Set Up Your Phone Number: SMS, Calls & WhatsApp
Your business phone number inside the platform is what powers half of your automation: appointment reminder texts, missed-call text-back, review requests, and call tracking all run through it. This article explains your options, what we set up for you, and how WhatsApp fits in.
Your Three Number Options
| Option | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| A. Keep your existing number visible | Your current number stays with your carrier and appears on your marketing; calls can forward between it and the platform | Businesses whose number is already printed on trucks, signs, and ads |
| B. New number through the platform (recommended) | We purchase a number in your area code directly in your account — full automation control, native integration | Most clients |
| C. Specialty setups | International numbers or unusual carrier requirements, connected through a specialist integration | Special cases — we'll tell you if this applies |
Most clients choose Option B: a new platform number typically costs $2 to 5 per month, activates within minutes, and gives automation full control. You can pick your preferred area code, and toll-free numbers (800, 888) are available too.
What We Configure for You
Once the number is chosen, Symphony Core sets up:
- Voicemail with a professional greeting
- Call forwarding to your mobile, if you want missed calls to reach you (with a ring delay you choose)
- Texting — SMS and MMS (picture messages) enabled
- Default routing so all your automations use this number
Then we test it together: a text in, a text out, and a call — so you know it works before any customer touches it.
One Requirement Before Texting Works: A2P Registration
US carriers require every business to be verified before its texts are delivered reliably. This is A2P registration, and it's why we ask for your CP575 (EIN letter) during onboarding — carriers use it to confirm your business is real.
We submit and manage the registration for you; approval runs on the carriers' timeline. Until it's approved, hold off on text campaigns. Full details in CP575 & A2P Text Registration.
Where WhatsApp Fits In
WhatsApp is its own channel with its own rules, and the most important one is this: a phone number can be on the WhatsApp app or connected to your platform — not both. That decision deserves a few minutes of thought before anything is connected.
- Start with WhatsApp Business API vs. the Device App to understand the trade-off.
- Then follow Connect a WhatsApp Number for the setup walkthrough.
Your SMS number and your WhatsApp number are separate decisions — we'll help you pick the right approach for each on your kickoff call.
Key Takeaways
- A new platform number (Option B) is the right choice for most clients: $2–5/month, full automation control.
- We configure voicemail, forwarding, and texting, and test everything with you.
- Texting requires A2P registration — send us your CP575 early so approval isn't the bottleneck.
- WhatsApp is a separate channel with a one-number-one-place rule; read the WhatsApp guides before connecting anything.
Questions about which option fits your business? See How to Get Support.