A2P (Application-to-Person) Messaging refers to SMS messages sent from a business application to individual consumers. Examples include appointment reminders, authentication codes, and marketing messages. A2P messaging requires registration (10DLC) to ensure deliverability.
A2P vs P2P
- A2P — Business-to-consumer, often automated
- P2P — Person-to-person, conversational
Carriers filter A2P differently than P2P, requiring proper registration.
A2P Registration
Since 2021, US carriers require A2P messages to be registered through 10DLC (long codes) or use short codes/toll-free for better throughput.