SMS Country Information Guide: South America

Argentina

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

• Transactional SMS: Short Code

• Promotional SMS: Short Code

• 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): No

• Argentina Phone Number: Yes

• Argentina 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: No (Only branded URL shortening like yourbrand.link is allowed)

• Quiet Hours/Do Not Disturb: No

Additional Notes:

• Generic Sender IDs are not allowed; registration is mandatory

• Content restrictions: Gambling, political, and adult content is forbidden

• Mobile operators block promotional messages from other operators to their subscribers

• Messages with operator names are flagged as spam

• Messages containing bank and mobile operator names will be flagged as spam

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations

Bolivia

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

• Transactional SMS: Short Code

• Promotional SMS: Short Code

• 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): No

• Bolivia Phone Number: No

• Bolivia 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 as local or international

• All sender IDs will be overwritten with a short code

• Content restrictions: Gambling, political, and adult content is forbidden

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations

Brazil

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

• Transactional SMS: Short Code

• Promotional SMS: Short Code

• 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): No

• Brazil Phone Number: Yes

• Brazil 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: No (URL whitelisting required)

• Quiet Hours/Do Not Disturb: Yes

  • Monday-Saturday: 21:00-08:00

  • Sunday: All day (no SMS allowed)

Additional Notes:

• All sender IDs are overwritten with a local short code or long code

• Allowed sending times:

  • Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM

  • Saturday: 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM

  • Sunday: SMS are not allowed

• Content restrictions: Electoral/political content, religious content, content that breaches intellectual property rights, and content related to termination of pregnancies

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations

Chile

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

• Transactional SMS: Long Code (Phone Number)

• Promotional SMS: Long Code (Phone Number)

• 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): No

• Chile Phone Number: Yes

• Chile 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 21:30-10:30)

Additional Notes:

• Allowed SMS window: 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM local time

• Long Codes are strongly recommended for one-way traffic

• By default, all traffic will be changed to a Long Code unless a Short Code is specifically requested

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations

Colombia

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

• Transactional SMS: Short Code

• Promotional SMS: Short Code

• 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): No

• Colombia Phone Number: No

• Colombia Short Code: Yes (dedicated or shared)

• 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 (URL whitelisting required)

• Quiet Hours/Do Not Disturb: Yes - Marketing traffic only (Monday-Sunday 22:00-08:00)

Additional Notes:

• For Promotional Traffic: Allowed from 8:00 AM until 9:00 PM local time

• All senders will be overwritten to a shared short code

• Dedicated short codes can be requested directly from the CRC (Telecommunications Regulator in Colombia)

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations

Ecuador

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

• Transactional SMS: Short Code

• Promotional SMS: Short Code

• 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): No

• Ecuador Phone Number: No

• Ecuador 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:

• For Promotional Traffic: Messages must be sent Monday to Friday between 9 AM and 6 PM

• Every SMS must clearly identify the sender, including the sender's name or company name

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations

Guyana

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

• Transactional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")

• Promotional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")

• 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

• Guyana Phone Number: Yes

• Guyana 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

Additional Notes:

• Two-way SMS is not available; dynamic sender IDs fully supported

• Content restrictions: Gambling, political, and adult content is forbidden

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations

Paraguay

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

• Transactional SMS: Short Code

• Promotional SMS: Short Code

• 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): No

• Paraguay Phone Number: Yes

• Paraguay 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 20:00-08:00)

Additional Notes: Content restrictions: Gambling, political, and adult content is forbidden

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations

Peru

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

• Transactional SMS: Short Code

• Promotional SMS: Short Code

• 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): No

• Peru Phone Number: Yes

• Peru 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-Friday: 20:00-08:00

  • Saturday: 13:00-08:00

  • Sunday: All day (no SMS allowed)

Additional Notes:

• Allowed times for Promotional/Marketing Traffic:

  • Monday to Friday: 8 AM to 8 PM

  • Saturday: 9 AM to 1 PM (local time)

• Senders are classified as local or international

• All sender IDs will be overwritten with a short code

• Content restrictions: Gambling, political, and adult content is forbidden

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations

Suriname

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

• Transactional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")

• Promotional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")

• 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

• Suriname Phone Number: Yes

• Suriname 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

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations

Uruguay

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

• Transactional SMS: Short Code

• Promotional SMS: Short Code

• 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): No

• Uruguay Phone Number: No

• Uruguay 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-Sunday 20:00-08:00)

Additional Notes: Content restrictions: Gambling, political, and adult content is forbidden

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations

Venezuela

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

• Transactional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")

• Promotional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")

• 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 (Alphanumeric only, no pure Alpha)

• Venezuela Phone Number: Yes

• Venezuela 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: No (Only branded URL shortening like yourbrand.link is allowed)

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

Additional Notes:

• Only the Only Digital network accepts alphanumeric sender IDs

• For all other networks, sender IDs will be replaced with a short code

• Content restrictions: Gambling, political, and adult content is restricted

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations