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Derdus Mosoti
Derdus Mosoti

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Types of USSD codes - Shared and Dedicated USSD codes

A USSD code is the number you dial between a * and a # to access a USSD application e.g. *502#.

There are two types of USSD codes:

  • Dedicated code
  • Shared code

Dedicated USSD code

This USSD code is assigned and used by one or particular organization. It is that organization, which manages that USSD code and is not shared with other organizations.

An example is *123#.

Shared USSD code

A dedicated USSD code is not free and can be very expensive to acquire and maintain one. Thus, one can acquire a USSD code and let it be shared by many organizations.

More often, a USSD aggregator acquires a a dedicated USSD code, shares it to many organization at lower prices compared to the dedicated USSD code.

Example of a shared USSD code is *123*20#.

  • *123# is the main USSD code and
  • 20 is the channel

You can observer that, on the main USSD code, you could create many channels for different organizations.

If you wish to learn how to develop, test an deploy USSD and SMS apps, please checkout this course Building and Testing USSD and SMS Applications by Skillsday

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