Alphanumeric sender IDs

Your brand name in the from field.

An alphanumeric sender ID puts your brand name in the message's "from" field instead of a number. It's one-way: recipients see the name but can't reply. Many countries support it, and many require you to pre-register the sender string before it will deliver.

send-otp.ts

200 · 0.4s

import { BirdClient } from "@messagebird/sdk";

const bird = new BirdClient({ apiKey: process.env.BIRD_API_KEY! });

const code = generateOtp();

const { data, error } = await bird.sms.send({
  from: "Bird",
  to:   "+15005550006",
  text: `Your Bird verification code is ${code}. Reply STOP to opt out.`,
}).safe();

if (error) throw error;
console.log(data.id);
// → "sms_4kT01Lq2m..."

import { BirdClient } from "@messagebird/sdk";

const bird = new BirdClient({ apiKey: process.env.BIRD_API_KEY! });

const code = generateOtp();

const { data, error } = await bird.sms.send({
  from: "Bird",
  to:   "+15005550006",
  text: `Your Bird verification code is ${code}. Reply STOP to opt out.`,
}).safe();

if (error) throw error;
console.log(data.id);
// → "sms_4kT01Lq2m..."

send-otp.ts

200 · 0.4s

import { BirdClient } from "@messagebird/sdk";

const bird = new BirdClient({ apiKey: process.env.BIRD_API_KEY! });

const code = generateOtp();

const { data, error } = await bird.sms.send({
  from: "Bird",
  to:   "+15005550006",
  text: `Your Bird verification code is ${code}. Reply STOP to opt out.`,
}).safe();

if (error) throw error;
console.log(data.id);
// → "sms_4kT01Lq2m..."

import { BirdClient } from "@messagebird/sdk";

const bird = new BirdClient({ apiKey: process.env.BIRD_API_KEY! });

const code = generateOtp();

const { data, error } = await bird.sms.send({
  from: "Bird",
  to:   "+15005550006",
  text: `Your Bird verification code is ${code}. Reply STOP to opt out.`,
}).safe();

if (error) throw error;
console.log(data.id);
// → "sms_4kT01Lq2m..."

When a name beats a number.

An alphanumeric sender ID is one of the four sender types on Bird SMS numbers, part of the broader Bird SMS API. Reach for it when recipients should see your brand rather than a phone number and you don't need them to reply — notifications, OTP, and one-off alerts where the message is the whole conversation.

What an alphanumeric sender gives you.

Brand in the from field, with real constraints.

01
Your brand, not a number.
Recipients see a name they recognize instead of a string of digits, which makes a transactional message read as legitimate at a glance.
02
One-way only.
There's no number behind the name for replies to route to. If a recipient texts back, it goes nowhere — plan for a different channel or a separate number when you need an answer.
03
Support depends on the country.
Some destinations accept alphanumeric senders freely, some restrict them, and some don't allow them at all. The right sender for a route is a per-country decision.
04
Often needs pre-registration.
In many countries the sender string has to be registered before it delivers, and unregistered IDs get rewritten or dropped. Register ahead of the send rather than at send time.
05
Keep the string short.
An alphanumeric sender is a short label, typically up to 11 characters on GSM networks. Pick something close to the brand name recipients already know.

Set the sender per send.

Where the destination permits it, you set the sender string on the send itself — pass your brand in the from field instead of a number. The send shape is the same one you use for every sender type; only the from value changes.

alphanumeric.ts

202 · accepted

// "from" is your alphanumeric sender, not a number.
// Permitted per country; often pre-registered first.
const { data: message } = await bird.sms.send({
  from: "Bird",
  to:   "+447700900123",
  text: "Your verification code is 481920.",
}).safe();

Country rules decide what delivers.

Whether an alphanumeric sender works — and whether it has to be registered first — is set by each destination country and its carriers. Bird handles sender ID registration per country so the string you send is the string recipients see. When you need recipients to reply, use a long code, short code, or toll-free number instead.

Alphanumeric sender ID FAQ

What is an alphanumeric sender ID?+

It's a short text string — usually your brand name — that shows in the recipient's "from" field instead of a phone number. It's a label on the message, not a number you own.

Can someone reply to an alphanumeric sender?+

No. Alphanumeric senders are one-way. There's no number behind them to route a reply to, so recipients can't text back. Use a long code, short code, or toll-free number when you need two-way traffic.

How long can the sender string be?+

Keep it short — typically up to 11 characters on GSM networks. The exact constraint depends on the destination country and carrier, and what each one accepts.

Do I have to register the sender ID first?+

Often, yes. Many countries require an alphanumeric sender ID to be pre-registered before it will deliver, and some block unregistered ones outright. Register the ID per country before you rely on it.

Other ways to send

An alphanumeric sender is one of four sender types. Compare the rest.

Long codesLocal 10-digit numbers for two-way traffic, registered through A2P 10DLC.Short codes5–6 digit numbers built for high-throughput one-to-many sending.Toll-freeVerified toll-free numbers for US and Canada traffic without 10DLC.All SMS numbersCompare every sender type — reach, throughput, and registration.SMS API overviewThe full SMS API: sending, numbers, two-way, compliance, routing, and analytics.

Send from your brand where it lands.

An alphanumeric sender ID is one sender type on the Bird SMS numbers surface. Register the string per country, set it on the send, and reach recipients with a name they trust.

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