You have been receiving SMS codes: TA-ICICI, AX-Airtel…and wondering what’s it?

Prashanth on April 23rd, 2009

Recently, from almost a month SMSs from Banks, Service Providers, Companies have started prefixing something like ID, AT, VK…etc. What’s all this after all!!? Here I am to explain you what it is! Normally these SMSs originates from a Bulk SMS provider where you can use 11 digit Alpha-Numeric characters as "Sender". But there were some security risks in this method. I was able to give a phone number as "Sender" & it appears as that person at the recipient end. Basically there was a chance to send SMSs as a different person! I was actually using this to fool my friends.

But the new TRAI regulation insisted bulk SMS providers to restrict the "Sender ID" to 8 characters. Other three characters should be used to specify who is the service provider & where it’s originated from. Say for example: HDFCBANK sends an SMS to you using bulk SMS provider located at Tamil Nadu which uses Airtel. You will receive it as AT-HDFCBANK. First character specifies which service provider the message is being originated & the second character specifies from which location it’s originated. Here is the table which has details of these SMS codes:

Service Provider Codes:

Service Provider	Code
Aircel, Dishnet Wireless	D
Bharti Airtel	A
BSNL	B
BPL Mobile/Loop Telecom	L
Datacom Solutions	C
HFCL Infotel	H
Idea Cellular	I
MTNL	M
Reliance Communications	R
Reliance Telecom	E
S tel	S
Shyam Telecom	Y
Spice Telecom	P
Swan Telecom	W
Tata Teleservices	T
Unitech Group	U
Vodafone Group	V

Service Area	Code
Andhra Pradesh	A
Assam	S
Bihar	B
Delhi	D
Gujarat	G
Haryana	H
Himachal Pradesh	I
Jammu & Kashmir	J
Karnataka	X
Kerala	L
Kolkata	K
Madhya Pradesh	Y
Maharashtra	Z
Mumbai	M
North East	N
Orissa	O
Punjab	P
Rajasthan	R
Tamil Nadu	T
UP-East	E
UP-West	W
West Bengal	V

So, combination of these two constitutes the first two digit of ?Sender? followed by an hyphen (-) & actual sender name.

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View Comments to “You have been receiving SMS codes: TA-ICICI, AX-Airtel…and wondering what’s it?”

SantoshApril 23rd, 2009 at 10:04 pm

Thanks for the explanation dude. Lovely post.
Vizz MediaApril 23rd, 2009 at 11:00 pm

The codes were introduced by TRAI to curb Unsolicited Commercial Communication conducted by some miscreant Bulk SMS Providers and to effectively enforce the NDNC.
With these codes implemented, subscribers can now actually trace out the Sender ID/Bulk SMS Aggregator in India and the Mobile Operator can take suitable action.
NachiketApril 24th, 2009 at 3:57 pm

Can I also send the sms
Thejesh GNApril 26th, 2009 at 5:53 pm

Cool. Thanks for the info.
SureshApril 27th, 2009 at 9:02 am

Very informative post! Thanks!
JohnMay 7th, 2009 at 2:31 pm

If you could give information on how to block these SMS will be very useful
NatarajMay 26th, 2009 at 4:07 pm

Please provide info about blocking these SMS..
Its very irritating.. Thanks
Kamal HasaAugust 12th, 2009 at 5:15 am

Hope you don’t mind if I use it on my blog. Tables ofcourse..
AnilAugust 14th, 2009 at 8:58 am

Good information but will you please tell of one thing that now a days so many software are also available there on net by which we can send unlimited free sms to anywhere in the world through internet and for this purpose we do not need any type of operator to send there sms them how will we know about location and sender information
Vizz MediaAugust 14th, 2009 at 11:50 am

Hi Anil, I dont think there is any such website which allows you unconditional Free SMS. Either it has poor or no delivery or it would carry an advertisement in the ending 20-40 characters of the SMS. Real brands and corporates never sign up for any such things, not only does it give a very poor impression on the recipient but also there is no mechanism provided like Delivery Reports in most of these providers.
abdulSeptember 28th, 2009 at 11:00 pm

hi.ur knowleg is good but not showing detailing TA-also useing smsgupshup.com group. wich can receiving in every service provider,
some international provider is also sending sms by TA. so how can i know where from they sent sms?
RAJOctober 19th, 2009 at 9:33 am

Hi,

Can any tell me how can i send this kind of SMS starting with TA or anything with low price to my customers.

Please help me finding a solution.

Thanks
Raja
rajadpk@gmail.com
SareeshOctober 20th, 2009 at 2:57 pm

Thank You for the information.
BG ORTHOMAXDecember 25th, 2009 at 5:28 pm

I Want to send sms as per above name
BG ORTHOMAXDecember 25th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
BG ORTHOMAXDecember 25th, 2009 at 5:30 pm

BG ORTHOMAX
shaanDecember 26th, 2009 at 9:17 pm

Thanks….
home builders websiteMarch 17th, 2010 at 9:19 am

Besides everyone needs to maintain some “liquid” assets for emergencies and as a buffer in the event of a cashflow crunch. I experienced this first-hand when in April this year I decided to quit my comfortable job to finish off my CFP and then to take a short hiatus from working life.
AakashMarch 21st, 2010 at 10:38 am

Thanks!!! Cool Info……
skumar1107March 24th, 2010 at 10:56 am

I am also receiving these bulk smss like TA-rert, TC-wert .. I got some solution here funjokey.com..
I thk u like this great site
kumar
skumar1107March 24th, 2010 at 10:57 am

I am also receiving these bulk smss like TA-rert, TC-wert .. I got some solution here funjokey.com..
I thk u like this great site
kumar
KIDS MANIAApril 6th, 2010 at 10:40 am

Hi, Need to send some 5000 sms to the mobile numbers which i dont have. Can u help me out.
Abdus Salam AnsariApril 16th, 2010 at 2:45 pm

This reallly very informative
SaikumarApril 24th, 2010 at 10:27 am

Thank you for sharing with us.
SaikumarApril 24th, 2010 at 10:28 am

So Plz Buy Bulk sms
amitMay 17th, 2010 at 12:20 pm

plz tell me i want send sms from ta-amit etc plz reply me my id is raj_zindagi@yahoo.co.in
KuntalMay 23rd, 2010 at 1:51 pm

For Free Sms
Celular JogosAugust 3rd, 2010 at 12:03 am

Vlw gostei do post e do blog sempre que possivel estarei visitando e ja vou adicionar aos nos meus favoritos.