SMS Country Information Guide: Central America

Belize

Best Messaging Channels by Use Case (Bird's Recommendations)

• Transactional SMS: Short Code

• Promotional SMS: Short Code

• Two-Way Conversations: SMS with a two-way short code

Sender Types Supported

• Alphanumeric Sender ID (Business names like "Bird" or "Netflix"

  that send one-way messages): Yes

• Belize Phone Number: Yes

• Belize Short Code: Yes

• International Phone Number: Yes

• Generic Sender ID (Sender IDs that don't clearly identify your

  brand): No

Restrictions

• Operator Registration Required: No

• Generic URL Shortening: Yes

• Quiet Hours/Do Not Disturb: No

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations

Costa Rica

Best Messaging Channels by Use Case (Bird's Recommendations)

• Transactional SMS: Long Code

• Promotional SMS: Long Code

• Two-Way Conversations: SMS with a two-way long number

Sender Types Supported

• Alphanumeric Sender ID (Business names like "Bird" or "Netflix"

  that send one-way messages): Yes

• Costa Rica Phone Number: Yes

• Costa Rica Short Code: Yes

• International Phone Number: Yes

• Generic Sender ID (Sender IDs that don't clearly identify your

  brand): No

Restrictions

• Operator Registration Required: No

• Generic URL Shortening: No (Only branded URL shortening like

  yourbrand.link is allowed)

• Quiet Hours/Do Not Disturb: No

Additional Notes:

• Senders are classified as local or international

• Gambling, political and adult content is forbidden

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations

El Salvador

Best Messaging Channels by Use Case (Bird's Recommendations)

• Transactional SMS: Short Code

• Promotional SMS: Short Code

• Two-Way Conversations: SMS with a two-way short code

Sender Types Supported

• Alphanumeric Sender ID (Business names like "Bird" or "Netflix"

  that send one-way messages): No

• El Salvador Phone Number: Yes

• El Salvador Short Code: Yes

• International Phone Number: No

• Generic Sender ID (Sender IDs that don't clearly identify your

  brand): No

Restrictions

• Operator Registration Required: No

• Generic URL Shortening: Yes

• Quiet Hours/Do Not Disturb: No

Additional Notes:

• Senders are classified by local and international

• Long Code are supported only by Claro and Tigo

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations

Guatemala

Best Messaging Channels by Use Case (Bird's Recommendations)

• Transactional SMS: Short Code

• Promotional SMS: Short Code

• Two-Way Conversations: SMS with a two-way short code

Sender Types Supported

• Alphanumeric Sender ID (Business names like "Bird" or "Netflix"

  that send one-way messages): No

• Guatemala Phone Number: Yes

• Guatemala Short Code: Yes

• International Phone Number: No

• Generic Sender ID (Sender IDs that don't clearly identify your

  brand): No

Restrictions

• Operator Registration Required: No

• Generic URL Shortening: Yes

• Quiet Hours/Do Not Disturb: Yes (Monday-Sunday 20:00-09:00)

Additional Notes:

• SMS traffic is allowed only from 8 AM to 8 PM local time

• Senders are classified by local and international

• Gambling, political, adult content are restricted

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations

Honduras

Best Messaging Channels by Use Case (Bird's Recommendations)

• Transactional SMS: Long Code

• Promotional SMS: Long Code

• Two-Way Conversations: SMS with a two-way long number

Sender Types Supported

• Alphanumeric Sender ID (Business names like "Bird" or "Netflix"

  that send one-way messages): No

• Honduras Phone Number: Yes

• Honduras Short Code: No

• International Phone Number: No

• Generic Sender ID (Sender IDs that don't clearly identify your

  brand): No

Restrictions

• Operator Registration Required: No

• Generic URL Shortening: No (Only branded URL shortening like

  yourbrand.link is allowed)

• Quiet Hours/Do Not Disturb: Yes (Monday-Sunday 20:00-08:00)

Additional Notes:

• Senders are classified as local or international

• Senders will be overwritten with a long code

• Gambling, political and adult content is forbidden

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations

Mexico

Best Messaging Channels by Use Case (Bird's Recommendations)

• Transactional SMS: Alphanumeric

• Promotional SMS: Alphanumeric

• Two-Way Conversations: WhatsApp (You can use your existing number or

  get a new one from Bird)

Sender Types Supported

• Alphanumeric Sender ID (Business names like "Bird" or "Netflix"

  that send one-way messages): Yes

• Mexico Phone Number: Yes

• Mexico Short Code: Yes

• International Phone Number: No

• Generic Sender ID (Sender IDs that don't clearly identify your

  brand): No

Restrictions

• Operator Registration Required: Yes

• Generic URL Shortening: Yes

• Quiet Hours/Do Not Disturb: Yes (Monday-Thursday 20:00-08:00, Friday-Sunday 20:00-18:00)

Additional Notes:

• If you choose not to maintain the Alpha Sender for your end-users, the messages will default to a Shared Short Code or a Dedicated Short Code if you have previously requested one

• For Mexico, you can request an Alpha Sender registration. If your Alpha Sender sends fewer than 100K messages monthly, there will be a monthly fee of $350 USD

• We have dedicated short codes available for 2-way traffic. It may be more cost-effective for customers to use their own WhatsApp number

• For Promotional Traffic: Allowed from 8:00 AM until 18:00 PM local time

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations

Nicaragua

Best Messaging Channels by Use Case (Bird's Recommendations)

• Transactional SMS: Short Code

• Promotional SMS: Short Code

• Two-Way Conversations: SMS with a two-way short code

Sender Types Supported

• Alphanumeric Sender ID (Business names like "Bird" or "Netflix"

  that send one-way messages): No

• Nicaragua Phone Number: No

• Nicaragua Short Code: Yes

• International Phone Number: No

• Generic Sender ID (Sender IDs that don't clearly identify your

  brand): No

Restrictions

• Operator Registration Required: No

• Generic URL Shortening: Yes

• Quiet Hours/Do Not Disturb: No

Additional Notes: Gambling, political and adult content is forbidden

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations

Panama

Best Messaging Channels by Use Case (Bird's Recommendations)

• Transactional SMS: Alphanumeric

• Promotional SMS: Alphanumeric

• Two-Way Conversations: SMS with a two-way short code

Sender Types Supported

• Alphanumeric Sender ID (Business names like "Bird" or "Netflix"

  that send one-way messages): No

• Panama Phone Number: Yes

• Panama Short Code: Yes

• International Phone Number: No

• Generic Sender ID (Sender IDs that don't clearly identify your

  brand): No

Restrictions

• Operator Registration Required: No

• Generic URL Shortening: Yes

• Quiet Hours/Do Not Disturb: No

Additional Notes:

• Non-registered alphanumeric senders will be replaced with a long code by default

• Gambling, political and adult content is forbidden

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations