Person-to-Person (P2P) messaging is a way for individuals to communicate via text message, usually for personal or casual purposes. These messages are sent directly from one person to another and are manually initiated, hence the name person-to-person. Unlike A2P (Application-to-Person) messaging, which automates messages from businesses or applications to people. Some refer to A2P messaging as B2C or business-to-consumer as well.
With P2P messaging, individuals, not organizations or systems, initiate the conversation. It’s commonly used for everyday interactions, like texting friends or family, and generally involves a much lower volume of messages than A2P. Because it’s primarily personal, P2P messaging isn’t heavily regulated like A2P, which is often scrutinized to prevent spam and ensure consumer protection.
P2P is all about direct, human-to-human communication, while A2P serves businesses by enabling them to send things like high volume notifications, promotional offers, or updates. This distinction makes P2P essential for personal mobile interactions, while A2P supports business-driven, high-volume communication needs.
