One number for
SMS and calls

A business SMS number is a dedicated Swedish phone number (+46) that handles both text messages and voice calls. It functions as a separate contact point for your company where customers can send SMS or call around the clock. The number supports two-way communication — you can both receive and send messages, and incoming calls can be answered by AI with natural speech. Everything is configured via the 46elks dashboard or API, where you can view all messages, calls and set up automatic replies and CRM integrations.

Regular SMS is the text messaging function available on your mobile phone, where you manually send and receive messages. A dedicated business SMS number goes several steps further by offering professional tools and automation. You get access to a web-based dashboard where you can manage all messages, create automatic replies based on keywords or AI, send bulk messages to multiple recipients at once, and integrate with external systems via API or webhooks. The SMS number can be connected to multiple users on your team so that different people can reply from the same number. You also get detailed statistics on all messages.

In most cases we recommend getting a separate SMS number for your business, as it provides a clear separation between voice and text communication. However, in certain cases you can port an existing number to the 46elks platform. The most common setup is to keep your regular phone number for calls and have a dedicated SMS number for text messages. This way you can market the SMS number specifically for bookings, support or campaigns. Contact 46elks to discuss which solution best suits your business needs.

With a business SMS number from 46elks you can send several types of messages. Transactional messages include order confirmations, delivery updates, booking confirmations and payment reminders. Service messages cover reminders about upcoming appointments, system notifications and operational information. Marketing messages can be used for campaigns and offers, but require that the recipient has given consent (opt-in) in accordance with GDPR. You can also send two-way support messages where the customer can reply and carry on a dialogue, as well as automatic replies triggered by keywords in the customer's message.

Automatic replies on your business SMS number can be configured in several ways. The simplest method is keyword-based replies, where the system matches incoming messages against predefined keywords and sends an appropriate response. For example, a message containing "opening hours" can automatically be answered with your business hours. For more advanced needs you can connect your business SMS number to an AI model that analyses the customer's message and generates a context-aware reply based on your business information. You can also use webhooks to forward incoming messages to your own system. All automatic replies can be scheduled with different rules during and outside office hours.

Yes, 46elks offers a straightforward REST API that can be integrated with most CRM systems and business tools. Popular integrations include HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive and custom-built systems. The integration works via webhooks — when an SMS arrives at your number, 46elks automatically sends the message content to a URL you specify. Likewise, your CRM can trigger outgoing SMS via API calls when a certain event occurs, such as a new booking. The API documentation is well-structured and there are code examples in Python, JavaScript, PHP and several other programming languages.

Yes, the service is fully GDPR-compliant. All message data is stored on servers within the EU and is encrypted both in transit with TLS and at rest with AES-256. You have full control over what data is stored, how long it is retained, and you can delete records at any time via the admin panel. The system follows GDPR's principle of data minimisation. For marketing messages the system requires that the recipient has given active consent, and there is built-in support for opt-out where the customer can reply STOP to cancel the subscription. 46elks is a Swedish company with all servers in the EU.

To get started with a business SMS number, create an account at 46elks. The process takes just a few minutes. Once the account is active you can choose your business SMS number and start receiving and sending messages straight away. You can configure automatic replies via the dashboard without writing a single line of code, or use the API for more advanced integrations. There is no lock-in period and you only pay for the messages you send and receive. During setup you can test with your own number to verify that everything works correctly before you start using it with customers.

Yes, you can send SMS to international numbers via 46elks. The platform supports SMS to over 200 countries. Pricing varies depending on the destination, but you always see the cost in advance via the dashboard or the API. Incoming SMS from international numbers is also supported, making it possible for foreign customers to contact you via your Swedish SMS number. This is particularly valuable for businesses with international customers, tourism operators or e-commerce companies that ship abroad.

Two-way SMS means that you can both send and receive text messages on the same business SMS number. Unlike one-way SMS, where you only send out messages without the recipient being able to reply, two-way SMS creates a dialogue. The customer can respond to your message, ask follow-up questions or initiate a conversation by texting your number directly. All messages are logged in your dashboard where you can see the full conversation history per customer. Two-way SMS is the foundation for customer service via text, booking systems and interactive campaigns.

Yes, your business SMS number works for both SMS and voice calls. When someone calls, the call can be answered by an AI with natural speech, forwarded to an employee, or go to voicemail depending on how you configure it. The AI can answer common questions, book appointments, receive enquiries and escalate to a human when needed — all fully automatically. You decide which logic applies during and outside business hours. Call history and recordings (if enabled) are displayed in the same dashboard as your SMS conversations, giving you a unified view of all customer communication.

AI voice calls work by having a language model listen to what the customer says, interpret the question and respond with natural speech in real time. The AI is trained on your business information — opening hours, services, prices, common questions — and can carry on a natural conversation just like a human receptionist. It can book appointments, provide information, take orders or forward to the right person if the question requires human handling. Call quality is high and most customers do not notice they are speaking with an AI. You can customise the voice, tone and language, and everything is configured via the 46elks dashboard or API.

Yes, that is exactly how it works. You get a Swedish +46 number that handles both SMS and voice calls. Customers only need to remember one number — whether they want to send a message or call. Each channel can have its own AI configuration: SMS replies can be short and concise while voice calls can be more detailed and conversational. All communication — both SMS and calls — is gathered in one dashboard where you can see the full customer history. This makes it easy to follow up on enquiries regardless of which channel the customer used.

AI-powered SMS replies are text-based, which means there is no voice to judge. Instead it comes down to how well the AI understands questions and formulates relevant answers. Modern language models are very good at producing natural text replies that are grammatically correct and context-aware. The AI is trained on your business information and can answer most customer enquiries without it being noticeable that it is a machine. You can customise the tone of the replies — formal, casual, brief or detailed — depending on your business profile. For questions the AI cannot answer it can automatically escalate to a human agent.

Yes, you can send SMS to multiple recipients at once via the 46elks API or dashboard. Bulk messaging is useful for campaigns, reminders, operational information or newsletters. All recipients must have given their consent (opt-in) for marketing messages, in accordance with GDPR and applicable marketing legislation. You can segment recipients into lists and personalise messages with variables such as name or booking date. Dispatches can be scheduled for a specific time or sent immediately. There is no upper limit on the number of recipients, and the system handles thousands of messages per minute.