# "How to Connect Start Mobile to On-Chat"

> "On-Chat integrates with Start Mobile so your team can receive and reply to inbound SMS messages in a centralized support inbox with routing, canned responses, and full conversation history."

URL: https://on-chat.live/guides/how-to-connect-start-mobile-to-on-chat/
Last updated: 2026-11-14

## Introduction
Start Mobile is an SMS messaging gateway that provides businesses with reliable SMS delivery and two-way messaging capabilities. By integrating Start Mobile with On-Chat, support teams can centralize inbound customer SMS conversations in a shared inbox, with agent routing, automation, and conversation tracking to ensure no customer message is missed.

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## Prerequisites
- An active Start Mobile account with API access enabled
- Start Mobile API credentials (API key or username/password)
- A virtual number or shortcode provisioned for two-way inbound SMS
- On-Chat account with admin access
- Ability to configure inbound message webhooks in Start Mobile

## Step 1: Gather Your Start Mobile API Credentials
Log in to your Start Mobile account and navigate to the API or developer settings. Copy your **API key** or authentication credentials and note the API endpoint URL. Also record your sender ID or virtual number. These will authenticate On-Chat's requests when sending outbound SMS replies.

## Step 2: Confirm Inbound SMS Capability
Verify with Start Mobile that your account and number are configured for two-way (inbound and outbound) SMS messaging. If your number only supports outbound sending, contact Start Mobile support to enable inbound message routing so customer replies can be received.

## Step 3: Create an SMS Inbox in On-Chat
In On-Chat, go to **Settings** → **Inboxes** → **New Inbox** and select **SMS**. Choose **Start Mobile** as the provider. Enter your API credentials, endpoint URL, and virtual number. Save the inbox — On-Chat will generate the inbound webhook URL needed for the next step.

## Step 4: Configure the Inbound Webhook in Start Mobile
In your Start Mobile account, navigate to the number or account settings and find the inbound message delivery URL configuration. Enter the On-Chat webhook URL you generated. Set the HTTP method to POST. Start Mobile will now forward all incoming customer SMS to On-Chat as new conversations.

## Step 5: Add Agents and Set Up Routing
In On-Chat, go to **Settings** → **Inboxes** → select your Start Mobile inbox → **Collaborators**. Add agents who will handle SMS support. Enable auto-assignment so On-Chat distributes new conversations automatically based on agent availability and workload.

## Step 6: Test the Integration
Send a test SMS to your Start Mobile number. Confirm it arrives in On-Chat as a new conversation. Reply from an agent and verify the customer receives the outbound SMS. Review delivery logs in Start Mobile and conversation records in On-Chat to validate the full message flow.

## Best Practices
- Use On-Chat automation to send immediate auto-acknowledgments when customers first message via Start Mobile
- Apply conversation labels in On-Chat to categorize SMS support issues by type or priority
- Review Start Mobile delivery reports to track outbound message success and identify failures
- Set up On-Chat business-hours automation so customers receive instant responses even outside support hours

## Keep reading

- [How to Build a WhatsApp Chatbot Without Code](https://on-chat.live/guides/how-to-build-a-whatsapp-chatbot/): A step-by-step tutorial for building a dynamic WhatsApp chatbot in a visual flow builder, from your first message to live data and agent handoff.
- [Chatbot Flow Design: 12 Best Practices](https://on-chat.live/guides/chatbot-flow-design-best-practices/): Practical rules for designing chatbot conversation flows that customers finish: branching, fallbacks, personalisation, handoff and testing.
- [Make Your Chatbot Dynamic with Webhooks](https://on-chat.live/guides/dynamic-chatbot-webhooks/): Connect your chatbot flows to live data. Learn how webhooks, expressions and splits turn a scripted bot into one that answers with real information.