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 mandatory quiet hours (Bird applies a default 20:00-11:00 window to promotional SMS, which you can change or switch off in your workspace's sender preferences)
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 9:00 PM
- Saturday: 8:00 AM to 9:00 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
- Sunday night: 21:30-08:30
- Monday-Friday nights: 21:30-10:30
- Saturday night: 21:30-00:30
Additional Notes:
- Allowed SMS window:
- Monday: 8:30 AM to 9:30 PM
- Tuesday-Saturday: 10:30 AM to 9:30 PM
- Sunday: 12:30 AM to 9:30 PM
- 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: 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): No*
- Colombia Phone Number: No*
- Colombia Short Code: Yes**
- International Phone Number: No*
- Generic Sender ID (Sender IDs that don't clearly identify your brand): No*
- No* - means you can configure the channel with an Alphanumeric Sender ID, but the operators will deliver them with a random short code
- Yes** - means that the short code is supported, but only a random one assigned by operators. Dedicated short codes are available only for local entities.
Restrictions
- Operator Registration Required: No
- Generic URL Shortening: No
- URL whitelisting required: Yes
- Quiet Hours/Do Not Disturb: Yes - Marketing traffic only (Monday-Sunday 20:00-08:00)
Additional Notes:
- For Promotional Traffic: Allowed from 8:00 AM until 8:00 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), but only if your company is a Colombian-registered legal entity
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: Yes
- Monday-Friday: 18:00-09:00
- Saturday and Sunday: All day (no SMS allowed)
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: 8 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