I sent an SMS to someone at 081 - xxx - xxxx

The SMS "successful delivery" report shows the number as 6808 681 - xxx - xxxx

 

Anyone know why?

 

My guess: the 6808 header is a standardized code which the SMSC uses to convey the status back to originator, perhaps 6808 means "delivered".

 

*Note that delivery just means the phone is on, and not that the message was read. 

 

Then it is up to the phone (Android, default messaging app, permissions, etc.) to make use of the code.

 

On my phone (Android 9.0 stock, default SMS app) I get a small message saying "Delivered" as my one/only "successful delivery" confirmation. I don't get a separate message.

 

 

8 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

My guess: the 6808 header is a standardized code which the SMSC uses to convey the status back to originator, perhaps 6808 means "delivered".

 

*Note that delivery just means the phone is on, and not that the message was read. 

 

Then it is up to the phone (Android, default messaging app, permissions, etc.) to make use of the code.

 

On my phone (Android 9.0 stock, default SMS app) I get a small message saying "Delivered" as my one/only "successful delivery" confirmation. I don't get a separate message.

 

 

I should've said this was on a really old 2G Nokia phone where you always get a delivery report in plain text after sending an SMS. At least, I used to. Those reports always showed the normal Thai telephone number without all the extra digits in front. Sometimes they would show e.g. 076 234 5678, sometimes +66 76 234 5678. I did wonder if the extra digits were a country code, but 68 is Albania and I don't think the recipient was there.

 

Unfortunately, just last week I got the SIM changed to a nano-SIM for my OnePlus Android phone so I can't post a picture of the message as that old phone can't be used. On my Android phone I don't get any delivery reports.  I made a note of the "68086" prefix so I could ask the question here.

 

Dammit! :)  I've just been playing with "Messages" on my new phone. Now I see - in Android - you have to turn on "Request a delivery report..." which was off by default. So that explains why I haven't been getting any delivery reports.

 

Hmm, I wonder if I put in a free "tourist" SIM in my old phone I could then see the old messages. I believe (hope) they are stored in the phone's memory, but the phone won't startup without a SIM in it.