> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.withallo.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# SMS in France

> The French rules for business texting: why mobile numbers are blocked, Sender ID versus short code, and the ARCEP, CNIL and AF2M obligations.

France regulates business texting more tightly than most countries, and the rules decide what you can send, from what, and when. This page covers the regulation. To register your Sender ID, go to [Set up texting](/en/phone-numbers/sms-setup).

***

## Why a mobile number cannot send business texts

French operators prohibit using a mobile number for business SMS. ARCEP, the French telecom regulator, formalised that ban in January 2023.

Send from a `+33 6` or `+33 7` number and operators block the message at the network. A number that goes over the volume thresholds is suspended automatically. This applies to every provider, not only Allo.

Two compliant senders exist instead: an **alphanumeric Sender ID** and a **short code**.

***

## Sender ID or short code

|                         | Alphanumeric Sender ID                  | Short code                                                     |
| ----------------------- | --------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| What the recipient sees | Your company name, up to 11 characters  | A 5-digit number                                               |
| Can they reply          | No, one-way only                        | Yes                                                            |
| Best for                | Reminders, confirmations, notifications | Two-way conversations, support, keyword campaigns              |
| Setup time              | About 48 hours, self-serve              | 2 to 4 months dedicated, days to weeks shared                  |
| Cost                    | No setup fee                            | AF2M reservation, operator connection and monthly hosting fees |

Most businesses start with a Sender ID and add a short code later, if they need customers to reply.

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Sender ID naming rules">
    AF2M keeps a list of protected names. Generic terms like "Alert", "Bank" or "Delivery", and anything impersonating a public institution, a bank or a major brand, are refused. Your name has to represent your actual business.

    The format itself, and the form you fill in, are on [Set up texting](/en/phone-numbers/sms-setup).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Getting a short code">
    [Contact support](/en/support/contact) and say whether you need marketing (`36xxx` range) or transactional (`38xxx` range). Allo handles the AF2M reservation and the operator onboarding.

    A **dedicated** code is yours alone: higher cost, 2 to 4 months. A **shared** code routes by keyword: lower cost, days to a few weeks. A dedicated code needs a Kbis less than three months old.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

## What the law asks of you

Three sets of rules apply: ARCEP for telecoms, CNIL for personal data, and the AF2M industry charter.

### Consent

**Consumers.** Explicit opt-in before you send anything. A pre-checked box is not consent and is illegal.

**Professionals.** No prior opt-in, provided the message relates to the person's professional activity. You still have to identify yourself and offer a way out.

### When you can send

Marketing texts only, transactional ones have no time restriction:

* Not on Sundays or French public holidays
* Not between 20:00 and 08:00

An order confirmation, a one-time code or a service alert is transactional and can go out at any time.

### The opt-out

Every marketing text carries a way to stop. With a short code the recipient replies STOP. With a Sender ID, which is one-way, put the instruction in the body, for example "STOP au 36179".

***

## MMS

French numbers cannot send or receive MMS, so no photos and no files. French regulation blocks MMS on virtual numbers, the kind every business phone provider uses, so this is industry-wide rather than an Allo limitation. Standard texts work normally.

***

## Common questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Can I text from my existing Allo French number?">
    Yes, by hand, with nothing to register. What needs a Sender ID is anything Allo sends for you: automatic replies after a missed call, workflows and the API.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can a customer reply to a Sender ID message?">
    No. A Sender ID is one-way. Use a short code if you need the conversation to come back.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What does a Sender ID cost?">
    No setup fee. You pay the standard per-segment rate, listed on [SMS rates](/en/billing/sms-rates).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do I need consent to text a business contact?">
    No prior opt-in for a professional contact, as long as the message relates to their work, identifies you, and offers a way to opt out.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I send marketing texts at any time?">
    No. Monday to Saturday, 08:00 to 20:00, outside French public holidays. Transactional texts have no time restriction.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

## Next

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Set up texting" icon="https://mintcdn.com/themobilefirstcompany/FJcAb4CMTxxLuBRC/media/allo-icons/Chat_bubble_add.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=FJcAb4CMTxxLuBRC&q=85&s=fd6ae2c8855402174da90ec08749e91b" href="/en/phone-numbers/sms-setup" width="24" height="24" data-path="media/allo-icons/Chat_bubble_add.svg">
    Register your Sender ID, approved in about 48 hours
  </Card>

  <Card title="SMS rates" icon="https://mintcdn.com/themobilefirstcompany/yN5XCm7zDDPr0-yn/media/allo-icons/credit-card-fill.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=yN5XCm7zDDPr0-yn&q=85&s=fbe96271dadf3e304bccd2df6073282c" href="/en/billing/sms-rates" width="24" height="24" data-path="media/allo-icons/credit-card-fill.svg">
    What a text costs from a French number
  </Card>
</CardGroup>