Microsoft Outlook
Do not get lost in their inbox. Send SMS from Outlook and jump the queue.
The touchSMS for Outlook add-in lets you send SMS directly from Outlook, without leaving your email or exporting data into another program. Replies land in the SMS Chat panel so you can carry on the conversation right there.
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About the Microsoft Outlook integration
SMS for Outlook
The touchSMS for Outlook add-in lets you send SMS text messages directly from Outlook, without the need to leave your email environment or export data into another program. It sits in the toolbar, opens next to your compose window, and sends against the same contact you were already emailing.
How to send SMS from Outlook
Don't get lost in their inbox. Send SMS from Outlook and jump the queue. Open a contact or start a new message, pick Send SMS from the ribbon, compose the body (with merge fields if you want), and send. Replies come back into the SMS Chat panel inside Outlook so you can carry on the conversation right there, no context switching.
Why SMS is so effective
98% of text messages are read by their intended recipient within 3 minutes of delivery. Adding SMS to Outlook gives your reply the immediacy of a text with the context of an email trail sitting one tab over.
SMS Chat inside Outlook
The SMS Chat feature allows you to efficiently manage conversations as you would with your phone. touchSMS SMS Chat is real-time, so replies appear the moment they land and every conversation stays threaded in Outlook alongside the customer's email history.
What the Outlook integration can do
The Outlook to SMS integration bridges the gap between email and mobile text messaging. It connects your Microsoft Outlook account to the touchSMS platform, so you can work with SMS from Outlook's familiar interface.
- Send SMS directly from Outlook
- Send instantly to a number you type in, or search and select from your contacts
- Save contacts and groups in touchSMS for personalised or bulk sends
- View the SMS history with a contact for context before you reply
- Use pre-saved SMS templates for reminders and alerts
- Use tags to categorise and filter message threads
- Add contact details to numbers that are not yet saved
Using an older version of Outlook?
No problem. Any version of Outlook can send SMS with Email to SMS: address an email to the recipient's mobile number followed by @touchsms.email, write your message in the body and click send. touchSMS converts the email to a text and delivers it, and replies come back to your inbox.
Microsoft Outlook + touchSMS, feature by feature
SMS from any email
Send an SMS to the contact you are already emailing, straight from the compose window.
Two-way chat in Outlook
Replies drop into the SMS Chat panel so you can handle them in the same tab.
No data export
Work with your Outlook contacts as they are. No CSV, no copy-paste.
Where teams put it to work
Sales follow-up
Send a quick text after the email so your reply gets seen the same day.
Client updates
Text a status update on a matter without switching apps.
Booking confirmations
Confirm the meeting over SMS after the calendar invite goes out.
Connect Microsoft Outlook in minutes
The setup is quick: create your touchSMS account, grab an API key, and follow the prompts in the Microsoft Outlook app. Most teams are sending inside a lunch break.
- 01Create a touchSMS account and add credits.
- 02Download and install the touchSMS for Outlook add-in.
- 03Create an API key in your touchSMS account and paste it in.
- 04Start sending SMS from Outlook.
Microsoft Outlook integration, common questions
Which Outlook versions are supported?+
The add-in works with Microsoft 365 Outlook on Windows, Mac and the web.
Do replies come back to my email?+
Yes. Inbound SMS notifications are sent by email so you never miss a reply. Carry on the conversation in the touchSMS app in Outlook, or reply to the notification email to text back.
How can I send a text message from Outlook?+
There are two options. Install the touchSMS app in Outlook: go to apps, search for touchSMS, add it to your profile and connect it with an API key from your touchSMS account to manage conversations in SMS Chat. Or, on older versions of Outlook, use Email to SMS: open a new email, enter the recipient's mobile number followed by @touchsms.email in the To field, write your message in the body and click send. touchSMS converts the email to an SMS and delivers it.
What are the benefits of sending SMS from Outlook?+
Speed, because text messages have much higher open rates and are read within minutes. Efficiency, because you manage email and SMS from one place. And personalisation, because you can tailor messages with recipient details stored in your touchSMS contacts.
Can I send bulk SMS from Outlook?+
Yes. The integration supports bulk messaging directly from Outlook, so you can send personalised campaigns or notifications to many contacts at once using personalisation tags. It suits promotions, event reminders and internal announcements.
How should I format phone numbers?+
touchSMS cleans up most mobile number formats, but international format is the most reliable: start Australian numbers with 61 and drop the leading zero (for example 61412345678), with no spaces. This matters most when you message contacts in different countries.
How do I get started?+
Sign up for a touchSMS account if you have not already. Log in, go to Integrations > Outlook and click configure, create an API key, add the touchSMS for Outlook app to your Microsoft 365 profile, then paste the API key into the app. Our support team can help with onboarding and troubleshooting.
Ready to bring SMS into Microsoft Outlook?
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