"How to Connect Start Mobile to On-Chat"

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