Skip to main content
POST
Send SMS (France)
To send SMS in France, you need a registered sender name, what operators call a Sender ID. Register it from Settings > Automatic texts.
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.

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.

Your options

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.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.Setup time: 1 to 5 business days.

Short Code (5-digit number)

A dedicated or shared 5-digit number (e.g., 36xxx for marketing, 38xxx for transactional messages).Best for: Two-way conversations, customer service, keyword campaigns, and high-volume marketing with native STOP handling.Key advantage: Recipients can reply.Setup time: 2 to 4 months for a dedicated code. Days to weeks for a shared code.
Most small businesses start with Alphanumeric Sender ID. Add a Short Code later if you need two-way messaging.

French SMS compliance rules

Consent:
  • B2C: Explicit opt-in required.
  • B2B: No prior opt-in required, but the message must relate to the recipient’s professional activity.
Time restrictions (marketing SMS only):
  • No marketing SMS on Sundays or French public holidays
  • No marketing SMS between 20:00 and 08:00
STOP mechanism: Every marketing SMS must include opt-out instructions.

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

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

data
object

Sent SMS message details