Text a new number from the inbox
To text a phone number that has never contacted you, click New message at the top of the Inbox, enter the number, write your text and click Send — Ody opens a conversation (and a contact) for them on the spot.
Before you start
- Your workspace must have completed Text messaging setup (10DLC registration) before a US local number can send texts — see Send your first text. Calls work the whole time.
- Any team member can start a conversation. Outbound texts count toward your plan's messaging limits like any other text.
- Only text people who expect to hear from your business. Carriers filter unsolicited messages and can block your number — see Messaging limits and compliance.
Step-by-step
Click Inbox in the left sidebar.
Click New message in the top-right of the Inbox header.
Under TO, type the phone number — US numbers work with or without the +1 (for example
512 555 0199); other countries need the full international number (+44 20 7946 0958). Or start typing a contact's name and pick them from the suggestions.If your workspace has more than one active number, choose the line to send from under FROM. Otherwise your business number is used automatically.
Type your text under MESSAGE.
Click Send (or press ⌘↵ / Ctrl+Enter).
The conversation opens in your Inbox with the message and its delivery status. Replies arrive in the same thread, and a contact is created so the number has a name you can edit later.
On your phone's browser (app.ody.co): tap Inbox, tap the compose button, type the number at the top of the sheet and tap Start, then write your message in the thread. Tapping a contact without an existing thread also starts one.
Troubleshooting
- "Enter a valid phone number" — include the area code for US numbers, or the country code (starting with +) for everything else.
- "Your workspace has no active number" — buy or port a number first in Settings → Numbers.
- The message is blocked with "texting isn't set up yet" — finish 10DLC registration in Settings → Numbers → Text messaging setup.
- I picked a contact but nothing happened — the contact has no phone number saved. Open Contacts, add their number, then try again.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I text someone who has never contacted my business?
Yes. Click New message at the top of the Inbox, type their number (or pick a contact), write your text and click Send. A conversation and a contact are created for them automatically.
Which number does the text come from?
Your business line. If your workspace owns more than one number, a From picker in the New message window lets you choose.
What if I already have a thread with that number?
Ody reuses it — your new text lands in the existing conversation instead of creating a duplicate.
Can I do this on the iPhone or Android app?
On Android, tap compose then New contact to type a number. On iPhone, compose picks from existing contacts — add the person in Contacts first, or use app.ody.co in Safari, where the Inbox compose sheet has a number field.