Frequently Asked Questions

• The Mobile Outbound SMS Service is a SMS termination package that delivers text messages directly to mobile subscribers’ handsets. Our customers take advantage of our unrivalled 15-second delivery guarantee and strict Service Level Agreements (SLAs), enabling them to integrate text messaging into any kind of application such as person-to-person messaging, time-critical alerts and notifications, mobile content delivery, mobile ads and entertainment, as well as mobile tickets and coupons.

• The Mobile Inbound SMS Service enables the reliable, global reception of SMS messages into an application, such as marketing campaigns, promotions and TV voting, as well as SMS chat and dating, social networking and enterprise applications. tyntec’s messaging platform is scalable and can process high volumes of incoming messages, enabling customers to integrate inbound services into mission-critical applications.

• The 2-Way Mobile Dialogue SMS Service is the seamless combination of the Mobile Outbound and Inbound services. It provides secure and reliable SMS sending and receiving on a global scale, allowing business customers to benefit from full interactivity, as well as the possibility to integrate SMS into various business applications such as marketing campaigns and promotions, 2-way dialogue with consumers, SMS chat and networking, as well as the use of SMS in mission-critical processes and customer services like mobile check-in.

• tyntec provides Query services that offer real-time identification of which network a particular mobile phone number (MSISDN) belongs to, which is vital in Mobile Number Portability environments. tyntec’s Network Query, Voice Network Query and Super Query provide various levels of services for real-time network information lookups. 

• The Mobile Authentication service allows a wide range of sectors to implement 2-factor authentication via SMS in a reliable, secure and straightforward way.  Building a mobile authentication component with One Time Passwords or mTANs into transaction processes gives companies access to a powerful and personalized identity authentication to prevent fraud.

• tyntec enables companies to integrate Mobile Ticketing solutions in a wide range of applications. Whether it is sending boarding passes, mobile travel tickets, event tickets or discount coupons and vouchers, tyntec provides a reliable, modular and feature-rich solution.

• tyntec’s International Messaging Transit (IMT) is a leading SMS hubbing service which is fully compliant with the GSM Association’s hubbing standards. IMT enables seamless 1-way and 2-way SMS connectivity to nearly 700 networks worldwide. This service avoids introducing additional bi-lateral roaming agreements, enabling operators to immediately gain access to additional networks for SMS just by connecting to tyntec.

• The Number Portability SCOUT (NPS) service allows mobile operators to optimise voice traffic routing by identifying which network a particular mobile phone number (MSISDN) belongs to before routing a voice call. These MNP checks enable massive cost savings by removing both the call forwarding cost and the blended rates on the buying and selling side. Customers also benefit from increased cost control and reduced customer complaints due to blocked call forwarding.

The reason why tyntec does not provide premium SMS is due to its low quality and reliability. tyntec is solely focused on high-quality mobile interaction solutions and thus premium SMS does not belong in our product portfolio.

tyntec does offer non-premium alternatives for inbound SMS based on long numbers.

tyntec has designed and built a unique technology infrastructure which allows companies of all sizes to integrate SMS into mission-critical activities with absolute conviction.  It enables high-quality SMS transmission and reception, enabling the use of SMS as a mission-critical communications tool for the first time.

• No intermediaries between tyntec and subscriber: because of its operator-level connectivity, tyntec can reach mobile subscribers directly, without going through third party servers.  In this way, tyntec can offer full transparency and complete security of the entire SMS transmission path, from the sender right to the end-user's handset.

• Technology flexibility: because of its proprietary in-house infrastructure, tyntec is able to offer customers a highly flexible technical development interface. tyntec's platform is able to address specific customer needs to adapt and/or create value-added features and interfaces, which are available across all networks.  This flexibility means that tyntec's customers can quickly and easily implement advanced mobile interaction services according to their needs.

• Robustness: tyntec's messaging infrastructure is highly robust and reliable, with the ability to maintain high volumes of traffic with no service degradation as well as providing high platform availability. This means that customers can rely on tyntec for mission critical traffic around the clock.

tyntec’s technology setup is unique in the mobile messaging space.

Whereas competitors have to connect to each and every single mobile operator, leading to an inconsistent range of standards, formats and access points to the customer, tyntec offers a single, reliable access point to the mobile world. It means that tyntec can offer a wide and consistent range of services, features and interfaces without network restriction.

Traditional SMS suppliers generally rely on the infrastructure of individual destination mobile operators to deliver SMS. Therefore, when the platform of the destination operator is unavailable, the SMS provider cannot deliver the message. tyntec’s direct access into the global mobile network means that the company can reach the subscriber’s handset without depending on the destination operator’s infrastructure to deliver the message. 

Similarly, competing SMS providers will generally buy technology solutions from third-party infrastructure providers, meaning that they are reliant on their supplier to integrate any additional features, interfaces or special configurations. tyntec has the engineering capability to build its own platforms. In this way, tyntec can integrate features and interfaces into its platform and control its scalability and availability more easily.

tyntec is an independent SMS operator, whose technology ultimately provides full control and consistency for the integration of features, interfaces and specific technical developments across all networks, without depending on outsourced mobile infrastructure providers or mobile operators. Scalability and availability can also be entirely controlled, which enables a higher level of reliability in comparison to the competition.

Most importantly, through tyntec’s technology our customers take advantage of our entire quality package, including: 15-second delivery guarantee, no-message loss policy, global reach, real-time and handset-sourced delivery notifications, as well as service level agreements (SLAs) and integrity of security and transparency.

tyntec offers a wide range of SMS services and features that enable multimedia messaging and the use of SMS into mission-critical applications. tyntec does not provide MMS or mobile instant messaging, but instead recommends reliable alternatives based on hyperlink SMS and WAP-Push.

Mobile interaction enables businesses to integrate the mobile channel, especially SMS messaging, into business applications to create an interactive dialogue in business-to-business, business-to-consumer, as well as consumer-to-consumer communications.

Companies can use SMS interaction for a wide range of applications such as:

• Business-to-business: e.g. applications like machine-to-machine (or telematics), where two applications communicate with each other, or the exchange of messages in corporate environments, like incident alerts and staff communications.
• Business-to-consumer: businesses can send time-critical alerts, updates and reminders, mobile Campaigns & Promotionscampaigns and promotions, content and entertainment applications to their customers.
• Consumer-to-business: consumer initiated interaction with company, such as media voting and competitions.
• Consumer-to-consumer: applied in use cases such as chat and dating as well as social networking.

SMS is ubiquitous, simple and cost effective.  It is available anywhere in the globe, it is an easy and popular tool among consumers and it works on virtually any mobile device or network.

As an enterprise communications service, SMS has significant benefits over competing mobile technologies.  It is near-instant, highly personal and fully interactive.  Using international SMS, enterprises can create seamless interaction with their customers, their staff or their stakeholders with almost no additional infrastructure investment.  

SMS is also very flexible in the way it can be used.  It can be used as a time-critical alerting system, as a targeted two-way communications channel, as a personalised advertising medium or as a time-sensitive information dissemination tool. 

SMS interaction offers many benefits for companies looking to integrate the mobile channel into their communications portfolio. Because SMS can be applied in so many ways, it offers a wide range of customer benefits, such as:

• Reduce costs by replacing paper and phone calls, as well as cutting redundant operational costs in customer services and call centres.
• Mobilize processes and increase efficiency by integrating real-time, international SMS interaction into staff communications and problem resolution.
• Enhance security by using SMS in authentication processes. 
• Improve customer convenience and loyalty by enabling end-users to access information easily from anywhere, at anytime.
• Create consumer trust in mobile services by offering high quality communications that demonstrate that the mobile channel works and is reliable.
• Implement green communications by replacing paper with SMS and thus avoiding paper waste.

tyntec is a global mobile interaction service provider, offering high-quality mobile messaging and information services to mobile network operators, enterprises, mobile service providers and internet companies.

tyntec offers its customers an unparalleled level of quality in 2-way SMS interaction services. This promise is based on the company’s pioneering service level agreements (SLAs) and end-to-end security of message transmission. tyntec enables its customers to reach more than 90% of global mobile subscribers and offers a 15-second SMS delivery guarantee, handset-sourced delivery notifications of all messages and a no-message loss promise.

tyntec was founded in 2002 and currently has more than 120 employees working at several locations in Great Britain, Germany and Singapore.

Customers can take advantage of our quality-based services, with full security, reliability and global reach. Because of these quality elements, customers can:

• Enable dialogue on mobile by allowing consumers to easily interact with your brand.
• Reach a global consumer base by connecting to the worldwide SMS footprint provided by tyntec.
• Implement SMS without additional investment in infrastructure by relying on tyntec’s robust and flexible technology.
• Minimize complexity for additional messaging reach by having single legal, technical and billing relationship for SMS.
• Have peace of mind when implementing SMS as a standard tool in consumer and enterprise communications by using the highest quality in SMS available in the market.
• Count on 24/7/365 customer and technical support.

tyntec today has 500+ business customers, spread around the globe. Our largest customers are based in Europe and South East Asia.

tyntec provides high-quality services to leading enterprises, internet companies and mobile operators, including global clients such as O2, Lufthansa Systems, Nokia, Amadeus and Verisign.

tyntec provides an unparalleled level of quality in mobile interaction due to unique quality elements:

• Guaranteed delivery of messages within 15 seconds and no message loss guarantee

• Complete security and integrity of messages as they are carried on tyntec’s infrastructure from end-to-end. Sensitive information is not stored in third party servers as tyntec controls the entire transmission process.

• Unique Service Level Agreements (SLAs) measure the service performance such as delivery time and number of messages processed per second.

• Global footprint capability over multiple network technologies across a vast global footprint, reaching about 90% of mobile subscribers worldwide.

• Real-time delivery notifications mean that you can track each message directly to the recipient handset and receive alerts if a message fails to deliver (for example if the phone is switched off).

tyntec measures quality by providing customers with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Service Level Agreements (SLAs):

• Availability: tyntec commits that the tyntec Platform will be 99.7% available as measured over six continuous months.
• Transit time: this is the average delivery time, which should be less than 15 seconds.
• Bandwidth: this is the number of accepted messages per second. This means that the tyntec platform will handle high volumes of SMS traffic in the minimum feasible time.
• Support services: these include response / resolution times, escalation procedure and the technical support provided to customers.

SMS delivery notifications give the delivery status of any SMS message sent. These can take the format of:

• A standard delivery receipt, sourced directly from the handset as soon as the message has been successfully delivered.
• A GSM Return Code which gives the status of messages sent, but not delivered, giving reasons why.

There are a number of common reasons why messages cannot be delivered:

• The SIM card of the subscriber is full and cannot receive additional messages.
• The mobile phone is off or it is not reachable, e.g. there is no network coverage.
• SIM card disabled by carrier

• Recipient MSISDN is invalid

GSM Return Codes provide information allowing the tracking of all messages sent. This allows customers to identify which messages could not be delivered and establish appropriate retry schemes for sending the message.

A Return Code contains the delivery status of a message and detailed error code, which is provided by both GSM Return Codes and tyntec Return Codes. The GSM Return Code provides the official GSM codes for each message, whereas tyntec’s Return Codes provide a simplified and more user-friendly delivery notification system.

Our technology ensures that our customers have full transparency and complete security of the entire SMS transmission path, from the sender right to the end-user's handset. These measures also ensure that sensitive information is never stored in third party servers, ensuring the integrity of confidential information sent via mobile.

Reaching subscribers directly, thus avoiding the bottleneck of mobile operators’ infrastructure, is needed to provide full control and transparency across the entire path of the SMS transmission. Our operator-level connectivity means that tyntec can reach mobile subscribers directly, without going through third party servers and thus keeping the control over the SMS transmission from end-to-end.

tyntec provides a wide range of value-added features that enhance the quality of its services. We provide the following features for Mobile Outbound SMS service:

• Numeric Originator, Alphanumeric Originator or Short Code Originator unique to each message
• Dynamic Originator Replacement for selected networks
• Unicode and Flash SMS
• Binary and concatenated messages
• Over the air messages (protocol ID)
• WAP-Push SMS
• TON/NPI settings
• Mobile Number Portability check
• Real-time Delivery Receipts
• Buffered Notifications (notification after first delivery attempt)
• GSM Return Codes
• Local Time Stamps
• Message Expiry Control

We also provide features for Mobile Inbound SMS:

• TON / NPI settings
• Global Title of sending SMS-C
• Time Stamps with time of SMS Sending