Shortcodes (also known as short numbers) are special telephone numbers significantly shorter than full telephone numbers, that can be used to address SMS and MMS messages from certain service providers’ phone number or fixed phones. Shortcodes are widely used for value-added services such as television program voting, ordering ringtones, charity donations, and mobile services. Messages sent to a short code can be billed at a higher rate than a standard SMS and may even subscribe a customer to a recurring monthly service that will be added to the customer’s mobile phone bill until the user texts.