Dedicated line
Own iMessage number
Comms is an SMS + iMessage line with an inbox and an optional agent. An own iMessage number is Dedicated — your E.164 — not a shared trial.
What “own” actually means
People search “dedicated iMessage number” and “own iMessage number” when they already text customers and do not want a rented pool. Own means: one E.164 for your workspace, an area code you choose, capacity you can plan around (5,000–7,000 messages a day), and an inbox the team can sit in. The agent is optional. The line is the product.
Shared is a different object. Free and Plus both use a platform line. Other workspaces can be on that pool. That is fine for proof. It is not a number you print on a van or save in a merchant’s phone.
Dedicated $200 vs Plus $50
| Free | Plus | Dedicated | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $0 | $50/month | $200/month, $0 setup |
| The line | Shared platform line | Shared platform line | Your own E.164. Choose the area code. |
| Volume | 100 messages/day | Unlimited on the shared line | 5,000–7,000 messages/day |
| What ships | Inbox, optional agent | Inbox, optional agent, line health | SMS + iMessage line, inbox, optional agent |
| Who it is for | Prove the thread | A longer trial on shared | The number customers save |
Plus is never the SKU to hold up against a dedicated Sendblue, Linq, Photon, or Blooio line.
When shared still wins
Stay on Free or Plus while you are proving voice, knowledge, and handoff. A shared line is cheaper and honest: you do not own the number yet. Upgrade when the thread becomes a customer-facing identity — support, cart, booking — and you need the E.164 to stay yours.
If you only need a sandbox to send test bubbles, do not pay Dedicated to look busy. Dedicated is for the line you will still have next quarter.
FAQ
What is an own iMessage number?
It is a dedicated E.164 that belongs to your workspace — you choose the area code, customers save that number, and traffic is not pooled on a shared platform line. On Comms that SKU is Dedicated.
Is Plus ($50) a dedicated iMessage number?
No. Plus is a shared platform line: unlimited messages and line health, still shared. It is a trial, not the merchant number you compare to Sendblue, Linq, Photon, or Blooio.
What does Dedicated include?
Dedicated is $200/month with $0 setup. You get your own E.164, you pick the area code, 5,000–7,000 messages a day, the inbox, and an optional agent on the same SMS + iMessage line.
When is a shared line enough?
Shared is enough to prove the thread: Free at 100 messages/day, or Plus at $50 if you want unlimited on the platform line. Move to Dedicated when customers will save the number and you cannot share it with other tenants.
Can I pick the area code?
Yes, on Dedicated. That is part of owning the line. Shared Free and Plus do not give you a number you choose.