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AI Two-Way SMS with A2P 10DLC Built In

Pick a US phone number by area code, buy it in one click, and the AI starts replying to inbound texts. A2P 10DLC compliance is automatic, STOP keyword opt-out is enforced, and conversations land in the same inbox as your Instagram, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Telegram threads.

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Professional and Business plans  ·  Twilio fees passed through at cost

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How SMS Automation Works

Buy a number, the AI starts replying. A2P 10DLC handled for you.

1

Search & Buy a US Number

In the SMS section of Settings, search available US phone numbers by area code. Pick one, click buy. ChatGenius provisions it through Twilio and adds it to our A2P 10DLC Messaging Service automatically.

2

AI Replies on Inbound

Twilio forwards every inbound SMS to ChatGenius (with Twilio signature validation on every request). The GPT-5 agent reads the message, checks your knowledge base, and responds. Keep replies short (SMS character limits) is part of the SMS system prompt.

3

Opt-Out Enforced by Default

STOP, UNSUBSCRIBE, CANCEL, END, and QUIT all trigger an opt-out. The first AI reply to any new contact includes "Reply STOP to opt out." to meet carrier compliance. START, YES, or UNSTOP re-enable messaging.

4

Team Steps In When Needed

Sentiment escalation flags negative threads, your team claims the conversation from the shared inbox, and they reply directly. The AI backs off for that thread until the team releases it.

SMS Features

What works on SMS today, verified against the code

GPT-5 AI Agent (SMS-Tuned)

Same AI brain, knowledge base, and tone as your other channels, with SMS-specific formatting built in: extremely concise replies, no emoji by default, no unnecessary links, and respect for SMS character limits (Twilio concatenates multi-segment messages automatically).

A2P 10DLC Compliance

Every number you purchase is automatically added to our Twilio Messaging Service, which carries A2P 10DLC campaign registration. You skip the weeks-long carrier registration process most businesses have to figure out on their own.

STOP / START Keyword Handling

Six stop keywords (STOP, STOPALL, UNSUBSCRIBE, CANCEL, END, QUIT) and three resume keywords (START, YES, UNSTOP) are enforced automatically. The first AI reply to each new contact appends a carrier-required opt-out footer.

US Number Self-Service Purchase

Search available phone numbers by area code from inside the portal. One click to purchase and provision. No Twilio console login required, no manual webhook configuration.

Shared Team Inbox

SMS conversations appear alongside Instagram, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Telegram in one inbox. Claim, tag, add internal notes, and assign agents. AI steps back when a human takes over.

Lead Capture & Escalation

Names, emails, and additional phone numbers shared in an SMS conversation are auto-extracted into the unified lead view. Sentiment escalation fires an SMS alert to you when a conversation turns negative or is flagged.

AI Follow-Ups

Automated follow-ups re-engage quiet SMS leads while respecting opt-out status. Intent detection decides who to follow up with and draws from the same knowledge base as your other channels.

Twilio Signature Validation

Every inbound webhook request is verified against Twilio's X-Twilio-Signature header before processing. Forged webhooks are rejected at the door, not somewhere deep in the pipeline.

Knowledge Base & Business Context

The SMS agent answers from the same RAG knowledge base as your other channels, so product, pricing, hours, and policy questions get the same answers via SMS as they would via Instagram or WhatsApp.

What SMS does not do

Setting expectations upfront keeps launches smooth

SMS is a text-only carrier channel, so a few features from your other channels do not apply:

  • Visual Flow Builder does not currently run on SMS. The AI agent handles conversation logic directly.
  • Buttons, quick replies, and interactive menus cannot render over SMS. If the AI wants to include links, they arrive as tappable text URLs.
  • MMS and media attachments are not supported today. SMS is text-only.
  • WhatsApp templates and broadcasts are WhatsApp-specific. Outbound SMS campaigns are handled through the standard Twilio send path.
  • Comment-to-DM, AI Comment Manager, Content Studio, and AI Media Library are features for Meta channels, not SMS.

Use Cases

Customer Support

Text-Based Help Desk

Customers who prefer SMS over email or app chats get a GPT-5 agent that answers product, shipping, and account questions 24/7, backed by your knowledge base. Complex threads escalate to a human.

Local Services

Appointment Reminders & Confirmations

Your AI confirms appointments, handles reschedule requests, and gets a quick reply from customers. Google Calendar sync and the integrated booking engine handle the slot work.

Post-Purchase

Order Updates & Review Requests

Send thank-you texts, follow-up messages, and review requests with AI-powered personalization. STOP keyword opt-out is handled automatically, so customers are never spammed.

Lead Follow-Up

Quick Response to New Leads

Lead captures name + phone on Instagram, continues the conversation over SMS. Same AI, same knowledge base, same lead record, same inbox.

Plan Availability

Feature
Free
Creator
Pro
Business
SMS messages / month
0
0
500
2,500
US phone number self-service purchase
-
-
A2P 10DLC compliance (included)
-
-
STOP / START opt-out compliance
-
-
Team inbox (SMS)
-
-
5 agents
Unlimited
AI follow-ups
-
-
See full pricing details →

Trials include 25 SMS for testing. Twilio per-message carrier fees are passed through at cost and billed to your Twilio subaccount.

SMS Questions

How do I get a phone number?+
Go to the SMS section in Settings, search available US phone numbers by area code, and purchase one in a click. ChatGenius automatically adds the number to a Twilio Messaging Service, which handles A2P 10DLC compliance for US SMS delivery. The number is live and listening for inbound SMS immediately after purchase.
What is A2P 10DLC and why does it matter?+
A2P 10DLC is the compliance framework US carriers require for application-to-person SMS on local long codes. Numbers not registered under an A2P 10DLC campaign face heavy filtering, carrier blocks, and poor delivery rates. Every number you buy through ChatGenius is auto-added to our Messaging Service so it inherits the A2P campaign registration.
What does the AI send in an SMS reply?+
Plain text, concise, no emoji by default. The AI is prompted specifically for SMS to keep responses short (aiming for a single 160-character segment where possible). If a reply includes links, they are sent as text URLs the customer can tap. Buttons, interactive menus, and media attachments are not supported on SMS.
How do STOP and START keywords work?+
When a customer texts STOP, STOPALL, UNSUBSCRIBE, CANCEL, END, or QUIT, ChatGenius records the opt-out, suppresses the AI, and replies with a confirmation. When they text START, YES, or UNSTOP, the system reinstates messaging. Twilio handles the carrier-level compliance in parallel. The first AI response to a new contact automatically appends "Reply STOP to opt out." to meet carrier requirements.
Is SMS included in my plan?+
SMS is available on Professional ($99/mo, 500 messages/month) and Business ($297/mo, 2,500 messages/month). The Free and Creator plans do not include SMS messages. Trials include 25 SMS messages for testing. Messages beyond your plan's limit are not sent until the next billing cycle or a plan upgrade.
Can my team reply to SMS conversations?+
Yes. SMS conversations appear in the shared team inbox alongside Instagram, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Telegram. Team members claim threads, leave internal notes, tag contacts, and reply. AI steps back when a human claims. Sentiment escalation sends SMS alerts to your team when a conversation turns negative.
Does the Flow Builder work on SMS?+
No. The visual Flow Builder supports Instagram, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp today. SMS conversations are handled directly by the GPT-5 AI agent with your knowledge base, tone, and escalation rules. The text-only nature of SMS means button branching would not render anyway, so the AI handles conversation logic natively.
Does SMS support MMS or media attachments?+
Not currently. ChatGenius SMS is text-only. URLs in the AI's response are preserved as tappable text links. Customers can text you images, but the AI treats inbound SMS as text-only today.
Do AI follow-ups work on SMS?+
Yes. AI follow-ups can re-engage quiet SMS leads, respecting opt-out status. Intent detection decides who to follow up with and what to say, drawing from the same knowledge base as your other channels.

Add SMS to Your AI Stack

Professional plan includes SMS from $99/month with A2P 10DLC compliance and automatic opt-out handling.

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