What is two-way SMS?
Two-way SMS is text messaging in which a business number can both send and receive — recipients can reply, and those replies thread back into the same conversation, rather than the one-directional alerts of one-way SMS.
Outbound by API, replies in the app.
Send over the VanceTel REST API, then receive replies as signed webhooks carrying a conversation id. Every inbound message also surfaces in the softphone shared inbox in real time, so the same thread is both programmable and answerable by a person.
Two-way SMS in practice.
An app texts a customer: “Your order shipped — reply with any questions.” The customer replies asking to change the address. That reply arrives as a webhook and appears in the VanceTel softphone, where a rep answers in the same thread. One conversation, driven by software and finished by a human.
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Two-way SMS questions.
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What is the difference between one-way and two-way SMS?
One-way SMS only goes outbound — alerts and notifications a recipient cannot answer. Two-way SMS lets the recipient reply, and those replies route back to the business and thread into the same conversation. It turns texting from a broadcast into a dialogue.
How does VanceTel handle two-way SMS?
You send over the REST API and subscribe a webhook for inbound messages. When someone replies, VanceTel posts a message.received event with the body and a conversation id you can reply against — and every message also lands in the softphone shared inbox so your team can answer by hand.
Where do inbound replies show up?
In the VanceTel softphone shared inbox, in real time, across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Vision Pro, desktop and web. Software can drive the conversation while a person picks it up from a real app on whichever device they are using.