Inkbox
Reach a bot by iMessage, text message, email or phone call, from any phone, without opening Machine. What Inkbox does, what it costs, and how it fits with Machine Desktop.
Inkbox gives a bot its own iMessage handle and email address, and, if you want, a phone number. You (and the people you allow) can then text it, email it, or call it like a person. The bot does the work on its computer and answers the same way it was asked.
| You | The bot |
|---|---|
| Text it on iMessage: "Is the site still up?" | Checks, and texts back. |
| Send it an SMS from any phone (needs a number of the bot's own) | Answers by SMS. |
| Email it a question or a file | Replies in the same email thread. |
| Call it | A voice assistant answers live. When you hang up, the bot does what you asked and follows up. |
| Ask it in Machine to call someone for you | It phones them, then tells you how it went. |
It's the easiest way to use a bot when you're away from your computer and don't want to open an app.
You don't need a phone number. iMessage and voice calls work through Inkbox's shared iMessage line, and email through the bot's Inkbox mailbox, all on Inkbox's free plan. A number of the bot's own is optional: it adds SMS from any phone (Android too) and calls to and from any phone, such as a business.
How it works
- You bring your own Inkbox account. Inkbox owns the phone line and the mailbox; Machine owns the bot.
- You connect Inkbox to a bot once, on the Machine web app. You choose exactly which phone numbers and email addresses may reach the bot.
- Each text conversation, email thread and call becomes a thread in that bot. You can read along, or carry on, in Machine Desktop.
Connecting happens on the web
Machine Desktop shows whether Inkbox is connected and can disconnect it, but the setup itself (your Inkbox key and who's allowed to reach the bot) is done on the Machine web app. Machine Desktop opens the right page for you. See Set up Inkbox.
Inkbox in Machine Desktop
In the bot's settings, Channels shows Inkbox next to Slack and Glyph:
When it's connected, the row shows the bot's Inkbox @handle, email address and, if it has one, phone number, so you always know how to reach it.
Machine Desktop also has two shortcuts that use Inkbox:
/callin the message box asks the bot to phone a business for you.- "+ text me" on a goal in Responsibilities texts you when something needs you.
See Inkbox from Machine Desktop.
What it costs
- Inkbox: messages, numbers and call minutes are on your Inkbox plan. iMessage, calls and email work on Inkbox's free plan.
- Machine: the work the bot does for each text, email or call uses your Machine credits, the same as a message typed in the app.
Is Inkbox right for me?
| You want to… | Use |
|---|---|
| Reach a bot from your phone without installing anything | Inkbox |
| Have customers or teammates text or email a bot | Inkbox, with them on the allow-list |
| Have a bot phone a business for you | Inkbox (/call), with a number of the bot's own |
| Talk to a bot in real time from the app | Live calls |
| Use the full app on your phone | Machine Mobile |
| Talk to a bot from your team's Slack | Slack |