# Send the update. Keep the reply.

Give customers a number they can answer. Connect incoming texts to the order, appointment or support request behind the conversation.

## Turn incoming texts into useful replies.

Receive texts on an eligible number. Reply from your app, or connect the steps in a Bird automation.

[Incoming SMS events](/docs/guides/sms/events#the-event-envelope)
[Explore Automations](/docs/get-started/automations)
Illustrative SMS reply workflow. Send acceptance is followed by a carrier delivery receipt, not a read receipt. No messages are sent from this page.

## Receive the message. Reply with context.

Receive customer texts and reply from your application.

### Start with a receiving number.

Use a number that supports incoming SMS in the destination. A brand-name sender cannot receive replies. Match the inbound destination to the number your application owns.

### Use the incoming event.

The sms.received event carries the message body and both numbers. Correlate it with your customer records, then choose the next action. An incoming reply is distinct from a delivery receipt.

### Handle keywords before business logic.

Supported stop keywords create a suppression and still emit an incoming event. Keep that outcome in your application’s reply handling so an opt-out does not accidentally trigger another promotion.

[Explore SMS two-way sms →](/docs/guides/sms/events#the-event-envelope)

## Keep building with SMS.

Choose the receiving number, handle the event, and inspect the workflow that prepares a reply.

[Senders Choose a sending identity that works for the destination. →](/sms-api/features/numbers)

[Webhooks React to incoming texts and delivery changes. →](/docs/guides/sms/events)

[Automations Receive a text, find the customer, and send the next reply. →](/docs/get-started/automations)

[Explore SMS →](/sms-api)

## 规模扩展 不失控。

在工作区中组织团队，控制 API 访问权限，通过审计日志追踪变更。

[Workspaces](/docs/guides/workspaces)[Team roles](/docs/guides/users-teams-roles)[API authentication](/docs/guides/authentication)
[Explore Enterprise](/enterprise)

## Start with SMS. Build across channels with Bird.

[Get Started](/dashboard/signup?returnTo=%2Fdashboard%2Fw%2Fsms%2Fonboarding) · [Contact Sales](/demo?product=sms)

[Email](/email-api) · [SMS](/sms-api) · [WhatsApp](/whatsapp-api) · [Apple Messages](/apple-messages-api) · [Voice](/voice-api)



## Related resources

- [One-way and two-way SMS](/explained/sms/what-is-the-difference-between-one-way-and-two-way-sms) (answer)
- [Build your first integration](/learn/paths/integration) (course)

[Get an implementation brief](/learn/workspace?topic=sms-replies)