Sending messages

To send a message, open a conversation, type in the composer, and press the send button. You can also schedule a message to go out later. Before you can send, you need permission to send on the inbox, an unarchived conversation, a contact who has not opted out, and an active trial or subscription.

Compose and send a message

1. Open the conversation you want to reply to, or start a new one. See Starting a new conversation.
2. Type your message in the composer.
3. Press the send button (the paper-plane icon) to the right of the composer.

A message needs a text body, one or more attachments, or both.

The composer toolbar

The composer toolbar gives you a few ways to build and personalise your message:

• Add a note to the conversation (the notebook icon) without sending it to the contact.
• Insert a saved template.
• Insert merge fields to personalise the message for each contact.
• A length counter that shows how many characters you have used and how many SMS segments the message will cost. Longer messages split into more segments, which cost more.

What you see after sending

When you send a message, it appears in the conversation feed. The status indicator next to the message tells you where it is:

• A clock icon with the tooltip Sending means the message is queued.
• A single tick with the tooltip Sent means the message has been sent.
• A double tick with the tooltip Delivered means the carrier confirmed delivery.

For an explanation of each delivery status, see Why did my message fail? (message statuses explained).

Adding attachments (MMS)

You can attach files only when the inbox phone number supports media (MMS). When it does, an upload button (the upload icon) appears in the composer, and you can also drag and drop files onto the composer.

• Each file can be up to 20 MB.
• Some file types are blocked for safety. If a file is not allowed, emu.chat lets you know and leaves it out.

If the inbox does not support media, you will not be able to attach files, and a note above the feed explains that this number cannot send media.

When you cannot send

In some situations the composer is replaced by a banner explaining why you cannot send, and what to do next.

• This conversation is archived. Un-archive it to send a new message. Un-archive the conversation to continue.
• This number has opted out of communications. You cannot message a contact who has opted out. See Opt-outs and STOP keywords: staying compliant.
• This inbox is archived and read-only. The inbox itself is archived, so no one can send from it.

Trial and billing banners

If your trial or subscription does not allow sending, the composer is replaced by a banner that explains why and gives you a button to fix it, such as subscribing to a plan, updating your payment method, or contacting support. Your free trial includes 25 free text messages; once they run out, subscribe to keep sending. See Managing your billing and seats, or Buying credits and setting up auto top-up to top up before you run out.

Scheduling a message

To send a message later, use the schedule button (the small chevron next to the send button). It opens a menu headed Schedule send.

1. Type your message in the composer.
2. Open the Schedule send menu.
3. Pick a preset, or choose Custom time to set your own.

The presets send at 9:00 AM in your local time:

• Tomorrow at 9:00 AM appears only when tomorrow is a weekday.
• Next Monday at 9:00 AM shows the date beneath it, for example Jun 22.

To choose your own time, select Custom time, pick a date and time in the future, then choose Schedule.

The message then appears in the feed marked Scheduled for [time] with a clock icon.

Managing a scheduled message

A scheduled message shows a menu button (the vertical ellipsis) on its bubble. Open it to manage the message.

• Send now sends the message straight away.
• Edit scheduled time lets you pick a new time and choose Update.
• Delete asks you to confirm, then removes the scheduled message.

Who can send and manage messages

Sending from an inbox is controlled by your access to that inbox. To edit, reschedule, or delete a scheduled message, you must be a member of that message's inbox. A workspace Administrator can manage any scheduled message on an inbox that belongs to their organisation. For more on access, see User roles and permissions.