> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.shortext.ny-corp.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Channels

> The channels Shortext supports, how they relate to agents, and where to manage them.

A channel is where your customers write to you and where your agent answers. Manage them in **Communication > Channels**; connecting or changing a channel needs the **Manage integrations** permission.

> **[WhatsApp](https://docs.shortext.ny-corp.io/channels/whatsapp.md)**
>
> WhatsApp Business numbers, connected with Meta.

> **[Mailbox](https://docs.shortext.ny-corp.io/channels/mailbox.md)**
>
> Any mailbox reachable through IMAP and SMTP.

> **[Shortext endpoint](https://docs.shortext.ny-corp.io/channels/shortext-endpoint.md)**
>
> Your own app or server, through the API.

## One agent per channel

Each channel is attached to one agent, which answers every conversation on it. You can:

* **attach** a channel to an agent when you connect it;
* **move** it to another agent at any time: new messages are answered by the new agent;
* **detach** it: messages are still received and stored in the Inbox, but nobody answers automatically.

An agent can have several channels, for example a WhatsApp number and a support mailbox.

## Channel ids

Every channel has an id, used by the API and the webhooks (`channel_id`):

| Channel | Id |
| - | - |
| WhatsApp | The WhatsApp phone number id given by Meta, for example `532867649916076` |
| Mailbox | `mbx_...`, given by Shortext when the mailbox is connected (not its email address) |
| Shortext endpoint | `ste_...` |

## Deleting a channel

Deleting a channel is final: it stops receiving messages and its conversations leave the Inbox (they are kept for audits).

## Coming soon

Gmail and Outlook mailboxes connected in one click, a hosted template builder, and Instagram and Messenger. See [Coming soon](https://docs.shortext.ny-corp.io/channels/coming-soon.md).


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