The plural name Short codes in a computing context, refers to the language of the same name which was the first actually implemented language[1] used for an electronic computing device. The technique used in programming the device involved using codes which mapped to hardware functions. At the time,the language had to be 'hand coded' or simply put 'manually compiled' to machine code, rather than being able to parse it through a lexical analyser or compiler. The technique is named synonymously with pseudocodes, which can be confused with the highlevel language-independent algorithm 'language' representation. Short Code was the predecessor to Speedcoding, which extended Short Code by allowing for floating point calculations and code representation for the four calculation operators (* / + -?)
Short codes, also known short numbers or Common Short Codes (CSC) are special telephone numbers, significantly shorter than full telephone numbers, which can be used to address SMS and MMS messages from mobile telephones. They are designed to be shorter to read out and easier to remember than a normal length telephone number. While similar to telephone numbers, they are, at the technological level, unique to each operator, although providers generally have agreements to avoid overlaps.
Short codes are widely used for value-added services such as television voting, ordering ringtones, charity donations and mobile services (such as Google's SMS search service). Messages sent to short code numbers are generally billed at a higher rate than a standard SMS.
Regional differences
Codes are 5 or 6 digits in length. Codes starting with 4 are not permitted due to handset incompatibilities.
Codes are 4 digits in length.
Codes are 5 digits in length, starting with 6 or 8 (codes starting in 5 and 7 exist, but are reserved for future expansion). Individual network operators may come to an agreement with customers, allowing any number to be used - except for adult content services, which must use codes starting with 69 or 89.
Codes are generally 5 digits in length, although there are 4 digit short codes that predate the establishment of the Common Short Code Administration. Codes starting with 1 are not permitted.
Short codes of 6 digit lengths will be released to the US market by Neustar at www.usshortcodes.com in April 2006.
Messages sent to/from these short codes are known as Premium Rate SMS. Codes are 7 digits in length for MO and 5 (not billed) or 8 (billed) for MT direction, starting with 9, while two or three (depending on billing type=MO/MT) trailing digits express the price, e.g. sms sent to 9090930 is billed for 30 CZK. Leading 3 digits are purpose type prefixes (908=micropayments, 909=adult content, 900=all other), digits at position 4 and 5 determinates the service provider registered by a network operator. There are also other 4digit shortcodes, used by a network operators for service only purposes (operator dependent)
See also (Short Code)
- A Brief History of Programming Languages
- A Brief History of Computing Languages
- The Encylopedia of Computer Languages
See also (telecommunications )
- Canadian Shortcode site
- USA Shortcode site
- The Global ShortCode Directory
- US Common Short Code WHOIS Directory
- US Common Short Code Directory