⚠️ Important: The
_MobileSubscriptiondata view has been deprecated by Salesforce Marketing Cloud and is no longer officially supported. It has been replaced with more advanced and reliable data views:_SMSSubscriptionLogand_SMSMessageTracking.
This blog entry serves to document the _MobileSubscription data view for historical reference and outlines how and why users should migrate to the updated views.
What was the _MobileSubscription Data View?
The _MobileSubscription data view tracked opt-in and opt-out status related to SMS keyword subscriptions. It was previously used to manage SMS compliance and message eligibility for MobileConnect users.
Why It Was Replaced
- Limited historical tracking and no multi-event logging.
- Lacked opt-in/out method descriptions or message context.
- Newer views provide better traceability, delivery insights, and lifecycle history.
Fields in _MobileSubscription Data View (Deprecated)
| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| _MobileNumber | Text(15) | Mobile number of the subscriber. |
| _SubscriptionDefinitionID | Text(200) | Unique keyword ID associated with the subscription. |
| _OptOutStatusID | Text | Status indicating if the subscriber opted out. |
| _OptOutMethodID | Text | Method used to opt out (e.g., STOP reply, API, manual update). |
| _OptOutDate | Date | Date when the opt-out event occurred. |
| _OptInStatusID | Text | Status indicating if the subscriber opted in. |
| _OptInMethodID | Text | Method used to opt in (e.g., keyword reply, web form, API). |
| _OptInDate | Date | Date of the opt-in event. |
| _Source | Text | Origin of the subscription (e.g., API, UI, import). |
| _CreatedDate | Date | When the subscription record was created. |
| _SourceObjectId | Text(200) | Reference to the original source object in the system. |
| _CreatedBy | Text | Who created the record. |
| _ModifiedDate | Date | Last modification date. |
| _ModifiedBy | Text | Who last modified the record. |
Legacy Use Cases (For Reference Only)
- Tracking opt-in/out status of mobile subscribers.
- Filtering recipients for SMS campaigns.
- Auditing initial subscription methods and sources.
✅ Recommended Replacement:
- Use
_SMSSubscriptionLogfor complete opt-in/out history, including method and status over time. - Use
_SMSMessageTrackingto pair opt-in records with actual message delivery and engagement.
Conclusion
The _MobileSubscription data view was once a core part of SMS subscriber management in Marketing Cloud but has now been retired in favor of more powerful and accurate alternatives. For current implementations and reporting, always use _SMSSubscriptionLog and _SMSMessageTracking.
These updated data views provide richer context, support advanced querying, and offer reliable long-term tracking for compliance and performance reporting.