alphanumeric Sender ID and Short Code.

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Your options

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Alphanumeric Sender ID

Your SMS displays a custom text name (up to 11 characters) instead of a phone number. For example, your recipients see “MOBILEFIRST” instead of +33 6 12 34 56 78.How it works: Allo sends your SMS with your brand name as the sender. Recipients see your company name on their phone. No phone number appears.Best for: Appointment reminders, order confirmations, payment notifications, and one-way marketing campaigns.Formatting rules:
  • 3 to 11 characters
  • Letters (A-Z, a-z) and digits (0-9) only
  • Must contain at least one letter
  • No spaces or special characters
Key limitation: Recipients cannot reply. For marketing SMS, include a STOP instruction in the message body (e.g., “STOP au 36179”).Setup time: 1 to 5 business days. No additional cost beyond your SMS plan.

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Setup

  1. Contact Allo support — Reach out to the Allo team with your desired sender name (3 to 11 characters). Example: “MOBILEFIRST”.
  2. Brand verification — Allo verifies your sender name against French operator rules. Certain names are restricted — generic terms like “Alert” or “Bank” and protected brand names (government agencies, major banks) are blocked by AF2M.
  3. Activation — Once approved, Allo activates your sender ID. All outbound SMS from your account display your brand name. This takes 1 to 5 business days.

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Short Code (5-digit number)

A dedicated or shared 5-digit number (e.g., 36xxx for marketing, 38xxx for transactional messages). Managed by AF2M, the French multi-operator association.How it works: Allo sends your SMS from a 5-digit number. Recipients can reply directly to this number.Best for: Two-way conversations, customer service, keyword campaigns, and high-volume marketing with native STOP handling.Key advantage: Recipients can reply. This enables direct conversations and automatic opt-out processing.Setup time: 2 to 4 months for a dedicated code. Days to weeks for a shared code through an aggregator.Cost: Higher than Alphanumeric Sender ID. Dedicated short codes involve AF2M reservation fees, operator connection fees, and monthly hosting charges.

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Setup

  1. Contact Allo support — Tell the Allo team you need a Short Code for France. Specify whether you need it for marketing (36xxx range) or transactional messages (38xxx range).
  2. Choose dedicated or shared — Dedicated: Exclusive number for your business. Higher cost, longer setup. Shared: Number shared with other businesses via keyword routing. Lower cost, faster setup.
  3. Registration and activation — Allo handles the AF2M reservation and operator onboarding. For a dedicated code, provide a Kbis (company registration extract less than 3 months old). Activation takes 2 to 4 months for dedicated codes, or days to weeks for shared codes.
Most small businesses start with Alphanumeric Sender ID. Add a Short Code later if you need two-way messaging.

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French SMS compliance rules

Sending business SMS in France requires following three sets of rules: ARCEP (telecom), CNIL (data protection), and AF2M (industry charter).Consent:
  • B2C (consumer) SMS: Explicit opt-in consent required before sending. Pre-checked boxes are illegal.
  • B2B (professional) SMS: No prior opt-in required, but the message must relate to the recipient’s professional activity. You must identify yourself and offer opt-out.
Time restrictions (marketing SMS only):
  • No marketing SMS on Sundays or French public holidays
  • No marketing SMS between 20:00 and 08:00
  • Transactional SMS (order confirmations, OTPs, alerts) has no time restrictions
STOP mechanism: Every marketing SMS must include opt-out instructions. With a Short Code, recipients reply “STOP” directly. With an Alphanumeric Sender ID, include a short code reference in the message body (e.g., “STOP au 36179”).Sender ID restrictions: AF2M maintains a list of protected sender names. Names impersonating public institutions, banks, or major brands are blocked. Allo checks your sender name during verification.

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Common questions

Can I use my existing Allo phone number to send SMS in France? No. French operators block SMS sent from standard mobile numbers (+33 6 / +33 7) via API. You need an Alphanumeric Sender ID or Short Code.Can recipients reply to my Alphanumeric Sender ID? No. Alphanumeric Sender IDs are one-way only. If you need two-way messaging, use a Short Code.How much does an Alphanumeric Sender ID cost? No additional setup fee. You pay standard per-message rates included in your Business plan.How long does Short Code setup take? A dedicated Short Code takes 2 to 4 months. A shared Short Code through an aggregator takes days to a few weeks. Allo handles the process for you.What sender names are not allowed? Generic terms (“Alert”, “Bank”, “Delivery”, “Test”) and names impersonating government agencies, banks, or major brands are blocked by AF2M. Your sender name must represent your actual business.Do I need consent to send SMS to business contacts in France? For B2B contacts, no prior opt-in is required. The message must relate to their professional activity, clearly identify you as the sender, and include opt-out instructions.Can I send marketing SMS at any time? No. Marketing SMS is restricted to weekdays (Monday to Saturday) between 08:00 and 20:00, excluding French public holidays. Transactional SMS has no time restrictions.

Authorizations

​
Authorization
string
header
required

Scope needed: SMS_SEND

Body

application/json

Request body for sending an SMS message in France using a verified Sender ID

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sender_id
string
required

Your verified Sender ID (must be verified by the Allo team). This is an alphanumeric identifier that will appear as the sender of the SMS.

Example:

"MyCompany"

​
to
string
required

Recipient phone number in France (E.164 format, must start with +33)

Example:

"+33612345678"

​
message
string
required

Message content

Required string length: 1 - 1000
Example:

"Bonjour, ceci est un message de test"

Response

SMS sent successfully

Standard response wrapper for sent SMS

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data
object

Sent SMS message details