Frequently Asked Questions
SMS Overview
What kind of content can be sent in an SMS?
The main use cases are as follows:
- Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
- Alerts and Notifications
- Marketing
Please ensure compliance with all applicable laws. Additionally, it is necessary to demonstrate the presence of appropriate opt-in or opt-out systems. For more information on SMS marketing, please contact your representative.
Furthermore, it is important to note that SMS from applications to individuals (A2P) and SMS from individuals to individuals (P2P) are different. The content being sent should not be conversational but should provide specific business functions as mentioned above.
Are A2P SMS and P2P SMS the same?
A2P SMS means Application to Person. This means an SMS is being sent from an enterprise to its users for a business purpose.
P2P SMS means Person to Person. P2P SMS is conversational in nature. Whenever you text your friends/family and have a conversation via SMS, you are using P2P SMS.
Why is the cost different between A2P SMS and P2P SMS?
A2P (Application to Person) SMS and P2P (Person to Person) SMS have different purposes.
Since A2P SMS is intended for business purposes, the P2P SMS route is not used when messages are sent. Messages are sent over A2P SMS-only routes. Mobile network operators (MNOs) incur costs to maintain these routes and charge accordingly.
To which handsets can SMS be sent? Are there any handsets that cannot receive them?
SMS can be sent to Japanese mobile subscribers (both MNO and MVNO) and will be sent to the standard messaging app on your Android or iOS device.
SMS Delivery Method
What is the connection method to the API?
It connects via the Internet (TLS communication) and executes the necessary parameters by POST when sending is requested. A web hook call will be sent by the platform to notify the client of any delivery receipts.
For further details, please refer to the API Documentation.
Is it necessary to specify the carrier when sending the API?
Simply enter the phone number to which you wish to send an SMS in the API request field and the system will figure out the best route to complete the process.
How many characters can be sent in a single message?
Please refer to the API Documentation for detailed character limit specifications.
How does an enterprise connect with Rakuten CPaaS SMS API?
Please refer to the API Documentation or contact us through the inquiry form on our website for integration details.
How do I send an SMS?
Please refer to the API Documentation for step-by-step instructions on sending SMS via the API.
SMS Features
What kind of Sender ID are supported?
When a company in Japan sends SMS to their customers in Japan, we can support Japanese fixed, Toll Free, IP number, etc.
When international customers send SMS to their customers in Japan, we support international numbers, alphanumeric, and more.
For details, please contact us through the inquiry form on our website.
What happens if the user replies to a received SMS?
Nothing will happen because the system is not set to receive SMS. Only marketing SMS using the common number can receive replies.
For more information, please contact us through the inquiry form on our website.
What is the maximum number of concatenated A2P SMS parts that can be sent in a single message?
Ten (10).
If I want to send SMS outside of Japan, does the cost differ for each country?
The fees vary depending on the country. The rates are charged based on the network you would like to send to.
For details, please contact us through the inquiry form on our website.
Will A2P SMS be delivered to mobile phones that have moved to another carrier due to number portability?
Yes. Rakuten CPaaS SMS API supports number portability and will deliver A2P SMS to the correct carrier.
Error & Logs Retry
Why was my A2P SMS rejected?
Please check the response to the API request and compare it to the API Documentation.
Response examples: Unknown destination, missing fields, etc.
My SMS request was rejected due to invalid authentication. What should I do?
Please verify your API credentials (API Key and Secret) and ensure they are correctly configured in your request headers. If the issue persists, please contact us through the inquiry form on our website.
If an A2P SMS is undeliverable, will it automatically be retried?
The platform includes automatic retry mechanisms for temporarily undeliverable messages. For details on retry policies, please refer to the API Documentation.
If a user fails to receive an SMS, how can I check the cause?
You can check the delivery status via the delivery receipt (DLR) callback or through the dashboard analytics. For detailed error codes, please refer to the API Documentation.
What happens if a user's cell phone is temporarily out of reach?
The message will be queued and delivery will be retried according to the platform's retry policy. If the phone remains unreachable beyond the retry window, the message will be marked as undelivered.
Commercial
What are the billing rules?
Our service uses a pay-as-you-go model.
Therefore, you only pay for what you send. In most cases, you will not be billed if you do not send any SMS. However, there are a few exceptions depending on your usage.
For details, please contact us through the inquiry form on our website.
Can I test my account before it is created?
Yes. You can apply for a free trial to test the service before committing to a full account. Please visit the Free Trial page to get started.
What payment methods do you accept?
For details on accepted payment methods, please contact us through the inquiry form on our website.
Is there a minimum base fee for the contract?
For details on base fees and contract terms, please contact us through the inquiry form on our website.
How much does it cost to send an A2P SMS?
Pricing varies depending on the destination country and carrier. For a detailed pricing quote, please contact us through the inquiry form on our website.