Read and Reply to SMS in Conversations

HelloSMS supports two-way SMS, allowing you to receive replies from your recipients and manage ongoing conversations directly within the platform.

The Conversations view works similarly to a chat application, displaying sent and received messages in a single thread for each contact. It also provides tools to filter conversations, view sender details, and manage both individual and group-related messages.

Access the Conversations View

To read and reply to messages:

1. Go to the Conversations page from the main navigation.

2. Review the conversation list, which displays your one-on-one message threads.

   

Filter Conversations

You can refine the conversation list using filters.

1. Select Show filters.

   Use any of the following options:

   • Phone number: Search for conversations by a specific contact number.
   • Date range (From – To): View conversations from a selected time period.
   • Show only unread: Display only conversations with unread messages.
   • Show only API-sent: View conversations initiated through the API.

   • Show group messages: Include conversations originating from campaign or group messages.

     

Open and Review a Conversation

1. Click any conversation to open the full message thread.

2. Scroll upward to load and review the entire message history.

   

Message Subject Visibility

If a message was sent with an internal subject, the subject line is visible within the conversation.

Subjects are also included in conversation search results, making it easier to locate messages using internal labels or tags.

Sender Information

Each message displays the sender identity used at the time of sending.

• The sender helps distinguish between messages sent from different numbers or sender IDs.
• Hovering over a phone number shows the full number in a tooltip, providing additional clarity when multiple numbers are in use.

Reply to a Message Using Quick Reply

At the bottom of each conversation, you can respond using the Quick Reply field.

As you type your reply:

• The sender that will be used for the reply is displayed.
• A character counter shows the message length and estimated SMS count.

If you need to change the sender or access additional options, select Change here or Open Full Editor to open the full editor on the New Message page.

Send Confirmation

When you select Send SMS, a confirmation dialog appears.

This dialog shows:

• The sender that will be used
• The message length
• The estimated number of SMS messages

Review the details and select Send message to confirm.

The Conversations view provides a centralized, chat-style interface to manage replies, review sender details, search by subject, and control the visibility of group messages. These tools help you stay organized and respond efficiently across all message types.

Learn More

See the following articles to learn more:

• Send an SMS
• Conversations vs. Campaigns
• Create a Template
• SMS Personalization Overview
• Unsubscribe Text Overview
• Manage Phone Numbers