SMS Communication Channel: Text-Based Customer Engagement
Your AI Receptionist can now engage with customers via SMS, creating seamless text-based conversations. View all communications—calls, SMS, and messages—in one unified activity feed.
Try SMS Communication Free
Why This Matters
Text-based customer engagement — Customers can text your AI Receptionist for quick answers without needing to call.
Unified activity feed — All communications (calls, SMS, messages) in one place for easy management.
Multi-channel flexibility — Customers choose their preferred communication method—phone or text.
Enabled by default — Works immediately on all plans. Enable or disable anytime from your dashboard.
Beyond Voice-Only Communication
When we launched AI Receptionist, we focused on phone calls. But modern customers communicate in multiple ways—some prefer talking, others want to text. Why force them into just one channel?
Traditional AI phone systems only handle voice. If a customer texts your business number, they either get no response or a generic "call us" message. Meanwhile, you're juggling separate dashboards for calls and messages. SMS Communication Channel solves both problems.
Now your AI Receptionist handles both phone and SMS conversations with the same intelligence and knowledge base, all visible in one unified activity feed.
How It Works
Seamless multi-channel communication
Customer Texts Your Number
A customer sends an SMS to your AI Receptionist number with a question or request.
AI Responds Intelligently
Your AI Receptionist analyzes the message and responds using your knowledge base, just like it would on a phone call.
View in Unified Feed
All SMS conversations appear in your activity feed alongside calls and messages for easy tracking and management.
SMS Communication vs. The Competition
Full-featured SMS with unified activity tracking
| Feature | AI Receptionist | Synthflow | Smith.ai | My AI Front Desk | Dialzara |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI-powered SMS responses | API only | Limited | |||
| Unified activity feed (calls + SMS + messages) | |||||
| Same knowledge base for phone & SMS | Custom setup | N/A | N/A | ||
| MMS image understanding | Custom | ||||
| Enabled by default on all plans | N/A | ||||
| SMS + Voice in single dashboard | |||||
| Entry Price | $14/mo | $375/mo | $95/mo | $99/mo | $29/mo |
Data verified January 2026. Based on ChatGPT 5.2 Deep Research analysis.
Real-World Scenarios
Quick Appointment Inquiry
A customer texts asking about availability for next Tuesday. Your AI checks the calendar integration and confirms an opening at 2 PM—all via text, no phone call needed.
Store Hours Question
Someone texts asking if you're open on Sundays. The AI instantly responds with your hours from the knowledge base, saving both of you time.
After-Hours Contact
A customer texts at 10 PM asking about pricing. Your AI provides detailed pricing information and offers to schedule a callback during business hours.
Service Request with Photo
A homeowner texts about a leaking faucet and sends a photo. The AI analyzes the image, provides initial guidance, and offers to schedule a service appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SMS communication included in all plans?
Yes! SMS communication is enabled by default on all plans. You can enable or disable it anytime from your main dashboard.
How does the unified activity feed work?
Instead of separate dashboards for calls and texts, all communications appear in one chronological feed. You can filter by type (calls, SMS, messages) or view everything together.
Learn more: Activity Feed Documentation
Does SMS use the same knowledge base as phone calls?
Absolutely. Your AI Receptionist uses the same training, instructions, and knowledge base for both phone and SMS conversations, ensuring consistent responses across channels.
Are SMS messages charged separately?
All plans now include SMS quota. Check our pricing page for specific limits per plan tier.
Learn more: View Pricing