Requirements to update MobileConnect Contact Subscriptions

Scenarios for Contact Subscription updates

Updating to Opted Out Status

You can update via:

• The UI manually
• Import Definition
• Mobile Keyword (STOP/Custom STOP keyword)
• REST API

Updating to Opted In Status
 
You can update via:

• The UI manually
• Mobile Opt In Message Template
• REST API
• Journey Builder SMS Activity (Create only)
• Outbound Message to a Data Extension

It is not currently possible to use an Import Definition to update an opted out subscription to opted-in. You can only opt-in subscribers via Import to a new keyword they have not been subscribed to before. 

If a Mobile Import occurs and there is a Status (Mobile Demographics.Status) field with the value of 'Unsubscribe', this Contact will be Opted Out and go into an Inactive status. To change the Status back to Active, the process would be to import the contacts twice. In the 1st step, import the Contact as Unsubscribed (This will update the status as Inactive and Contact will be opted out of the keyword - Mobile Subscription.Opt In/Out Status) and then import them back with the status as Active. This will update the status to Active but the contact will be still opted out.

Importing with a new keyword that a subscriber has not been opted into before will allow them to be set to "Opted-In" for that keyword. To be sent to on a short code, at least 1 keyword needs to be "opted in" to be sent to. 

Example
Number 12345678900 texts 'STOP' on 12345 and had subscriptions in 'JOIN' and 'TEST'. They will now be opted out on both keywords. Doing an import to these keywords will not opt them back in to these keywords. If an import happens to 'NEWKEYWORD' on 12345, they will be imported as 'Opted in' to this keyword since they had no previous subscription to this before.

For the REST API, the recommended Route is the QueueMO route, but you can also use the messageContact route as well.

Double Opt-in
Using a Mobile Opt-In message Template, it is possible to select "Double Opt-in" as an option. If a subscriber receives the Double Opt-in confirmation, they will remain in "Opt-In Pending" until they text the opt-in verification keyword. If the conversation window closes, their status will remain in "Opt-in Pending" where they will be treated as opted out for the keyword. The subscribe will need to re-initiate the double opt-in process and respond with the opt-in verification keyword to move to "Opted in" or they will need to be manually updated to "opted in"