Why are SMS messages reviewed?
Is a review necessary before sending SMS messages? How can you improve your approval rate? This topic breaks down how reviews work, explains why business identity verification is necessary, addresses common concerns about review times, and provides key tips to help you get approved faster and reach users compliantly.
Why are reviews required?
A strict review of SMS messages ensures content security, improves delivery rates, and provides a stable, long-term sms service for all users.
The review standards for message content are based on national policies and regulations. They are designed to control the transmission of illegal and non-compliant messages and to meet carrier requirements for real-name registration when sending messages. These standards must be strictly enforced. Any oversight that allows the mass sending of non-compliant messages can harm user privacy and assets, damage your brand's reputation, and compromise the stability and efficiency of the entire messaging channel.
Required reviews
Before you can send messages, you must pass a qualification review, an sms signature review, and an sms template review. We recommend that you review your submission against the standards to prevent common rejections and avoid delays.
Category | Description | Review standards |
Qualification review | To control non-compliant messages and meet carrier identification requirements, you must provide identity documents for the entity that owns the sms signature before applying. The qualification review helps filter out businesses with non-compliant operations and identify potential risks. It also prevents malicious actors from impersonating your business to send messages, which could damage your brand's reputation. | |
sms signature review | An SMS signature is an identifier for the sender. It is the content displayed in brackets【】 at the beginning of a message. Signatures typically use a company name, product name, or trademark, which allows users to quickly identify the sender. When you create an SMS signature, you must follow the signature specifications to specify the signature source and provide a scenario link. If a signature is intended for other's use, you must also upload a power of attorney. The SMS service reviews the content, length, and format of each signature, as well as its signature source and signature purpose. | Power of attorney guidelines (required for signatures for other's use) |
sms template review | An sms template is the complete message content that users receive, including variables and static text. You can apply for a verification code, notification message, or promotional message template. Different application scenarios have different review rules. |
Common review terms
Neutral signature: A signature that does not refer to a specific business or service. An sms signature must have a clear and specific meaning to identify the sender. Vague or generic signatures are not supported.
Common examples of rejected neutral signatures: "Customer service notice", "Hello customer". Approved examples: "Alibaba Cloud", "Tmall".
For your own use or for other's use: This setting specifies if the business scenario, such as an app or a verified entity, associated with the sms signature matches the identity of the Alibaba Cloud account holder. If they match, the purpose is
for your own use. If they do not match, the purpose isfor other's use, and requires third-party authorization documents.
Pre-submission checklist
Qualifications
Incorrectly selecting the purpose as
for your own useorfor other's use: If the business entity using the sms service is the same as the entity verified for this Alibaba Cloud account and no third party is involved, selectfor your own use. Otherwise, selectfor other's use.Submitting black-and-white photocopies of documents without an official seal: Original color copies of business licenses, legal representative IDs, and administrator IDs do not require a seal. However, photocopies or black-and-white scans must be stamped with the company's official red seal.
Signatures
The signature purpose is
for other's use, but a power of attorney is not provided: When the use case involves a third-party company, you must first apply for a qualificationfor other's useand provide a power of attorney. Ensure the authorizer, authorized party, signature scope, seal, signature, and date are correct. The power of attorney must be valid, and the application content must match the information in the authorization document.The requested signature is a neutral signature: An sms signature must serve as a meaningful identifier for the sender. Vague or generic signatures are not supported. We recommend applying for a signature that matches your company name, an affiliated institution's name, a trademark, or the name of an active application.
The signature does not meet requirements: We recommend creating a signature that complies with the Signature rules.
The signature source is selected incorrectly: We recommend you select the appropriate signature source based on the signature source and required materials guidelines.
Templates
Incorrect variable attributes are selected: The selected variable attribute does not match the intended content of the variable in the template. You must select attributes that accurately describe the variable's content and avoid arbitrary selections.
For example, for a variable ${name}, you should select User Nickname or Personal Name. For a variable ${time}, you should select Time. If you select Other for the ${name} or ${time} variable, your application will be rejected for incorrect variable selection.
Third-party involvement: If the business scenario in the template content involves a third-party company, you must associate it with an approved sms signature that is
for other's use. You must first apply for a signature for other's use and provide a power of attorney. Authorizations from individuals are not supported.The template content belongs to a restricted industry: You must select the correct template type, associate it with an sms signature for the correct purpose, and ensure your message content is compliant. For example:
Illegal or non-compliant industries are not allowed to access the sms service.
For the financial industry, sms templates can only be associated with signatures that are
for your own use, and promotional messages are not supported.Templates for member holiday greetings, birthday wishes, and similar content must be submitted as promotional message templates.
Scenario or variable examples are not provided: In the scenario description, provide a complete sample message. If the template includes a variable, describe its content in detail.
Submit for review
Review duration: Qualification reviews can take longer due to high volume and carrier requirements, but are expected to be completed within two business days. Sms signatures and templates are typically reviewed within two hours of submission. For applications related to government or enterprise entities, the review usually takes up to two business days. Review times may also be longer during verification escalations, high-volume periods, or outside of business hours.
Review hours: Monday to Sunday, 9:00 to 21:00 (excluding public holidays).
Related reading
If you have issues with the application process or your submission is rejected, refer to the following topics: