Terms and definitions in messaging

Multichannel messaging service is based on a variety of telecommunication and Internet technologies. In the description of services, we often use abbreviations that may not always be known to you. Here we have compiled a glossary of terms and definitions used in the industry.
By the way, you can create account and send SMS to your customers via Dashboard, plugin or API integration.
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MSISDN

MSISDN (Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network number) is the technical term used to describe a mobile number in international format. However, the MSISDN is not a direct mapping to a mobile handset, or even to the SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card. An MSISDN allows an SMSC to determine the country and mobile operator a subscriber number belongs to; and from there the SMSC can query the mobile operator’s HLR (Home Location Register) for information used to route the SMS to the handset.

Example

The international MSISDN 447973000000 is broken down as follows:

  • 44 = Country Code for United Kingdom
  • 7973 = A network prefix or exchange prefix for Orange UK
  • 000000 = Subscriber number

The IMSI address is made up of 3 parts:

  • MCC (Mobile Country Code)
  • MNC (Mobile Network Code)
  • MSIN (Mobile Subscriber Identity Number)