Text Messaging

Text your customers from your business number.

Send and receive business texts and picture messages from your local or toll-free Talkroute numbers, in the desktop, web, and mobile apps. Your whole team can share a number, and customers never see a personal cell.

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Why switch

Your customers already text. Now your business can too.

The old way

Texting from your personal cell

  • Your numberCustomers get your personal cell number
  • Your teamMessages are stuck on one person’s phone
  • At your deskThumb-type replies on a small screen
  • When someone leavesCustomer conversations leave with them
  • RecordsBusiness and personal texts mixed together
The result: no privacy, and no shared history.
Talkroute

Talkroute business texting

  • Your numberTexts come from your business number
  • Your teamShare a number with the people who need it
  • At your deskType on a full keyboard in the desktop or web app
  • When someone leavesConversations stay with your business
  • RecordsSearch, export, and report on every conversation
The result: professional texting the whole team can use.

Texting works on your local, toll-free, and vanity numbers, with the same number your customers already call.

At a glance

One business number for calls and texts.

SMS+ MMS

Texts and photos

Send and receive text and picture messages

4ways to text

Every device

Desktop app, web app, iPhone, and Android, plus email notifications

3access levels

Per user, per number

Disabled, View Only, or Full Access for each team member

1business number

Calls and texts

Customers call and text the same business number they already know

How it works

Business texting, wherever you work.

Conversations

Every conversation, organized by number.

See all your business texts in one list, or filter to a single number like your sales or support line. Search older messages, spot unread conversations, and act on any conversation with one click.

  • Filter conversations by Talkroute number
  • Search, plus unread and read markers
  • Call, block, or save the sender as a contact
  • Download any conversation to keep a copy

Picture messages

Send photos, not just words.

Drag a photo into the conversation or attach one from your computer or phone. Customers can send photos back, too, so you can see the job before you quote it. A live counter shows how long your message is and how many texts it will use.

  • Send and receive picture messages (MMS)
  • Drag and drop photos, including iPhone HEIC photos
  • Character and message counter as you type
  • Spellcheck on the desktop app

Notifications

Never leave a customer on read.

New texts pop up as desktop notifications, with a quick reply so you can answer without opening the app. The iPhone and Android apps send push notifications, and every number can email new texts to the address you choose.

  • Desktop notifications with quick reply
  • Push notifications on iPhone and Android
  • Text-to-email notifications for each number
  • Pick your own incoming text sound

Team texting

Share a number with your team.

Give the right people access to each number’s texts. In Users & Permissions, set every team member to Disabled, View Only, or Full Access for each number, so support reps see support texts and sales sees sales.

  • Disabled, View Only, or Full Access, per number
  • View Only lets someone read without replying
  • Pick a default number for each person’s outgoing texts
  • Turn texting on or off for each number

Learn more about users & permissions.

Registration & deliverability

Register so your texts aren’t filtered.

Mobile carriers filter texts from business numbers they don’t recognize. We recommend 10DLC registration for local numbers and verification for toll-free numbers, and Talkroute walks you through it. Talkroute never blocks your messages, but registered numbers are far less likely to have texts filtered before they reach your customers.

  • Recommended: 10DLC registration for local numbers
  • Recommended: verification for toll-free numbers
  • Registration is usually complete in 1 to 3 business days
  • Not needed if you only receive texts

Additional carrier registration fees may apply.

History & reporting

Every conversation on record.

Text Message History lists every conversation with dates, numbers, and message counts. Filter and search, then export what you need. On Pro and Enterprise plans, the Texts report shows your volume, busiest times, and top contacts.

  • Search and filter Text Message History
  • Export filtered conversations to CSV
  • Inbound and outbound message volume
  • Busiest times, texts by number, and top contacts

Learn more about reporting.

Use cases

How businesses use texting.

Appointment reminders

Confirm tomorrow’s appointment by text and cut down on no-shows.

“See you tomorrow at 2 PM!” from your business number.

Quotes from photos

Ask customers to text a photo of the problem, and quote the job before you roll a truck.

Customer sends: a photo of the leak. You send: a quote.

Front desk on a full keyboard

Answer customer texts from the desktop app while you’re at your computer all day.

Front desk: type fast replies in the desktop app.

A shared support line

Give your support team access to the support number, so whoever’s free can answer.

Support line: three reps, one shared conversation history.

Updates from the field

Technicians text customers from the mobile app when they’re on the way, without sharing their own numbers.

“On my way, 15 minutes out.”

Owners who live in email

Have new texts on a number emailed to you, so you see them alongside the rest of your inbox.

Text-to-email: every new text, straight to your inbox.

Works with your phone system

Texting is part of everything else

Your texts live alongside your calls, contacts, and voicemail in the Talkroute apps.

Bulk texting

Need to reach more people? Bulk texting plans add high-volume campaigns from your business numbers.

Bulk texting →

Phone numbers

Local, toll-free, and vanity numbers can all send and receive texts.

Phone numbers →

Caller ID

Choose the default number your texts go out from, separate from your calls.

Caller ID →

Users & permissions

Decide who can read and reply to texts on each of your numbers.

Users & permissions →

Reporting

See text volume, busiest times, and top contacts in the Texts report.

Reporting →

Talkroute apps

Text from the desktop app, any browser, iPhone, and Android.

Talkroute apps →

Prefer a call? Every conversation has a Call button. See VoIP & PSTN calling →

Get started with Talkroute in minutes.

Turn on texting for your numbers from the Talkroute web or desktop app. We’ll help you through carrier registration.

1
Choose a number
Pick a new local or toll-free number, or transfer the one you already have.
2
Register your number
Recommended: 10DLC or toll-free registration, so carriers don’t filter your texts.
3
Invite your team
Give each person access to the numbers they should text from.
4
Start texting
Send and receive texts and photos from any device.
See pricing Start 7-Day Free Trial

Basic includes 500 texts a month, Plus 2,000, Pro 5,000, and Enterprise is custom. 100% free to try. No contracts.

FAQ

Text Messaging FAQ

What is business text messaging?

Business text messaging lets you send and receive texts and picture messages from your Talkroute business numbers instead of a personal cell. Your team can read and reply in the desktop, web, and mobile apps, and customers always see your business number.

Which of my numbers can send texts?

Local, toll-free, 800, and vanity numbers on your Talkroute account can all send and receive texts. You can text phone numbers in the US and Canada. International texting isn’t supported at this time.

Should I register my number for texting?

We strongly recommend it. Mobile carriers filter texts from business numbers that aren’t registered, so registering helps your messages reach customers. We recommend 10DLC registration for local numbers and verification for toll-free numbers, and Talkroute walks you through it. Registration usually takes 1 to 3 business days. Talkroute doesn’t block texts from unregistered numbers, and you don’t need to register to only receive texts. Additional carrier registration fees may apply.

Can I send and receive pictures?

Yes. Send and receive picture messages (MMS), including photos taken on an iPhone. Drag a photo into the conversation or use Attach File.

How many texts can I send each month?

Basic plans include 500 text messages a month, Plus plans 2,000, and Pro plans 5,000. Enterprise plans get a custom amount. Need more? Bulk texting plans add higher volumes. See pricing for details.

How are long messages counted?

Long texts are split into segments, and each segment counts as one message. A standard text fits 160 characters per segment. Emojis and some special characters lower that to 70. The counter in the app shows how many messages your text will use as you type.

How will I know when I get a text?

The desktop app shows a notification you can reply to right away, and the iPhone and Android apps send push notifications. You can also have each number’s new texts emailed to you.

Can my team share a number for texting?

Yes. In Users & Permissions, give each team member Disabled, View Only, or Full Access to texts on each number. View Only lets someone read conversations without replying.

Which number do my texts come from?

Choose a default number for outgoing texts in Settings & Preferences. It can be different from the number you use for outgoing calls. Learn more about caller ID.

Can I keep a copy of my conversations?

Yes. Download any conversation from the Messages screen, or filter and export your Text Message History to CSV.

Can I block a number from texting me?

Yes. Block a number right from the conversation, and unblock it any time.

Text your customers like a business.

Texts and photos from your business number, on every device, shared with your team. Try Talkroute free for 7 days.

Start Free Trial Book Live Demo

Questions? Give us a call at 800.747.2140.