METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ROUTING INTER-CARRIER MESSAGING APPLICATION TRAFFIC VIA A CARRIER-ASSIGNED IDENTIFIER

1 . A method comprising:

assigning a carrier-assigned identifier defined within a first carrier network to a messaging application;

originating messaging traffic between the messaging application and a device operating in a second carrier network; and

routing the messaging traffic between the messaging application and the device based on the carrier-assigned identifier.

2 . A method of claim 1 , wherein the first carrier network and the second carrier network are operated by respective communication service providers, and the carrier-assigned identifier includes a mobile directory number (MDN) or a mobile subscriber ISDN number (MSISDN).

3 . A method of claim 1 , wherein the messaging traffic is a short message service (SMS) or a multimedia messaging service (MMS) message.

4 . A method of claim 1 , further comprising:

retrieving a policy associated with the carrier-assigned identifier; and

applying the retrieved policy to the messaging traffic.

5 . A method of claim 4 , wherein the policy is set by an operator of the first carrier network, or a provider of the messaging application.

6 . A method of claim 4 , wherein the policy includes restricting spam or unintended messages.

7 . A method of claim 4 , wherein the messaging application includes one of schedule announcement, advertisement message, or emergency alerts.

8 . A method of claim 1 , further comprising:

tracking the messaging traffic for compliance with the policy.

9 . A method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving an allocation of a plurality of identifiers from an external entity.

10 . An apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to assign a carrier-assigned identifier defined within a first carrier network to a messaging application, and to originate messaging traffic between the messaging application and a device operating in a second carrier network,

wherein the processor is further configured to initiate routing of the messaging traffic between the messaging application and the device based on the carrier-assigned identifier.

11 . An apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first carrier network and the second carrier network are operated by respective communication service providers, and the carrier-assigned identifier includes a mobile directory number (MDN) or a mobile subscriber ISDN number (MSISDN).

12 . An apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the messaging traffic is a short message service (SMS) or a multimedia messaging service (MMS) message.

13 . An apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to retrieve a policy associated with the carrier-assigned identifier, and to apply the retrieved policy to the messaging traffic.

14 . An apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the policy is set by an operator of the first carrier network, or a provider of the messaging application.

15 . An apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the policy includes restricting spam or unintended messages.

16 . An apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the messaging application includes one of schedule announcement, advertisement message, or emergency alerts.

17 . An apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to tracking the messaging traffic for compliance with the policy.

18 . An apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising:

a communication interface configured to receive an allocation of a plurality of identifiers from an external entity.

19 . A system comprising:

a database configured to store a plurality of policies; and

a platform configured to assign a carrier-assigned identifier defined within a first carrier network to a messaging application, to originate messaging traffic between the messaging application and a device operating in a second carrier network, and to route the messaging traffic between the messaging application and the device based on the carrier-assigned identifier,

wherein the platform is further configured to apply one or more of the policies to the messaging traffic based on the carrier-assigned identifier.

20 . A system of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the policies is set by an operator of the first carrier network, or a provider of the messaging application.