# Connecting an SMS inbox

An **SMS** inbox connects a phone number you rent from Twilio or Bandwidth. Text messages to that number arrive as conversations, and your replies go out as SMS.

## Before you start

You need an account with one of the two providers, a phone number bought there, and the credentials from its console: for Twilio the **Account SID** and **Auth Token** (or an API key), for Bandwidth the **Account ID**, **API Key**, **API Secret** and **Application ID**.

## 1. Add an SMS inbox

Go to **Settings → Inboxes → Add Inbox** and choose **SMS**. Under **API Provider**, pick **Twilio** or **Bandwidth**.

![SMS channel form with Twilio selected](../../.gitbook/assets/guides/sms-add-inbox-form.jpg)

## 2. Enter the provider details

**Twilio**

* **Inbox Name**: how the inbox appears in your sidebar.
* **Phone Number**: the Twilio number messages are sent from, with the country code. Tick **Use a Twilio Messaging Service** and enter the **Messaging Service SID** instead if you send through a messaging service.
* **Account SID** and **Auth Token** from your Twilio console. Tick **Use API Key Authentication** to use an **API Key SID** and **API Key Secret** instead of the auth token.

Click **Create Twilio Channel**.

**Bandwidth**

* **Inbox Name** and **Phone number**.
* **Account ID**, **API Key**, **API Secret** and **Application ID** from your Bandwidth console.

Click **Create Bandwidth Channel**.

## 3. Add agents and paste the callback URL

Pick the agents who will answer and **Add agents**. The last step shows a **Callback URL**: copy it into the messaging webhook of your number in the provider's console, so incoming texts reach the inbox. Until that is done, you can send but nothing arrives.

## After the inbox is live

The inbox's **Configuration** tab shows the callback URL again if you need it. Everything else, from **Collaborators** to **Business Hours**, is explained in [Inbox settings, tab by tab](/settings/inbox-settings-tabs). SMS blasting uses this inbox; see [SMS and API blasting](/campaigns/sms-and-api-campaigns).

## Related

* [Inboxes and channels](/settings/inboxes-and-channels)
* [SMS and API blasting](/campaigns/sms-and-api-campaigns)
* [Inbox settings, tab by tab](/settings/inbox-settings-tabs)

---
Source: https://help.mampuai.com/settings/connecting-an-sms-inbox