# AI Text Messaging & SMS Assistant for Business

Source: https://insertchat.com/product/sms

> Customers text your InsertChat number and get answers from your knowledge. Your team sees every thread in the shared inbox and can step in.

AI text messaging lets customers text your business and get an answer without waiting for someone to free up. InsertChat’s assistant replies to SMS from your services, hours, and FAQs, collects contact details when a follow-up needs them, books appointments when you allow it, and keeps every thread in the shared inbox for your team.

## Replies sized for a phone

Short answers from your services, hours, and FAQs, written for a text thread.

## Your team gets the tricky texts

Photos, complaints, and requests that match your handoff rules are marked for a person.

## Booking by text

Offer open times and book appointments within the scheduling rules you set.

## How do customers text my business?

They text the phone number InsertChat gives you, the same number that answers your calls. The assistant replies in short, text-friendly messages from your knowledge, and each thread joins the customer’s contact record. Texting depends on the number’s country and carrier; some numbers, such as UK numbers, are voice-only.

## What happens when a customer sends a photo or wants a person?

Picture messages go to your team instead of getting an automatic reply, and so do texts that match your handoff rules, such as a request for a person or an upset customer. The thread is marked for your team in the shared inbox, where someone can take it over.

## Can customers book appointments by text?

Yes. Connect a supported calendar and the assistant offers open times, books the one the customer picks, and can move or cancel appointments it booked. Customers can get reminders by text or email 72 and 24 hours before the appointment.

## How much does AI text messaging cost?

Paid plans start at $98 per month and include one phone number and monthly AI credits. SMS is a connected service that can carry its own charges on top of your plan. See pricing for plan allowances and channel costs.

## What happens when a customer replies STOP?

Opt-out keywords such as STOP are honored, so that number stops receiving texts from your assistant. A customer who later replies START can opt back in.

## Does the assistant give the same answers by text and on calls?

Yes. One knowledge base serves calls, SMS, website chat, email, and WhatsApp, so a price or policy you update once applies to every channel. Text replies are kept short for a phone screen.

## Can my team see and continue text conversations?

Every text thread appears in the shared inbox with the contact’s details and history. Your team can take over the thread, leave an internal note for a colleague, or use a saved reply.

## Related features

- [AI receptionist](https://insertchat.com/product/phone)
- [Shared inbox](https://insertchat.com/product/inbox)
- [Scheduling](https://insertchat.com/product/scheduling)