Hosted Numbers: Enable SMS on Existing Numbers | Chat To Clients CRM
Hosted Numbers in Chat To Clients CRM allows businesses to enable SMS on eligible existing US local and toll-free numbers without changing their current voice carrier. Available through Labs, this feature offers a guided process for verifying ownership, submitting authorization, and tracking hosting requests. Businesses can retain their familiar phone numbers while managing SMS through Chat To Clients CRM.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- What Are Hosted Numbers in Chat To Clients CRM?
- Key Benefits of Hosted Numbers
- How to Set Up Hosted Numbers in Chat To Clients CRM
- Hosted Numbers Availability and Requirements
- Understanding Hosted Numbers Request Statuses
- Hosted vs. SMS Ready
- Agency and Sub-Account Permissions
- Managing and Troubleshooting Hosting Requests
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related Articles
What Are Hosted Numbers in Chat To Clients CRM?
Hosted Numbers allows businesses to use an existing phone number for SMS through Chat To Clients CRM while voice calls continue through the current carrier. Unlike number porting, which transfers a number to another provider, hosting enables SMS without transferring voice service.
Agency Owners and Admins can initiate hosting requests through a guided workflow that includes eligibility checks, ownership verification, service address selection, and authorization.
Key Benefits of Hosted Numbers
Hosted Numbers simplifies adding SMS to an existing business phone number while providing visibility into the setup process.
Keep Your Existing Number: Use the phone number customers already recognize.
Preserve Voice Services: Continue receiving calls through your existing carrier.
Guided Setup: Complete eligibility, verification, address, and authorization requirements in one workflow.
Track Request Progress: Monitor statuses and outstanding actions from the Hosted Numbers tab.
Flexible Request Management: Save, resume, or recover eligible hosting requests.
Clear SMS Readiness: See whether hosting is complete and whether the number can send SMS.
How to Set Up Hosted Numbers in Chat To Clients CRM
Agency Owners and Admins can complete the hosting process directly within Chat To Clients CRM. Accurate verification, service address information, and authorization help the request progress through hosting.
Step 1: Enable Hosted Numbers
Log in as an Agency Owner or Admin.
Navigate to Settings → Labs.
Enable Hosted Numbers, where available.
Step 2: Start a Hosting Request
Go to Settings → Phone System → Manage Numbers.
Select Add Number → Host a Number.
Enter the existing US phone number.
Select Next to check eligibility.
Continue if the number is eligible.
Step 3: Verify Ownership
Review the verification code displayed by Chat To Clients CRM.
Answer the verification call on the existing number.
Enter the code using the phone keypad.
Select Verify in Chat To Clients CRM.
Step 4: Provide the Service Address
Select an existing saved US service address or add a new physical address.
Step 5: Complete Authorization
Enter the authorized signer's details and send the authorization letter for electronic signature. If Agency identity verification is required, complete the verification journey presented by Chat To Clients CRM.
Step 6: Track Hosting and Complete SMS Readiness
Open the Hosted Numbers tab.
Monitor the request until its status becomes Hosted.
Complete any outstanding identity, messaging registration, or sender setup requirements.
Confirm the number is SMS Ready before sending messages.
For Sub-Account Users: Open Settings → Phone System → Manage Numbers to discover the hosting option or review an existing request. Contact an Agency Owner or Admin to initiate hosting.
Hosted Numbers Availability and Requirements
Hosted Numbers is available through Labs for eligible accounts. The initial release supports the following:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Supported numbers | Eligible US local and toll-free numbers |
| Messaging | SMS hosting |
| Voice service | Remains with the current carrier |
| Requests | One phone number per request |
| Supported Locations | Chat To Clients CRM-managed Locations |
| Request management | Agency Owners and Admins |
Hosting requires successful number eligibility and ownership checks, a US physical service address, and electronic authorization. Additional identity verification and messaging compliance requirements may apply.
Understanding Hosted Numbers Request Statuses
The Hosted Numbers tab displays each request's progress and any actions required to complete hosting.
| Status | Description |
|---|---|
| Ownership verification needed | Complete phone number verification. |
| Service address needed | Provide the required service address. |
| Waiting for authorization | Authorization is pending. |
| With the current carrier | Carrier processing is underway. |
| Final checks | Final hosting checks are in progress. |
| Hosted | Number hosting is complete. |
| Needs attention | Review and resolve the displayed issue. |
| Failed | Review the failure and available recovery options. |
Each submitted request includes a copyable Request ID and an applicable View, Resume, Verify, or recovery action.
Hosted vs. SMS Ready
A number becoming Hosted does not automatically mean it can send SMS. Messaging becomes available only after all applicable compliance and sender setup requirements are satisfied.
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hosted | The number has successfully completed hosting. |
| SMS Ready | Hosting and all applicable messaging requirements are complete. |
SMS readiness may require:
Completed number hosting.
Applicable Location identity verification.
Approved messaging registration or verification.
Completed messaging sender setup.
For US local numbers, applicable A2P 10DLC registration is required. Chat To Clients CRM reuses an existing approved Location-level registration where applicable.
For toll-free numbers, a separate Toll-Free Verification process applies instead of A2P 10DLC.
Agency and Sub-Account Permissions
Role-based permissions ensure that hosting requests are managed by authorized Agency users while Sub-Account Users can monitor progress.
| Action | Agency Owner/Admin | Sub-Account User |
|---|---|---|
| Initiate hosting | Yes | No |
| Manage hosting requests | Yes | No |
| View Location requests | Yes | Yes |
| Complete permitted identity/A2P actions | Yes, if authorized | Yes, if authorized |
When a Sub-Account User selects Host a Number, Chat To Clients CRM informs them that an Agency Owner or Admin must initiate the request.
Managing and Troubleshooting Hosting Requests
Chat To Clients CRM provides options for managing incomplete requests and addressing hosting issues without losing visibility into their progress.
Save or Resume: Save, resume, or delete a draft before submission.
Cancel and Restart: Where supported, select Cancel request and start again. Chat To Clients CRM retains request history, performs cleanup, and generates new request identifiers.
Resolve Issues: Follow the available action when a request displays Needs attention.
Contact Support: For delayed or failed requests, copy the Request ID and create a separate ticket from the Support page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need to port my number to Chat To Clients CRM?
No. Hosting enables SMS through Chat To Clients CRM while voice service remains with your existing carrier.
Q: Can I host multiple numbers in one request?
No. The initial Labs release supports one number per request.
Q: Can Sub-Account Users initiate hosting?
No. Only Agency Owners and Admins can initiate or manage hosting requests.
Q: Why is my number Hosted but not SMS Ready?
Additional identity, messaging registration, or sender setup requirements may still be outstanding.
Q: Do I need to complete A2P registration again?
Not necessarily. Chat To Clients CRM reuses an applicable approved Location-level A2P registration for eligible local numbers.
Q: Can I host Canadian numbers?
Canadian numbers are not included in the stated scope of this initial Labs release.
Q: What happens if my hosting request fails?
Review the available recovery action or contact Support with the Request ID.
Q: How long does number hosting take?
Completion depends on verification, authorization, carrier processing, and final checks. A specific timeframe has not been confirmed for the Labs workflow.