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Signature real-name registration

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Regulations from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and carriers require real-name registration for all SMS signatures. Failure to register will cause messages to fail. This document explains how to prepare your enterprise qualification, apply for a compliant signature, and complete the filing process to ensure the stability and compliance of your SMS operations.

Quick start

Important

Carrier filing typically takes 5 to 7 business days but can extend to 7 to 10 business days, with no guaranteed timeline. For new services, you must complete all filing procedures at least 10 business days in advance to avoid impacting your business schedule.

image

To ensure your signature passes registration, follow these three core steps:

  1. Prepare your enterprise qualification: Go to the Qualification Management page and ensure you have an enterprise qualification with an 'Approved' status. You cannot use qualifications from individual accounts for this registration.

  2. Apply for a compliant signature: Go to the Signature Management page to apply for a new signature or update an existing one. We strongly recommend using the "Full or Abbreviated Name of Enterprise/Public Institution" as the signature source. This option currently has the highest approval rate and fastest turnaround time.

  3. Initiate and verify the registration:

    • Initiate filing:

      • New signatures: Click Add Signature. Filing is automatically triggered after the signature is approved.

      • Existing signatures: Find the signature, click the details link in the Carrier Registration Status column, and follow the Recommended Action to file with each carrier. If the signature is not associated with a qualification, you must first click Edit Signature to link it. Filing is triggered automatically after you link the qualification.

    • Verify the registration:

      • When the registration status changes to 'Pending Verification', continue sending test messages using mobile numbers from the three major carriers (China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom). The platform will continuously monitor delivery to verify that it meets expectations.

Procedure

Step 1: Prepare a compliant enterprise qualification

Goal: Real-name registration requires valid proof of your enterprise's identity.

  1. Log on to the Short Message Service console.

  2. In the left-side navigation pane, choose Chinese Mainland Messages > Qualification Management.

  3. Check if you have an available qualification with an 'Approved' status.

Important

When you add a new qualification or edit a qualification, the following common filling errors will cause the filing to fail. Please pay special attention:

  • Landline number: The landline number you enter must exactly match the contact phone number in your enterprise's MIIT ICP filing record. Otherwise, your qualification will fail the carrier's check. This landline number does not affect the mobile number used in the message content.

  • Business license validity period: Enter the exact validity period from your business license. Avoid invalid dates like "1970-01-01". If the license is valid long-term, select the Long-term option.

  • Upload file name: We recommend removing special characters such as parentheses and spaces from the qualification file name to prevent system recognition errors.

Step 2: Apply for or update a compliant signature

Important

The following signature sources are no longer supported for carrier real-name registration. Even if some channels still allow sending, they are at risk of being suspended by carriers at any time due to compliance enforcement:

  • Launched App

  • Official Account or mini program

  • E-commerce Platform Store Name

  • Filed Website

If your existing signature uses one of the sources above, we recommend taking immediate action:

  • If the signature name is non-compliant (for example, it uses an app name or Official Account name): Click Add Signature and apply for a new signature based on the "Full or Abbreviated Name of Enterprise/Public Institution" or "Registered Trademark" standard to replace the old one.

  • If the signature name is compliant, but the source was selected incorrectly: In the console, click Edit Signature to change the source and provide the corresponding proof (such as a trademark registration certificate). This allows you to restart the filing process without changing the signature text.

Goal: Ensure the content and format of the signature meet the latest carrier specifications to increase the chances of passing registration.

  1. In the left-side navigation pane, choose Chinese Mainland Messages > Signature Management.

  2. Review your existing signatures or apply for a new one, ensuring it meets the following standards. We strongly recommend using "Enterprise/Public Institution Name" as the signature source.

Signature source

Requirements

Enterprise/Public Institution Name (Highly Recommended)

Full name: Must exactly match the name on the enterprise qualification certificate.
Abbreviated name: Must be a subset of the full enterprise name, uniquely identify the enterprise, and not be a generic term (like "Service Alert"). Do not skip or reorder characters.

Registered Trademark (Moderate)

The trademark must be searchable on the China Trademark Network of the National Intellectual Property Administration, and the trademark owner's name must match the enterprise name.

Launched App (Not Supported)

Carriers no longer support this source. Click to view policy details.

Signature naming rules (when using an enterprise name):

  1. Geographic information is required: The signature must include provincial or city information (for example, "Hangzhou XX Tech"). Signatures that omit geographic information and use only a brand name or a generic term (for example, "Service Alert") have an extremely low chance of passing registration and may be blocked.

  2. Uniqueness and integrity: An abbreviated signature must be a sequential subset of the full enterprise name and uniquely identify the entity. Do not skip, reorder, or oversimplify characters (abbreviations with fewer than four characters are high-risk). If a signature corresponds to multiple enterprises, it will not pass registration.

  3. Trademark authorization restrictions: Using a subsidiary's qualification with a parent company's trademark authorization is not supported for registration. Third-party authorizations are also not supported (for example, a parent company authorizing a third-party company, which is then used by another account). The trademark holder must directly authorize the entity associated with the Alibaba Cloud account, and the trademark must be nationally unique.

  4. Individual trademark restrictions: If a sole proprietorship's trademark is registered under the legal representative's personal name, you cannot use it for SMS signature registration. You must transfer the trademark to the enterprise's name before applying.

Step 3: Initiate filing and verify results

Goal: Formally submit the filing request to the carriers and activate the channels by sending test messages.

  1. Trigger filing:

    • New signatures: Click Add Signature. Filing is automatically triggered after the signature is approved.

    • Existing signatures: Find the signature, click the details link in the Carrier Registration Status column, and follow the Recommended Action to file with each carrier. If the signature is not associated with a qualification, you must first click Edit Signature to link it. Filing is triggered automatically after you link the qualification.

  2. Track filing status:
    On the Signature Management page, check the status in the "Carrier Registration Status" column. You can click Details to view the individual registration status and failure reasons for each carrier (China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom).

  3. Verify the registration result:
    When any carrier's registration status changes to 'Pending Verification', you must complete the final verification. Instructions:

    Note

    • Test messages will consume your SMS quota, so only a few tests are needed.

    • Use your own mobile number to confirm delivery in real time and verify that the signature and content are displayed correctly.

    • If a carrier's registration status remains 'Pending Verification' for a long time, try sending a test message using a mobile number from that specific carrier.

    • Whose mobile numbers to use:

      • Use your own or your team members' mobile numbers for testing.

      • The numbers must belong to the three major carriers: China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom.

      • To verify the registration status with different carriers, we recommend having at least one number from each of the three carriers.

    • Who to send to:

      • Recommended: Send the test messages to your own mobile number.

      • You can also send them to team members' mobile numbers for verification.

      • Purpose: To verify the association between the signature and the number by sending actual messages.

    • Verification requirements:

      • Send at least one successful test message for each carrier (China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom).

      • Ensure you use a corresponding carrier's number for testing (for example, use a China Mobile number to test China Mobile's registration).

      • Suggested sending volume: For 5 to 7 business days, send at least 10 messages per carrier each day. To cover more channels, ensure you send messages on at least 3 different days during this period.

    • Test number instructions:

      • You can use the same batch of mobile numbers for repeated testing; there is no need to change numbers frequently.

      • If you lack a number from a specific carrier (such as China Telecom), you can borrow one from a colleague or friend for testing.

    • About failed messages: Failed messages can also trigger the system's automatic supplemental filing process, and failed messages do not incur charges. We recommend continuing to send test messages during the 'Pending Verification' stage even if a test message fails.

    • Verification result:

      • System auto-detection: The platform dynamically evaluates delivery performance and updates the status automatically. There is no fixed success rate threshold. As long as your actual business delivery rate meets expectations, you can use the service normally. You do not need to be overly concerned if the console status has not yet changed to 'Registered'. When the signature status is Available - Normal, messages can be sent normally even if the carrier registration status is Pending Verification; you do not need to wait until it changes to 'Registered'.

        Carrier enforcement policies may differ. A failed registration changes the signature status to Available - Abnormal and affects the delivery success rate. We recommend sending a small batch of test messages first and sending in bulk only after the delivery rate meets expectations.

      • Success criteria: If the delivery success rate meets expectations (calculated dynamically by the system), the registration status will automatically update to 'Registered'.

      • Verification time: The signature registration status will typically change from 'Pending Verification' to 'Registered' within 24–48 hours after a successful test message is sent, as the system automatically updates the status.

Check registration status

  • You can log on to the Short Message Service console's Signature Management page and check the registration status for Approved signatures in the Carrier Registration Status list. The status for each carrier is displayed separately.

    You can also get the registration status from the RegisterResult output parameter of the GetSmsSign API.

  • For signatures that have initiated filing, you can click Registration Records in the Actions column to view historical records.

Status details and troubleshooting

  1. You can click the image icon next to the Carrier Registration Status column to view a diagram of the status flow, along with corresponding status descriptions and recommended actions.

  2. If the registration for an approved signature fails, you can click Details in the Carrier Registration Status list to view the reason for failure. The system will clearly indicate the specific issue that caused the failure and provide operational guidance.

  3. You can click the options in the pop-up window to quickly initiate filing or to supplement and modify qualification information based on the recommended actions.

Status

Action

imageRegistering

You have submitted your qualification and signature for review on Alibaba Cloud. We have initiated the real-name registration with the carriers but have not yet received the registration results. The carrier's registration decision is made independently by the carrier; Alibaba Cloud cannot influence the review progress or outcome.

The progress of real-name registration systems varies among carriers, leading to different filing speeds for different sub-port numbers under the same signature. The carrier real-name filing process averages 5-7 business days. However, based on recent observations, some carriers require 7-10 business days, and carriers do not guarantee this timeline. It may actually take longer. We recommend waiting for the signature registration status to change to 'Pending Verification' before sending messages in bulk. In the meantime, you can try sending messages with this signature in small, frequent batches to observe delivery performance. You cannot edit the signature or re-trigger filing during this period. We recommend waiting patiently, and sending test messages with this signature in small, frequent batches as described above to trigger supplementary filing.

imageNot Registered

imageFiling has not been initiated for the current signature.

For historical signatures that have not been filed, click Edit Signature to link a qualification. Filing is automatically triggered after you link the qualification. The status will change to 'Registering'. Please wait patiently.

If the currently associated qualification is incorrect, please modify and complete the information or switch to another approved qualification.

imageRegistration Failed

imageRegistration failed due to incorrect information in the associated qualification.

The qualification associated with the current signature is incorrect. Please modify and complete the information or switch to another approved qualification. To change the qualification:

  1. Click the Edit Signature button.

  2. On the next page, fill in any missing fields and update expired certificate information as prompted.

  3. Click Submit and wait for review.

  4. After the qualification is approved, filing will be automatically triggered. If the qualification review fails, please modify and resubmit.

If there is no available qualification under your account, go to Chinese Mainland Messages > Qualification Management in the left-side navigation pane. Click Add Qualification and follow the instructions in Qualification material specifications to apply for a qualification.

imageRegistration failed because the signature does not meet the carrier's real-name compliance requirements.

The current signature is non-compliant. Click Edit Signature to link it to another approved qualification, or click Add Signature to apply for a new signature that meets carrier requirements.

imageThe carrier could not process the registration, or the registration task timed out.

Alibaba Cloud initiated the real-name registration with the carrier, but we did not receive a result in a timely manner. Therefore, the registration has failed or timed out. Based on recent observations, some signatures fail or time out because they do not meet carrier requirements. We recommend the following actions:

  1. Check if your signature meets the current carrier requirements. If not, we recommend deactivating it and applying for a new, compliant signature.

  2. Currently, registrations for signatures sourced from a "Registered Trademark" are processed significantly slower than those from an "Enterprise/Public Institution Name". We recommend using "Enterprise/Public Institution Name" as your signature.

  3. If you are already using "Enterprise/Public Institution Name" as your signature source, we suggest you verify the sending effect through small, frequent sends.

  4. If both the qualification and signature are compliant, continue sending test messages. If you need to re-initiate filing, click Edit Signature to change the qualification or Edit Associated Qualification. The platform will automatically re-initiate filing after submission.

imageMulti-enterprise administrator verification failed ("single administrator for multiple enterprises").

The three major carriers (China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom) enforce a strict "one administrator per enterprise" rule. The same ID card number can only be used as the administrator for one enterprise's SMS qualification. If the same administrator has already served in this role on other platforms or for other qualifications under this account, the registration will fail with a "Multi-enterprise administrator verification failed" error. To resolve this: In the left-side navigation pane, choose Chinese Mainland Messages > Qualification Management, find the qualification associated with the signature, and click Edit in the Actions column. In the Administrator Information section at the bottom of the qualification editing page, replace the information with a new person (including ID number and mobile number) who has not been an administrator for any other qualification. Click Submit, and the system will automatically re-initiate the filing with the carriers.

Verification logic: The "single administrator for multiple enterprises" check combines the administrator's ID card number with the enterprise's unified social credit code. It is unrelated to your Alibaba Cloud account or to the identity verification of that account. The same ID card number can serve as the SMS qualification administrator for only one enterprise. Therefore, a signature that is associated with a reused administrator cannot pass carrier verification.

How to self-check: In the Short Message Service console, choose Qualification Management in the left-side navigation pane. Compare the Enterprise Name or Real-name Verified Name and Legal Representative (or Person in Charge of the Public Institution) Name columns to check whether one administrator is associated with multiple enterprise entities. You can also click Details for a single qualification to view the full administrator information, including the ID card number.

Before you edit: When you edit a qualification that has already been approved, the system re-verifies the administrator information. If that administrator is already associated with another enterprise qualification, the filing fails. Check the details of each qualification before you edit to confirm that the administrator is not duplicated.

Note: Changing the administrator will not affect the normal sending on carrier channels where this signature has already been successfully registered.

imageRegistration failed due to a restricted China Mobile carrier interface.

When registration fails because of a restricted China Mobile carrier interface, re-trigger the filing by changing the administrator information:

  1. In the left-side navigation pane, choose Chinese Mainland Messages > Qualification Management.

  2. Find the qualification associated with the signature and click Edit in the Actions column. If the signature is not yet associated with a qualification, click Add Qualification to create one.

  3. In the Administrator Information section at the bottom of the qualification editing page, change the administrator's ID information and mobile number.

  4. Click Submit. The system will automatically re-initiate the filing with the carriers.

Using the same administrator to apply for multiple different enterprise qualifications will cause registration to fail. Please ensure a one-administrator-per-enterprise policy to improve the success rate.

imageOther reasons.

The current signature registration failed. Click the Details button in the Carrier Registration Status column to view the specific failure reason for each carrier and follow the provided Recommended Action.

imagePending Verification

imageThe signature registration is pending verification.

You now need to verify if the message delivery success rate meets expectations. Please send verification code or notification messages to numbers from different carriers (China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom) to test the delivery. If messages have been sent, check the error information in the sending records. If the error is related to registration, confirm the accuracy of the associated qualification and whether the signature name complies with the rules. See Signature Real-Name Compliance Requirements.

  • If the signature is non-compliant, please replace it.

  • If the associated qualification is incorrect: Modify the current qualification to complete the information, or click Edit Signature to link it to another approved qualification to re-initiate filing.

  • If both the qualification and signature are compliant, continue sending test messages. The platform will continuously monitor delivery to see if it meets expectations.

If a test message returns error code IB:0310 (China Mobile), the port number currently in use has not completed the enterprise real-name registration process.

Complete the real-name registration process before sending messages. The carrier real-name registration process takes 5-7 business days on average. For more error codes, see SMS delivery receipt error codes.

imageRegistered

imageA carrier has approved the registration for at least one of the underlying channels.

The success rate of messages sent with this signature meets expectations. Please continue to monitor.

Note

If you need to update information, you can Edit Signature or Edit Associated Qualification. After updating, you will need to re-file, and the status will change to 'Registering'.

imageExpired

imageNo messages have been sent with this signature for over 6 months.

If a signature has no sending records for more than six months after passing registration, its status changes to 'Expired', and you can no longer send messages with it. You must complete the filing process again before sending.

  • To re-enable this signature, confirm that the signature and associated qualification information are compliant, then click File. If they are non-compliant, click Edit Signature to link to another approved qualification to re-initiate filing.

  • If you no longer plan to use this signature, you can delete it. A deleted signature cannot be recovered or used.

imageExtension code reclaimed.

The original registration has expired. Check if the signature and associated qualification information are accurate. If they are compliant, you can initiate filing again. If not, Edit Signature to link to another approved qualification to re-initiate filing.

imageCarrier signature compliance enforcement.

The original registration expired due to a carrier compliance enforcement action. Check if the signature and associated qualification information are accurate. If they are compliant, you can initiate filing again. If not, Edit Signature to update the signature information. The platform will automatically re-initiate filing after it is approved.

Verification code fallback

If a signature's status is 'Registering', 'Pending Verification', or 'Registration Failed', and you have an urgent business need and cannot wait for registration to complete, you can enable the Verification Code Fallback feature as a temporary measure.

Feature description: When enabled, if sending a verification code with your own signature fails, the system automatically switches to Alibaba Cloud's generic fallback signature and template to ensure the code is delivered.

Configuration: Log on to the Short Message Service console. In the left-side navigation pane, choose General Settings > Chinese Mainland Message Settings > Verification Code Fallback and follow the on-screen instructions to enable it.

Note

  • The fallback solution is only effective for verification code messages; it does not apply to notification or marketing messages.

  • The fallback solution is not a substitute for the real-name registration process. After enabling it, you must continue to send test messages with your own signature to complete the registration.

Certificate validity management

Both the enterprise business license and the administrator's ID card in a qualification have a validity period. An expired certificate invalidates the associated qualification, which in turn can invalidate the signature registration or cause message delivery to fail. Manage certificate validity proactively.

Notification behavior: The Short Message Service console does not proactively notify you when a certificate is about to expire or has expired. There is no certificate expiration notification switch or configuration entry under General Settings, and the Message Center does not push certificate expiration reminders. Check validity periods yourself as described below instead of relying on system reminders.

Check validity periods:

  1. Log on to the Short Message Service console. In the left-side navigation pane, choose Chinese Mainland Messages > Qualification Management.

  2. The qualification list does not display a certificate validity period column. Find the qualification and click Details in the Actions column.

  3. In the basic information section of the details page, check the validity period to confirm the expiration dates of the enterprise business license and the administrator's (or legal representative's) ID card.

Update the qualification before expiration:

  1. On the Qualification Management page, find the qualification and click Edit in the Actions column.

  2. Update the validity periods and certificate images for the business license and the ID card, and then click Submit.

  3. After the qualification is approved again, the system automatically re-initiates filing with the carriers, and the registration status changes to 'Registering'.

Note

  • If the business license is valid long-term, select Long-term for the validity period to avoid qualification or registration verification failures caused by an incorrect validity period.

  • Allow enough time before a certificate expires. Both the qualification review and the carrier re-filing take time, and the carrier real-name filing process averages 5-7 business days.

FAQ

The following are frequently asked questions about filing:

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