Understanding SMS Pricing

Introduction

When sending SMS invitations or notifications through Q-Fi, it’s important to understand how SMS pricing works. Our pricing model is based on message segments, ensuring transparency and fairness in how costs are calculated.

What is a Segment?

An SMS message is divided into segments based on its character count. Here’s how it works:

• Standard GSM Characters: A single segment contains up to 160 characters.
• Non-GSM Characters: Messages containing special characters, emojis, or non-standard Unicode characters are limited to 70 characters per segment.

If your message exceeds the character limit of one segment, it will automatically be split into multiple segments, and each segment will be billed separately.

How is Pricing Calculated?

1. Per Segment Cost: Each SMS is billed per segment.
2. Additional Fees: In some cases, additional charges may apply depending on the recipient’s country or carrier.

Pricing for SMS messages depends on the destination of the recipient and the total number of segments required to deliver the message. We will notify you if specific regions or carriers incur higher fees.

Factors Affecting the Cost of SMS Messages

• Length of the Message: Messages longer than the segment limit will be split into multiple segments. For example:
• A message with 170 GSM characters will be sent as 2 segments.
• A message with 145 Unicode characters will also be sent as 2 segments.
• Use of Special Characters: Including emojis or non-GSM characters reduces the number of characters allowed per segment, increasing the number of segments needed.
• Destination of the Message: International SMS rates depend on the country and carrier.

Optimizing SMS Costs

To minimize costs:

• Keep messages concise and within 160 characters.
• Avoid using special characters unless necessary.
• Consider using plain text for essential communications.

Example Cost Calculation

Let’s say you send an SMS with 200 GSM characters to 1,000 recipients:

• Segments per message: 200 characters ÷ 160 characters = 2 segments.
• Cost per segment: $0.03 (varies by region and long or short codes).
• Total cost: 2 segments × $0.03 × 1,000 messages = $60.

If the message uses special characters and the segment size is reduced to 70 characters:

• Segments per message: 200 characters ÷ 70 characters = 3 segments.
• Total cost: 3 segments × $0.03 × 1,000 messages = $90.

FAQs

1. How can I track the number of segments for my SMS?
• Q-Fi automatically calculates and displays the segment count for your messages during the SMS setup process.
  
  
2. Are there volume discounts available?
• Yes! If you send a large volume of SMS messages regularly, contact our support team for potential discounts or package deals.
  
  
3. How do I know if my message uses non-GSM characters?
• Our SMS composer will notify you if special characters are detected and will display the updated segment count accordingly.

For more information or support, feel free to reach out to our team. We’re here to help you get the most out of your SMS campaigns while keeping costs manageable.