WhatsApp and SMS

Send WhatsApp messages and SMS from Ellibo with your own accounts - WhatsApp Business (Meta), Twilio - where to get each key, and which apps use them.

Ellibo sends WhatsApp messages and SMS through your own accounts. You pay the provider directly; Ellibo adds no charge per message.

WhatsApp Business (Cloud API)

With your own WhatsApp Business number connected, messages are sent by themselves (reminders, sequences, replies), and customers' replies come back into Ellibo.

Step 1: Create a Meta app

1. Go to developers.facebook.com, sign in, and click My Apps › Create App.
2. Choose the use case Connect with customers through WhatsApp, and pick your business portfolio (your Meta Business account).
3. Open WhatsApp › API Setup. Add your business phone number in the From list and verify it by SMS or call.
4. Copy the Phone number ID and the WhatsApp Business Account ID.

Step 2: Make a permanent token

The token on the API Setup page expires in a day. Make one that doesn't:

1. Open Meta Business Settings › Users › System users › Add. Name it Ellibo, role Admin.
2. Click Assign assets: give it your app (full control) and your WhatsApp account (full control).
3. Click Generate token, choose your app, set expiry to Never, and tick whatsapp_business_messaging, whatsapp_business_management and business_management.
4. Copy the token.
5. Optional: in your app, App settings › Basic › App secret › Show, and copy it. Ellibo uses it to check messages really come from Meta.

Step 3: Connect and add the webhook

1. In Ellibo (for example CRM › Settings › WhatsApp & SMS), paste the Phone number ID, Business Account ID, token and app secret, and click Connect WhatsApp.
2. Ellibo shows a Callback URL and a Verify token.
3. In your Meta app, open WhatsApp › Configuration › Edit. Paste both, and click Verify and save.
4. Under Webhook fields, click Manage and subscribe to messages.
5. Switch your Meta app to Live mode so real messages arrive.

The 24-hour rule and templates

WhatsApp lets you send any message within 24 hours of the customer's last message. Outside that, only approved templates can be sent. Create them in WhatsApp Manager, wait for Meta's approval, then click Sync from Meta in Ellibo. Meta bills your account for conversations you start.

More: WhatsApp and SMS in CRM.

SMS with Twilio

1. Sign up at twilio.com.
2. Upgrade the account (add a payment method). A trial account can only text a few verified numbers, from a shared number, with Twilio's own sample text - not your messages.
3. Buy a phone number with SMS (Console › Phone Numbers › Buy a number), or create a Messaging Service.
4. On the Console home page, copy the Account SID and Auth Token (click to show it).
5. In CRM › Settings › WhatsApp & SMS › SMS, choose Twilio, paste them with your number (or Messaging Service SID), and click Connect.

Some countries (for example the US and Canada) also ask you to register your brand and campaign before you can text; Twilio guides you through it.

Which apps send messages

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