This article explains how SMS credits are calculated, detailing that a standard text message of 153 characters typically uses one credit. It notes that SMS signatures count towards the character limit, reducing the effective limit by about 22 characters. Additionally, it discusses variations in credit usage based on recipient phone carriers, phone numbers, and the length of merge fields like student names.
For a standard text message, 153 characters will usually equal approximately one credit.
The standard font is Ariel, size 13.
If you are using the standard font, the count of how many characters you've used and how many per credit you have left will show. When not using the standard font, it won't display.
Is the SMS signature included in credits used?
Yes, the SMS signature (often the school name) is included in the number of credits used as it is added to the end of the message.
You can see how many characters your signature has when you're writing your SMS.
This means the real character limit will be an estimated 22 characters lower.
Why is the number of credits different per recipient?
Although an SMS message may be the same length for multiple recipients, the credits being used may differ, depending on various things.
Phone carrier
Our SMS provider's (Vonage) pricing fluctuates based on carrier costs for the carrier that is receiving the message. This is reflected in Arbor with a decimal point based on each credit used. So some messages to guardians may be 1.2 credits, whereas the same message to a different guardian may be 1.4 credits.
Phone numbers
SMS sent to foreign or Channel Island phone numbers will use more credits than to mainland UK numbers.
Merge fields and student names
Merge field length will vary, so a student with a longer name will require more characters per message.
If a merge field contains a student name with a unicode character in it (for example, ë) this will reduce the character limit to 70 characters per credit.
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