[easy_to_please]

I live in America and occasionally I listen to the show live (it's on at 12:30 am where I live). Usually just the first bit. I was wondering if I can text to 81199. I have tried texting 0114481199 but I have no idea if it went through or not. Do you get a message back? Does anyone know if it's even possible?

[Sunny So Cal]

I asked Moyles when I met him in L.A. if his mobile would work if he texted 81199 from here and he said he had no idea. I have a UK mobile # (as well as a U.S. one) and I don't believe any of the texts go through. I think once you leave Britain you can't text in. I should maybe have asked Aled, he might have known.

[easy_to_please]

Thanks, I kind of figured that. I have been searching online for weeks and the best I could figure was if I maybe tried 0114481199 it might work. Hopefully they're just going into the ether and not to someone's poor phone. It would be funny though if it went to a land line and read out. "Good morning...everyone...happy...day after election...Elizabeth...Minnesota" or whatever I write.

[foot-loose]

I've always felt that texting in was a massive waste of money. Fair enough as a one off, but the chances are you wouldn't get your text read out which means you will need to text in regularly.

"If you think Dom has an EGG for a HEAD then text 'baldy baldy bum bum' to 81199."

Don't get me wrong, it's funny, but its still a waste of money.

[dolly]

hahahahahaha thats just for his own entertatinment - i love it!!

[dimtimjim]

I'll admit to being no expert on the matter, but i believe if you use the uk dialing code first, it should get through....

004481199

Worth a try, maybe.

[Sunny So Cal]

I don't think they do with my UK mobile and I am almost certain a US mobile won't go through. That said, I seem to recall one time that somebody texted in saying they were in Greece or whatever and Dave and Chris both said that the person was full of crap because you can't text 81199 from outside the UK.

[easy_to_please]

Do you get a message back? I know most short codes automatically send messages back.

[Johnny 1989]

I don't think they do with my UK mobile and I am almost certain a US mobile won't go through. That said, I seem to recall one time that somebody texted in saying they were in Greece or whatever and Dave and Chris both said that the person was full of crap because you can't text 81199 from outside the UK.

I believe that's correct, UK Text Lines are inaccessable outside the UK like landline & Mobile Phone numbers

[Sunny So Cal]

No, easy, I don't get an error message back on either my US or UK mobiles. I suggest if you have something to say to the team that you email the show (chrismoyles@bbc.co.uk) or post it for Aled either in the 'Ask Aled' thread on here or his own site (Aled.info).

[EMD021]

From the Radio 1 website

Q6. Costs to text 81199/ why does it not work?
A6. When I text you, why does it not work?/How much does it cost when I text you?
The SMS service is available to customers of O2, Orange, Vodafone, T-Mobile, 3 and Virgin. Listeners in the Channel Islands, Isle of Man or outside the UK can text +44 (0)7786 201111. Messages will cost a maximum of 12p.

[chrysostom]

Ask 118 118.

If the text number works outside the UK...

[easy_to_please]

EMD021 - I must have looked at that site for hours!!!!!! Thank you!!!

And thanks everyone else for the help and suggestions.

[Johnny 1989]

From the Radio 1 website

Q6. Costs to text 81199/ why does it not work?
A6. When I text you, why does it not work?/How much does it cost when I text you?
The SMS service is available to customers of O2, Orange, Vodafone, T-Mobile, 3 and Virgin. Listeners in the Channel Islands, Isle of Man or outside the UK can text +44 (0)7786 201111. Messages will cost a maximum of 12p.

Ah so it's still the full number outside of the UK then, I remember when you used to have use the full number to text over here to Radio 1 rather than those short numbers

[TIAL]

I've always felt that texting in was a massive waste of money. Fair enough as a one off, but the chances are you wouldn't get your text read out which means you will need to text in regularly.

It never seems like there's much point texting Radio 1 as they get so many, but it's fairly easy to get a text read out on 6music. I've had quite a few of mine read out, and I even got a request played on the Queens of Noize a couple of Saturdays ago. (It was Kool and the Gang - Hollywood Swinging for those who care )

[Sunny So Cal]

From the Radio 1 website

Q6. Costs to text 81199/ why does it not work?
A6. When I text you, why does it not work?/How much does it cost when I text you?
The SMS service is available to customers of O2, Orange, Vodafone, T-Mobile, 3 and Virgin. Listeners in the Channel Islands, Isle of Man or outside the UK can text +44 (0)7786 201111. Messages will cost a maximum of 12p.

Ha. That's good to know. Thanks.

[994wemj]

I have your answer. My company actual provides the text messaging services for BBC Radio and these "shortcodes" work thus:

Shortcodes are NOT processed in the same way as regular phone numbers.
If you want to use a shortcode (eg 81199) you have to rent it from each Network indiviually that you wish it to support. For example, if you don't want to allow users on H3G ('Three') to message you, don't rent the number from H3G but do rent it from the other 5 UK networks.
The network will process each shortcode SMS separate to their regular MSISDN (+447XXX XXXXXX) traffic.
Each network will then send all messages to whomever is renting it via an XML feed over the internet.

Basically when you text from outside the UK, since the number will not be rented from the foreign network, your message will not be forwarded onto anyone and will hit a brick wall. You will not necessarily receive a message to tell you this.

[Nicola_Red]

I've always felt that texting in was a massive waste of money. Fair enough as a one off, but the chances are you wouldn't get your text read out which means you will need to text in regularly.

It never seems like there's much point texting Radio 1 as they get so many, but it's fairly easy to get a text read out on 6music. I've had quite a few of mine read out, and I even got a request played on the Queens of Noize a couple of Saturdays ago. (It was Kool and the Gang - Hollywood Swinging for those who care )

My bro has been on air taking part in competitions on 6Music twice (before the competitions furore obviously) and I've missed him both times, I never think to put the radio on in evenings/weekends (basically when Moyles isn't on).