MySMS, using any mobile phone. The mobile phone drives the texting process, so it must be turned on to function as the director of both ingoing and outgoing messaging. Customers see and reply to your mobile phone number. For more about MySMS click here. You will need to sign up for the PREMIUM account.
Zipwhip/Textel, allows you to use your landline phone number. Customers see and reply to your landline phone number. Some other benefits such as auto-reply are available with a business account. For more about Textel/Zipwhip click here.
Pricing:
1. MySMS (Premium)- $10/year. Or $0/year by simply providing your receipt for annual reimbursement from us during any active subscription period. To create an account go here.
Note: Zipwhip is the manufacturer, Textel is the distributor. You will be making your payments to Textel.
Setup:
In either case, operation is similar.
First you set up your account with either Textel or MySMS at their respective website. You will be given a password.
Next you go to the File menu-> Administrator Utilities, choose your vendor, and enter your phone number and password.
After entering your phone number and password, you are ready to start texting.
Ways to put it to use:
There are four places in the software where you can initiate a text. Except in this first case below (The Schedule tab), the software already knows who you are dealing with and will enter the mobile number for you. To ensure delivery, of course you must have previously entered the mobile number in the space provided for 'Mobile' in the Customer information tab and not into 'Home' or 'Work'!
1. The Schedule tab- Send to anyone.
This is the simplest case. You simply fill out the message box that appear, and select multimedia, if desired, by clicking the Attach button.
A confirmation pop-up is presented each time you send a text in this way.
2. The Repair Order tab- Send to the selected customer regarding the currently selected vehicle. Mobile number on file is automatically inserted.
3. The Edit menu-> Customers/Vehicle- Send to the selected customer regarding the currently selected vehicle. Mobile Number on file is automatically inserted.
4. The Contact Manager tab- Send to multiple selected recipients.
First you select the contact type [1]... Select from possible recipients [2]... Fill in the message and press the Send Text button.
Note: You can verify that all messages have been sent using the Zipwhip interface and viewing the Send/Receive history.
