This takes about ten minutes. You'll use the Inkbox Console, the Machine web app, and your phone.

Before you start

You need:

An Inkbox account with an agent. Every Inkbox agent has a handle, such as @scout, and a mailbox, such as scout@inkboxmail.com.
An Inkbox API key. An admin key works, and so does a key for just that one agent.
The phone numbers and email addresses that may reach the bot.
A Machine bot you can change.

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 (Inkbox Console → Phone) is optional: it adds SMS from any phone (Android too), calls to and from any phone, and one number to hand out.

Keep the key out of chats

Paste your Inkbox key only into the Machine settings form below. Never send it to a bot in a message.

Step by step

Create an Inkbox agent and key

In the Inkbox Console, create an agent if you don't have one. Then open API Keys, create a key, and copy it. Inkbox shows it only once.

Open the bot's Channels in Machine Desktop

Open the bot's settings (click the bot's name at the top of the chat) and open Channels. The Inkbox row says Not connected.

Inkbox not connected yet. Connect opens the Machine web app

Click Connect

Click Connect ↗ on the Inkbox row. Your browser opens this bot's Channels page on the Machine web app. Sign in if asked.

Connect your Inkbox key

On the web page, find the Inkbox card and click Connect Inkbox. Paste your Inkbox API key and fill in who may reach the bot:

Phone: numbers allowed to iMessage, text or call the bot, one per line, with the country code: +14155550100.
Email: addresses allowed to email the bot, such as dana@northwind.co, or a whole domain written @northwind.co.

Leave a list empty to keep that one off, but fill in at least one. If your key can see more than one Inkbox agent, pick the one this bot should be and click Connect Inkbox again.

See Who can reach your bot before you add a whole domain.

Connect your phone for iMessage

On the web app, click Manage on the Inkbox card. Under Connect your phone to text the agent, it shows a short text to send once from each allowed phone, for example text connect @scout to +1 (650) 484-9720. Tap Open in Messages to draft it, or scan the QR code. Each number on your list then shows Connected or Not connected yet.

Inkbox replies with the bot's contact card. Save it, so the bot shows up by name in Messages. If the Inkbox agent had no photo, Machine gives it a mascot; Contact photo in Manage lets you shuffle or remove it.

Email needs no extra step. Just write to the bot's address.
SMS works once the bot has a number of its own. No connect text is needed. In the US, text START to the bot's number once, so it's allowed to text you back.

If the bot has a number, the top of Manage shows it large, with Text and Call buttons and a QR code to share. Without one, it says No phone number needed and lists iMessage, voice calls and email as Ready.

Check it in Machine Desktop

Back in Machine Desktop, click the refresh icon in Channels. The Inkbox row now says Connected with the bot's handle, email address, and phone number if it has one.

Inkbox connected: the bot's handle, phone number and email

Say hello

Text the bot from your phone: "Hi! What can you do for me?" It replies in a moment. Your conversation also appears as a thread in the bot in Machine Desktop.

Choose which agent and model answer

On the web app, Manage on the Inkbox card lets you choose which of the bot's agents answers texts, email and calls, and which AI model it uses. Left on Default, it follows the bot's own settings.

Change who can reach the bot

Open the web app's Manage on the Inkbox card (or click Manage ↗ in Machine Desktop, which opens it), edit the phone and email lists, and click Save.

Disconnect Inkbox

In Machine Desktop, click Disconnect on the Inkbox row and confirm: "Disconnect Inkbox from Scout? People there will stop reaching this bot."

Machine stops listening for the bot's texts, emails and calls and deletes the stored key. Your Inkbox account, agent, number and past messages are unchanged. Past conversations stay as threads in the bot.

Good to know

One Inkbox agent, one bot. An Inkbox agent can be connected to one bot at a time. Use a separate Inkbox agent for each bot you want to text.
The key stays on Machine's servers. The bot never sees it. Machine adds it when the bot sends a text or email.
Rotated your key? Disconnect, then connect again with the new key.

The full technical reference, including limits and every setting on the web app, is in Inkbox: iMessage, SMS, email & calls.

Set up Inkbox