Send SMS Messages longer than 160 characters

Originally written by Luke Mavin. Published 19 April 2024 on the Motasoft VGM Help Centre.

By default, VGM imposes a limit of 160 characters for outbound SMS messages, reflecting the maximum length of a single text message. However, users have the option to adjust this limit to accommodate a larger number of characters per message or eliminate the restriction altogether.

To modify the SMS credit limit per message, follow these steps:

1. Click on "Config" and then navigate to "Settings".
2. Open the "Messaging" tab.
3. Adjust the number specified in the "SMS Credit Limit" field to define the maximum number of SMS credits allocated for each message you send.

It's essential to note that SMS messages consume one additional credit for every 160 characters in the message, up to the specified limit. Additionally, messages requiring consent automatically append an unsubscribe link to the message's end, potentially extending the message length by up to 19 characters. Consequently, a message consisting of 150 characters, with an SMS Credit Limit set to 1, will be cut short to accommodate space for the unsubscribe message.

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