Identifying check-in sender with SMS?

I just activated my inReach Mini 2 and sent a test check-in to my brother via SMS.

His screenshot back to me shows just the check-in text "I'm checking in. Everything is okay." and a link inreachlink.com/...

It doesn't show my (sender) name at all, so it looks kind of vague or suspicious to folks who are jaded about scams/phishing etc.

Is the random sending phone number supposed to be stable and only used for messages from me? It's not clear to me whether he's supposed to add this number to his phone contacts to assign my name to it, or if it is some generic relay number that could be reused for other inReach senders too.

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Garmin-Leslie 1 month ago +2 verified

Hello, you can have your name show as a signature with the messages Editing inReach SMS Message Coordinates, Map, and Signature Settings. As our inReach devices do not have designated phone numbers you…

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0 JungleJim 2 months ago

The phone number from which inReach messages come is not associated with a specific device or account. See Sending a Message to an inReach Device for info on this and info on how someone can send a message to an inReach device.

0 6125703 2 months ago in reply to JungleJim

I find this really strange and disappointing. That page warns not to add the sending number to iMessage contacts, but then the sent messages are not even labeled with the sender's name. It's mind-boggling to me if this is the status quo of a supposedly mature product.

Multiple Garmin documents mention being able to reply to an SMS inReach message to send back to the inReach device. But then that page also says direct messages to the number will not be delivered. I must be missing something? I do not understand, technically, what there is to an SMS "reply" except being an SMS to the sending number.

0 JungleJim 2 months ago in reply to 6125703

I think it just means that the number is not guaranteed to stay the same or to stay associated with the inReach device you received a message from.

0 Snow_Leopard 2 months ago in reply to JungleJim

With Zoleo I believe you actually get a number that a person can call you at, with Garmin you must first initiate a conversation ( text or email) with a person, and they can only communicate with you via that link. Like replying to a text message.

+1 Garmin-Leslie 1 month ago

Hello, you can have your name show as a signature with the messages Editing inReach SMS Message Coordinates, Map, and Signature Settings. As our inReach devices do not have designated phone numbers you would not want to save it as a contact in a phone. The phone number can change with different messages that are sent. Sending a Message to an inReach Device

0 6125703 1 month ago in reply to Garmin-Leslie

Thanks, I didn't see this before my trip so had to do without, but I've reviewed the settings now.