ShortShout Help

Need help using ShortShout? This is the place. Check out the Frequently Asked Questions and if you cannot find the answer you are looking for, use the form below.

• 1. What is an SMS message?
  SMS stands for Short Message Service and is the technical word for text messages. In the most basic sense, text messages are short messages (160-characters or less) that almost every modern cell phone is capable of sending and receiving.
• 2. What is "a ShortShout"?
  "A ShortShout" is a short, instantaneous message sent to a group of people. The ShortShout service is a group text messaging platform. Use ShortShout to send an SMS text message to the cell phones of a group of people.
• 3. What cell phone carriers can you send messages to?
  Alltel, AT&T, Bluegrass¹, Boost¹, Cellular South¹, Centennial¹, Centennial Bell¹, Cingular², Dobson, ECIT (Cellular One of East Central IL)¹, Farmers Wireless¹, Metrocall², Mobile Comm², Nextel, nTelos¹, PACE¹, Silverstar¹, Skytel², Sprint, Suncom¹, T-Mobile, US Cellular¹, Verizon, Virgin Mobile¹ and West Central¹.
  ^1,2While unlikely, connectivity to these carries may vary depending on availablity.
• 4. Why is there a 160-character limit?
  SMS messages have been historically limited to 160 characters. While newer smart phones can accept variations of SMS that are more than 160-characters, ShortShout limits the messages so that they will properly be received on all phones.
• 5. What is a recurring message?
  A recurring text message is a message that is set to repeat on a regular basis. For instance, a text message that should be sent ever Friday at 5 pm is a recurring message. With ShortShout, you can set as many recurring messages as you need.
• 6. What is a scheduled message?
  A scheduled text message is a message that is written and scheduled to be sent at a pre-defined time. For example, you can create a message that is sent 1 hour before a special event. Unlike recurring messages, a scheduled message only occurs once.
• 7. What delivery method does ShortShout use?
  ShortShout uses an SMS gateway and direct connections to leading cell phone providers to deliver true text messages. Other text messaging service providers have unreliable services at deeply discounted prices. They do this by using the SMTP-to-SMS service available on many phones—they send emails to cell phones instead of text messages. This causes all kinds of technical problems and is restricted by nearly every major provider.
• 8. How does ShortShout prevent abuse?
  ShortShout makes sure that everyone who receives messages actually wants them. ShortShout uses a double confirmation method to handle new subscriptions. Users must sign up for text messages and confirm their selection after they receive an activation PIN. This is an easy process and each subscriber is guided through the two step process. ShortShout also provides immediate un-subscription services. All text messages sent with the ShortShout text message service contain instructions on how to unsubscribe.
• 9. How can I buy messages?
  Text messages (a.k.a. credis) are bought in your account and must be purchased before they are used. You can purchase message credits using any major credit card, PayPal or invoicing. Invoicing provides an extra avenue of payment that is particularly helpful for church staffers who do not have access to a Church credit card. Invoice payments most be paid with business checks (no money orders).
• 10. Do text messages expire?
  Our text messages have a long shelf life. Messages expire 6 months after purchase, giving you plenty of time to use them. We will let you know when they are about to expire—we want you to get your money's worth. Please note that we can extend this in special circumstances.
• 11. How many user accounts can I create?
  You can create an unlimited number of users with access to your ShortShout account. You could let everyone you know log in and send messages.
• 12. Is there any limit on group size?
  There are no limits or penalties for group size. You can have as many text message subscribers as you would like. In fact, ShortShort rewards groups that purchase messages in bulk with lower per-message rates.

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