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This page walks through every setting that controls how a Text agent sends messages and when. Script, variables, actions, and success criteria work the same as on a Voice agent. See Script editor for those.

Create a Text agent

1

Connect a messaging provider

In App Center, connect Twilio, Telnyx, or WhatsApp. You only do this once per account.
2

Create the agent

Go to Agents, create a new agent, and choose a text channel (SMS or WhatsApp) in the channel picker. You can also switch an existing agent to Text in General Settings. See Create an agent.
3

Pick a direction

In General Settings, choose Outgoing (the agent messages your contacts) or Incoming (the agent answers people who text your number).
4

Select numbers

Click Channels in the agent header, open Text Channels, choose the connected provider, and tick the numbers this agent should use. Click Refresh if a number you just bought doesn’t appear.
5

Set the schedule and follow-ups

Click Availability in the header and configure the settings below.
6

Test, then start

Click Test to run a real chat with your own phone, then start the agent from the status badge.
Channels window with the Text Channels tab open and Twilio selected under Connected, with Telnyx listed below it

Connected providers in Channels → Text Channels

When you save an agent with a Twilio number, Callers points that number’s incoming-message webhook at Callers. For Telnyx, Callers creates a messaging profile for the agent. You don’t have to configure webhooks yourself.

Agent instructions

General Settings → Agent Instructions holds guidance that applies to every message: tone, length, what to avoid. For text, ask for short messages. For example: “Keep each message under 300 characters. Don’t use emojis. Never send links other than the booking link.” See Instructions & guardrails.

Availability

The Availability modal sets when the agent may send messages and how it follows up.
Availability window with a Use Contact's Time Zone toggle, time zone Asia/Jerusalem, Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, 1 follow-up attempt with a 90 minute wait, and a Custom Follow-Up Prompt field

Availability settings for a Text agent

Sending hours

Messages that fall outside these hours wait for the next open window. This applies to first messages, follow-ups, and drop-off follow-ups.

Follow-ups (no reply)

A follow-up is sent when the contact hasn’t answered the agent’s last message. The AI rephrases each one so it doesn’t repeat itself.
A good starting point for sales outreach: 2–3 follow-ups, at least a day apart, one per day. Use the Custom Follow-Up Prompt to keep them short, for example “One sentence. Refer back to the question you asked.”

Drop-off follow-ups (replied, then went silent)

Drop-off follow-ups re-engage contacts who started replying and then stopped mid-conversation. Turn on Drop-Off Follow-Up to use them. They are available on Outgoing agents only.

Technical settings

These live in General Settings → Technical Settings.
Contacts often send two or three short texts in a row. If the agent answers each one separately, raise the minimum message delay so it waits for the contact to finish.

Message throughput (MPS)

Each provider connection has a Messages Per Second (MPS) Limit, set when you connect it in App Center. It caps how fast Callers sends through that account. The default is 1 message per second. The maximum is 100 for Twilio, 1000 for Telnyx, and 20 for WhatsApp. Match it to the throughput your provider has approved for your numbers. Sending faster than your carrier allows leads to filtered or failed messages.

Statuses

Chats move through In progress to a final outcome. Contact outcomes include Interested, Not interested, Follow up, Wrong number, Unsubscribed, Unreached (no reply after all follow-ups), and Failed. See Statuses & outcomes.

Troubleshooting

  • Check that the agent is started and not Paused.
  • Check that the current time falls within the Availability hours in the schedule’s time zone.
  • Make sure at least one number is selected in Channels → Text Channels.
  • Confirm your contacts have valid phone numbers in international format.
Increase the minimum Message Delay Range value so the agent waits longer before answering.
Check Total Follow Up Attempts (it may be 0) and Max Daily Follow-Up Attempts. Follow-ups also wait for the next open window in your schedule.
Raise Chat Window Duration. A short window closes the chat and runs analysis before slow typers reply. Replies after the window closes are still answered.

Text agents overview

Channels, conversation flow, pause and terminate, opt-outs.

Scheduling & retries

How schedules and attempts work across channels.

Testing your agent

Run a test chat before launch.

Webhooks

Get chat results in your own systems.