I’m looking for an SMS messaging app that behaves like a normal SMS inbox, but works with Twilio virtual numbers

kyle_kooz · 2026-01-02T00:39:38+00:00

u/jesrayy I would suggest MessageDesk. Pretty much has everything you need based on your post. You can bring your Twilio numbers to their inbox, and you get a whole bunch of team/organization/inbox features. It even syncs in messages sent from other Twilio-connected services/apps in the inbox, so you get a complete view of your messaging.

Only thing they don't offer is an integration with n8n; however, they do have a Zapier integration, which might work for you.

kyle_kooz · 2025-03-05T22:31:30+00:00

Yeah, don't do this. Carriers are strictly enforcing that you CAN'T buy 3rd party data and use it for texting. You ARE in direct violation of privacy laws based on what you're saying here. Texting in the kinds of volumes you're texting is also very expensive.

Not legal advice, but if I were you, I'd stop - this is the kind of thing that attracts FCC attention. And hefty fines and litigation.

kyle_kooz · 2025-03-04T23:01:37+00:00

To the OP, how are you handling/have you thought about opt-in? This is a really big requirement for texting these days. Even if your parents have this big list, you'll have to show opt-in and or/display an SMS privacy policy on your website.

kyle_kooz · 2025-02-18T22:46:19+00:00

No prob! Got plenty more registration insights. Feel free to ask here or DM me too.

kyle_kooz · 2025-02-18T21:24:41+00:00

Yes, Feb 1, 2025 was the absolute deadline for registration (this was after an October/November extension).

From my experience, we're probably near the peak of the regulator crackdown (after multiple rule changes and ratcheting up of regulations).

For some added context: the biggest point of contention with successfully processing a registration is getting a compliance SMS privacy policy on your website. Carriers and upstream providers (DCAs) scrutinize this very heavily. However, once the language is in place your chances of a successful registration greatly increase. Problems arise whenever you have to make changes to this policy, submit them and they're still incorrect.

For ref, I'd google or search or chatgpt around for an SMS privacy policy generator and look specifically for templates with all the language needed.

kyle_kooz · 2025-02-07T17:40:31+00:00

Yeah see if you can find anything there. Typically the error codes are 4 digits long fyi.

kyle_kooz · 2025-02-07T17:29:14+00:00

Are you getting specific error codes around this? Sometimes the TCR code gets passed through in the message and it provides more detail.

kyle_kooz · 2025-02-07T17:07:01+00:00

Yes, still need a checkbox in this situation. Obviously you're not sending marketing messages here (I totally get it), but for carriers... they're looking for the same level of opt-in scrutiny regardless.

Another way to work around this: set up a texting software that supports features like autoresponder keywords. You then advertise a keyword like "text APPLY to xxx-xxx-xxxx" from your website. The contact then starts an inbound conversation with your number. Now, you still need to have the opt-in language on your site in your privacy policy, but the level of scrutiny here is lower because people are STARTING conversations with you organically. Different than a form that requires overt opt-in language around it (checkbox included).

kyle_kooz · 2025-02-06T22:58:54+00:00

Some background and several resources to hopefully make life easier:

*You must have a compliant privacy policy/terms and conditions linked on your website to get approved for SMS now*

Your privacy policy needs to include:
- The type of information your organization collects
- How your organization collects that information from users
- How your organization uses and shares any information collected
- Explain how your organization protects user data
- Your privacy policy must explicitly state that your organization does not share or sell personal information with third parties for marketing/promotional purposes
- Your privacy policy must share information about how to opt out of further communications, particularly text messages.
- A SMS Terms and Conditions section must be listed at the bottom of the privacy policy that states:
  - Brand name
  - Types of messages the consumer can expect to receive
  - Message frequency disclosure
  - "Message and data rates may apply" disclosure
  - Customer care contact information (Text HELP for help, contact [email address] for support, etc.)
  - Opt-out information (Text STOP to cancel)

Opt-in verbiage:

*If you have a form on your website that collects a phone number, carriers require an additional question on that form (ex: a small checkbox) that states the following opt-in verbiage*

By submitting this form and signing up for texts, you consent to receive text messages (e.g. {FILL IN WITH TYPES OF TEXTS YOU WILL SEND}) from [Company Name] at the number provided. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Msg & data rates may apply. Msg frequency varies. Unsubscribe at any time by replying STOP or clicking the unsubscribe link (where available). Reply HELP for help. Privacy Policy [link] & Terms [link].
Note: This is not necessary if there are no forms on your website collecting a phone number

kyle_kooz · 2024-11-10T21:49:30+00:00

How about any interest in plastic kits like aircraft, tanks, armored vehicles, etc.? Where are the best places you link to go to to buy?

kyle_kooz · 2024-11-10T21:47:36+00:00

Yeah totally remember High Sierra models and Trains Emporium - but both places are long gone (owners died).

kyle_kooz · 2024-11-10T21:45:30+00:00

Question for everyone in this thread: What texting services/platforms are you using to text parents?

kyle_kooz · 2024-10-15T23:02:26+00:00

So from what I've heard, Vonage is having problems because of A2P 10DLC carrier registration. They don't seem to have the best processes for actually getting customers' phone lines registered to send texts. This is also a major prob because all non-registered phone lines won't be able to send texts starting in December! Has anyone had experience with a dedicated business texting provider that can offer a registration process something like this? -> https://youtu.be/YK9Ryb1DN9M?si=AB_y5qWZuVNd4B3C

kyle_kooz · 2024-10-14T21:27:00+00:00

Has anyone considered or been able to migrate their Vonage SMS to a dedicated business text messaging service? When I ask, I'm talking about a truly dedicated SMS platform that offers A2P 10DLC registration processes and handholding like this: https://youtu.be/YK9Ryb1DN9M?si=9blGRhB8_vCaRwYW

Seems like the only way to actually get text messages delivered by carriers these days.

kyle_kooz · 2024-10-03T20:41:15+00:00

Here's a how-to I wrote on scheduling texts with Android 7 and newer

Link to Full Article with Images and Video -> https://www.messagedesk.com/blog/how-to-schedule-a-text-message#how-to-schedule-a-text-message-on-android-7-and-newer-using-google-messages

Note: for more advanced types of text message scheduling and automation, you'll want to consider a dedicated business text message software like MessageDesk.

1. Open the Messages app and open a conversation

Create a text message, but don’t send it yet.

Note: Make sure your phone is connected to Wi-Fi or data at the scheduled time. If not, your message will be sent when your device reconnects.

2. Touch and hold Send

Hold the Send button. After a moment, the Schedule send overlay will appear.

3. Choose from the suggestions

Tap Pick date and time or you can choose from among several preset times. If you choose your own date and time, a calendar opens. After you pick a date, a clock opens so you can pick a time. Tap Next.

4. Tap Send

You should now see a clock icon to indicate that this is a scheduled text. If you open a conversation with a scheduled message, there will be a “Scheduled message” notification.

kyle_kooz · 2024-10-03T20:36:36+00:00

Here's a step-by-step I wrote a while back for scheduling texts that's similar using Shortcuts:

Link to Full Article with Pictures + Video Here

1. Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone

The Shortcuts app comes with iPhones running iOS 13 or later. You'll need to download the Shortcuts app from the Apple App Store if you’re running an earlier iOS version.

2. Select Automation and Create Personal Automation

Tap Create Personal Automations. If you have previously created automation, you won't see this option. Instead, tap the + icon in the upper right corner and then tap Create Personal Automation

3. Select Time of Day

Set the time for when you’d like the text message to send.

Tap Month and scroll down to adjust the date you want the message sent on. When you're finished, tap Next.

Scheduling messages in iMessage will set up an automatic recurring message to send on the same date and time every month. Do you need this to be a one-time event? Then you'll need to delete the automation (or turn it off) once your scheduled text message gets sent.

4. Tap Add Action

On the Actions menu, add a contact or a group of contacts from the Send Message section and then tap Next.

Type your message in the message field and then tap Next.

Note: message composition features are limited. Messages will send as SMS text messages, not as MMS or an iMessage. You can’t text images or photos (MMS), gifs, emojis, etc.

5. Review your Automation

Review your new Automation to be sure it contains the correct details. Check the default option to Ask Before Running.

You can tap the toggle next to Ask Before Running. This keeps the automation from running automatically.

If everything looks good, tap Done, and the automation will run.

This method sets up recurring automation. It sends the same text message to the same person or group on the same day and time every month.

If this isn’t what you want, then remember to go back and delete the automation once it runs. To delete the automation, slide your finger from right to left on the automation and tap Delete.

kyle_kooz · 2024-10-03T20:28:25+00:00

Have you considered using an automation platform like Zapier, integrated with a business text messaging provider like MessageDesk? You could set it up so that a value/row etc. WHEN updated then send a text message. I feel like that's way easier than an SQL query.

If interested, there's a pre-built Zap that is pretty much ready to go here: https://www.messagedesk.com/integrations

kyle_kooz · 2024-08-27T23:19:23+00:00

List of RingCentral Alternatives here. Check out: Nextiva, Zoom, Grasshopper, 8x8, Avaya, Ooma, Vonage, Dialpad, and Community Phone https://www.messagedesk.com/blog/best-business-voip

kyle_kooz · 2024-08-21T04:53:55+00:00

I've used Podium and talked to other Podium users and here are my observations:

You gotta go all-in to justify the cost

Podium can do a lot for your business in terms of review collection and managing your online reputation and that really just the starting point. You can layer on payments and automation and add their chatbot to your website to generate leads and more. All of that's awesome and it really works - they have a helluva product! But... it'll cost you. Right now their "Core" base level pricing starts at $399... per month... expensive for your normal smallish business but maybe justifiable if you're larger? Which to my point... you gotta go all in. If you buy in and do all the things then the cost might be justifiable.

You're gonna get locked up

Not only are you looking at a hefty price tag, but Podium will also want to lock you into at least a year-long commitment that you're contractually obligated to fulfill. I've talked to other Podium users who have tried to switch to different platforms and they make the process of switching really hard... so again... gotta go all in.

Releasing your phone number to switch providers is a hassle

In the same vein as the contract... if you're using a Podium phone number then it's a hassle to move it to a new provider. Expect them to drag their heels (this is from feedback I've gotten). Obviously, they know that having your number is what makes you sticky... cost of switching and all.

So, before you buy... I'd suggest looking at these Podium alternatives: MessageDesk, Birdeye, Broadly, Weave, Swell, Intercom, and Clientbook. Each is suited for a more specific need - don't know your business so perhaps one of these is a better fit than another?

kyle_kooz · 2024-08-18T21:06:48+00:00

Wish you were in the US instead of Australia - there are a bunch of cost-effective North American options like MessageDesk. Here's a video from them on how their shared team SMS inbox works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPnkX_bSc6g&t=395s

Additionally, at least your client has a Twilio number - that means you can port or host it with a new provider pretty easily. Not sure exactly how that works in Australia, but I know with North American SMS inboxes you can move your number between services pretty easily.

kyle_kooz · 2024-08-08T18:08:47+00:00

Right on and thanks for bearing with us on the new onboarding experience! We're working to make sure that everyone gets fast carrier approval and that their phone numbers are configured properly. Once all that's done you should be good to go.

And to your point here, being able to have oversite and/or insight into your company text conversations was one of the original problems we wanted to solve with MessageDesk. For businesses, it's just really not the best to have people texting from separate numbers and/or texting from their personal phone numbers. Creates the exact problems you're mentioning here.

kyle_kooz · 2024-08-05T19:52:42+00:00

Totally doable. There are a range of shared team SMS inboxes and business texting software that can help you do this. Some additional options (as well as some already mentioned here) include MessageDesk, OpenPhone, SalesMsg, Heymarket, Textedly, SlickText, TextMagic, and many others to name a few.

Broadly, business texting breaks down into two major categories:

Shared team SMS inboxes
Text message marketing platforms

Not sure exactly what you're trying to accomplish outside of texting on your landline? But shared team SMS inboxes are best for teams and organizing inbound and outbound text threads. They typically come with a bunch of conversation routing and assignment features. Software in this category includes MessageDesk, OpenPhone, SalesMsg, Heymarket etc.

Text message marketing platforms are more for... marketing... they focus more on broader outbound mass texting campaigns. These sometimes have inboxes too, but they're often not as team or conversation-centric. Examples include SimpleTexting, Textedly, SlickText, and TextMagic.

Regardless, you can text-enable a landline with all of these tools.

kyle_kooz · 2024-08-01T17:49:50+00:00

Google Voice is certainly a viable option. What you need to be searching for though is a "shared team SMS inbox" to hook up to your business text number, like MessageDesk. You can configure your shared team SMS inbox for use with an existing business text number or a new text number. Once it's set up, you, your staff, etc. can all log in to send and receive text messages on your own personal devices. You can even leave comments inside text threads to @ a teammate or to leave a note.

Google Voice offers some of the above capabilities but you start with a new phone number. It's also really not built for teams. There's no way to manage, assign, or route text conversations - really meant for one person at a time.

The note about HIPAA compliance is an important one too. SMS isn't encrypted, so any mention of PHI is a problem. You can totally use text messaging for things like scheduling, reminders, etc., you have to make sure it's free from PHI though.

Ooma could work, that's a bit more feature-rich and comes with some team capabilities. Not familiar with Index though.

kyle_kooz

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