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Messaging Overview

FS PBX includes a modern, flexible messaging framework that allows your system to send and receive both SMS and MMS messages using multiple supported providers. This article provides a high-level overview of how messaging works within FS PBX. Provider-specific setup guides are covered in separate articles.

Key Capabilities​

Send & Receive SMS and MMS Through Multiple Providers​

FS PBX supports several messaging carriers and gives you the freedom to choose which provider handles each phone number.
Once configured, any messaging-capable number can:

  • Receive inbound SMS and MMS messages

  • Send outbound SMS and MMS replies

  • Deliver messages to the FS PBX dashboard

  • Optionally deliver messages to the mobile app

  • Optionally send notifications via email (read-only)

You can mix and match providers — each phone number can use a different provider if needed.

Messaging in the FS PBX Dashboard​

Messaging is now built directly into the FS PBX dashboard.
Users can view conversations, read inbound messages, and send replies without needing the mobile app.

This allows FS PBX users to manage business text messaging directly from the web interface, making messaging more accessible for desktop users and teams working inside the PBX dashboard.

Mobile App Integration​

FS PBX can still deliver messages to the mobile app, but the mobile app is no longer required for messaging.

When a phone number is assigned to an extension:

  1. Inbound messages can be delivered to that extension

  2. The user can receive them in the mobile app

  3. The user can also reply from the app if desired

This remains a useful option for users who want to stay connected while away from their desk.

Email Notifications (Optional)​

FS PBX can also send message notifications to a user's email address for convenience.
However:

  • Email delivery is one-way only

  • Users cannot reply from email to send a message back

  • Replies must be made from the FS PBX dashboard or the mobile app

Enabling Messaging on a Phone Number​

Before a number can send or receive messages, it must be configured in:

Advanced → Message Settings

For each phone number, you must set:

1. Messaging Provider​

Choose which carrier (for example Bandwidth, Sinch, Commio, Telnyx, ClickSend, and others) will handle messaging for this number.

2. Destination​

Assign where inbound messages should be delivered:

  • An extension

    • Allows the user to work with messages inside the FS PBX dashboard
    • Can also deliver messages to the mobile app if the user has one

  • An email address

    • Sends a read-only copy of the message to email

You can assign either or both.

Once configured, FS PBX automatically routes:

  • Inbound SMS/MMS → to the selected extension and/or email

  • Outbound replies → back through the correct provider to the original sender

MMS Support​

FS PBX now supports MMS messaging, allowing users to send and receive picture messages in addition to regular text messages.

This means conversations are no longer limited to plain SMS. Users can exchange media with customers directly through supported providers and manage those conversations from the FS PBX dashboard or mobile app.

Some MMS features may depend on provider support and system storage configuration.

System Notification SMS Numbers​

FS PBX also allows adding system notification numbers under Message Settings.

These numbers are used specifically for system-generated messages, such as:

  • Voicemail delivery notifications

  • Optional voicemail transcription summaries

A separate article covers SMS voicemail notifications in more detail.

These numbers are not attached to an extension and are not used for normal two-way user conversations.

Logs​

Detailed message logs can be viewed in:

Status → Logs → Messages

Summary​

FS PBX provides a powerful, flexible messaging engine with:

  • Multi-provider support

  • SMS and MMS support

  • Two-way messaging directly in the FS PBX dashboard

  • Optional mobile app delivery

  • Optional email notifications

  • Provider and routing configuration per number

  • Support for system-level notification numbers

Once a number is messaging-enabled and assigned to a provider and destination, FS PBX handles the full messaging lifecycle: receiving inbound messages, delivering them to users, and sending outbound replies through the correct provider.