Overview
The messaging channels connect three message services directly to the platform: Telegram, SMS and Line. Messages from each one arrive as conversations in the same panel, with per-contact history, assignment, teams, internal notes and automations β exactly like WhatsApp, email and the website.
Each channel uses the provider's own credentials:
- Telegram: a bot created in BotFather, identified by the bot token.
- SMS: an account with an SMS provider (Twilio or Bandwidth) plus a phone number.
- Line: a LINE Messaging API channel (Channel ID, secret and token), with a webhook pointing to the platform.
Prerequisites
- An administrator profile to create inboxes.
- The valid credentials for the chosen provider (see each channel in the step by step).
- For Telegram: a bot already created in BotFather and its token.
- For SMS: a Twilio or Bandwidth account with Account SID / Auth Token and a number (or a Messaging Service).
- For Line: a channel in LINE Developers with Channel ID, Channel Secret and Channel Access Token.
- If a channel does not appear when creating an inbox, it may not be enabled for your account β check with an administrator.
Step by step
Telegram
- In Telegram's BotFather, create a bot and copy the generated token.
- Go to Settings β Inboxes, create a new inbox and choose Telegram.
- Paste the bot token and finish. The platform validates the token, detects the bot name automatically and sets up the webhook by itself.
- Send a message to the bot and confirm it arrives as a conversation.
SMS (Twilio or Bandwidth)
- Go to Settings β Inboxes, create a new inbox and choose SMS.
- Select the provider: Twilio or Bandwidth.
- For Twilio, enter: inbox name, Account SID, Auth Token and the phone number
in E.164 format (e.g.
+15551234567) β or check the Messaging Service option and enter the Messaging Service SID.- Optional: check use API Key to authenticate with API Key SID + API Key Secret instead of the Auth Token.
- For Bandwidth, enter the credentials and the number as provided.
- Finish and send a test SMS.
Line
- In LINE Developers, create a Messaging API channel and get the Channel ID, Channel Secret and Channel Access Token.
- Go to Settings β Inboxes, create a new inbox and choose Line.
- Enter the inbox name, Channel ID, Channel Secret and Channel Access Token, then finish.
- In the LINE Developers console, set the channel's webhook URL to point to the platform's endpoint (shown in the inbox configuration or provided by your administrator) and enable message receiving.
- Send a message to the LINE profile and confirm it reaches the platform.
Settings & options
- Assignment and teams: define who handles each channel's conversations, just like the others.
- Automation and replies: automations, canned responses and greetings work as usual.
- Editing credentials: you can update the channel's token/credentials in the inbox settings.
- SMS provider: Twilio accepts a direct number or a Messaging Service; the provider is chosen at creation time.
Use cases
- Handle Telegram and SMS side by side with WhatsApp, email and the website, in the same queue.
- Use SMS for notifications and confirmations when the customer has no messaging app.
- Use Line to serve Asian audiences (strong in Japan, Thailand and Taiwan) without leaving the platform.
Tips, limits & best practices
- Keep credentials valid: a revoked or expired token stops messages from coming in.
- SMS has a per-message cost charged by the provider (Twilio/Bandwidth) β track usage in the provider's account.
- For Line, the webhook must point to the platform and be active; otherwise messages won't arrive.
- Use one bot per inbox in Telegram; the same token cannot be reused across two inboxes.
Troubleshooting
- Telegram receives no messages: confirm the token is valid (not revoked in BotFather) and re-enter it if needed.
- SMS does not send or receive: review the Account SID, Auth Token and number/Messaging Service; confirm balance and an enabled number with the provider.
- Line does not receive: check the Channel ID, Secret and Token and the webhook URL in the LINE console, which must point to the platform and be enabled.
- The channel does not appear when creating an inbox: it may not be enabled for your account β talk to an administrator.