The text discusses the enduring relevance of SMS short codes in messaging channels, despite the emergence of newer technologies. Short codes have been around since the early days of texting and gained widespread adoption in 2003, particularly for interactive voting on reality TV shows. They remain a viable option for various uses, including alerts and updates, authentication, customer service, and marketing promotions. The benefits of using SMS short codes include high throughput rates, reliability, and ease of number-sharing/memorization. Additionally, the use of short codes is built on trust due to their registration and verification process, which sets them apart from other messaging channels. However, there are also some downsides to short codes, including higher costs and longer registration wait times. Despite these limitations, short codes continue to offer a picture of the new world of all-registered traffic and a cleaner messaging ecosystem that benefits everyone.