Texts get *read*
Most people open a text within minutes; most never listen to a voicemail or reopen a chat tab. When a visitor steps away from your website or hangs up the phone, SMS is how the conversation keeps going — on the channel they already live in.
How it will work
Texting customers in three steps
Get your number approved
Pick a local number (or use the one from Call Taking) and complete the guided carrier registration. Upchat checks your privacy policy and terms for required SMS language before you submit, so you don't get rejected.
Customers opt in
On your website widget, when the AI asks for a phone number, the visitor sees a clear consent card and chooses whether to receive texts. Or they simply text your number first.
The AI texts back
Same knowledge base, same lead capture, same booking flow — formatted for SMS. Your team sees every thread in the dashboard and can jump in anytime.
What's coming
Can I just text
you instead?
Soon — and the AI will pick up right where the conversation left off.
Two-way conversational AI over SMS
Not autoresponders. The AI holds a real back-and-forth: answers questions, asks qualifying questions in order, and collects name, email, and details — adapted to short, text-friendly replies.
Lead capture by text
Every SMS conversation that captures contact details becomes a lead in your inbox, classified and routed exactly like web and phone leads, with the full thread attached.
Book appointments by text
When booking is enabled, the AI offers an appointment and confirms it in the thread ("Reply YES to book Tuesday at 10 AM") — or sends your booking link so the customer picks a time themselves.
Human handoff
When an agent takes over a conversation, the AI steps aside and your agent's replies go out as texts from the same number. The customer never knows there was a switch.
Compliant by default
Double opt-in for new contacts, instant STOP / START / HELP handling, consent records stored with the exact disclosure the customer saw, and per-customer rate limits that prevent runaway messaging. Built to carrier A2P 10DLC standards from day one.
Website consent capture
A consent card appears in your chat widget whenever the AI asks for a phone number, linking to your privacy policy and terms. Consent is recorded against the conversation — evidence you can produce if ever asked.
Guided carrier registration
Brand and campaign registration handled inside Upchat, with a compliance pre-check that scans your privacy and terms pages and gives you ready-to-paste language for anything missing.
Spend caps and usage
Set a monthly spend cap and warning threshold. See inbound and outbound message counts, included allowance, overage, and cost per billing period — same dashboard as call minutes.
AI Text Messaging questions
When will it launch?
We're in final carrier (A2P 10DLC) approval. Join the waitlist to be notified.
Do I need a separate number?
No — your Call Taking number handles both calls and texts.
Is it compliant?
Yes. Double opt-in, STOP/START/HELP, stored consent evidence, and guided carrier registration are built in.
Can customers text first?
Yes. Texting your number starts a conversation and the opt-in flow.
Will the AI spam my customers?
No. The AI only replies within an active conversation and respects rate limits, spend caps, and opt-outs. There are no bulk or marketing blasts.
Can my team reply by text?
Yes — take over any thread and your replies go out from the same number.
Can I send appointment reminders by text?
Planned for the launch window.