Update: You may download the DoT order here (pdf), courtesy one of our readers who wishes to remain anonymous. Looks like FE interpreted the document incorrectly.

(Original Story) A committee comprising of DoT and “Industry” executives has decided that web based SMS services will now need to register with mobile operators, as per a Financial Express report. The services will have to comply with the following regulations:

-- Senders address should not have India’s country code +91
-- White list of static IP address from where the applications access the SMS centre and the spam filters.
-- Access and control should have the user/ password authentication
-- Websites will need to be authenticated by mobile operators

On the face of it, it appears that this will impact ALL web based sites, but on speaking to industry executives, it appears to be not-quite-alarm-worthy. The notice intends to put an end to number spoofing while sending an SMS push. So how do SMS pushes work? Those who provide web based messaging buy SMS’ in bulk from operators or short code service providers. A message sent via the web is sent to an SMS gateway, from where it goes to an SMS Center of the mobile operator/short code service provider. This order mandates that all those who buy bulk SMS services register their Sender ID with the mobile operators. But the wording of the order is important, I’ve been searching for a copy for a while now. If you have a copy - I’m told the order was sent a few months ago - please do send it across to nikhil AT contentsutra DOT com, and we’ll put it up with due credit.