GraceBlocks paid subscription plans support the option for sending and receiving texts in more than 20 countries. To learn more about how to upgrade and about the various GraceBlocks subscription plans, click here.  Continue reading this article to learn:

• How messaging works - functional overview

• How messaging works - pricing 

• How to purchase funds for sending and receiving text messages

• How to purchase a phone number for text messaging

• Understanding the messaging fee for Zones created by individuals in the United States and Canada

How messaging works - functional overview

Any Block inside GraceBlocks can be enabled for Text Messaging. A Block builder can enable text messaging for a Block by using the Text messaging template while adding a tab or by adding the Messaging thread field type to an existing tab.  This field type is used in conjunction with the phone field type. Messages are sent between a clean local number that GraceBlocks procures for you and the mobile phone number associated with the record that you are working with.

Users who spend all of their time messaging may find it more comfortable to work using the Message view.

How messaging works - pricing

To send text messages, you will need to purchase funds and subscribe to a paid GraceBlocks plan. You can purchase funds in any increment ranging from $20 to $2000; the funds are drawn as users send and receive texts. Rates for sending and receiving texts, as well as maintaining an active phone number, vary by country.  Click here to review the supported countries and explore their rates.

If you are a Zone owner, you are authorized to purchase both funds and phone numbers for text messaging that can be used across the Blocks in your Zone. Follow the steps outlined below to do this.

Purchase funds for sending and receiving text messages 

To send or receive text messages, you must have funds to cover the costs of sending and receiving messages. To learn about the countries GraceBlocks supports for text messaging and the associated rates, click here. Before you are allowed to purchase funds, you will need to upgrade to a paid Graceblocks plan. Follow the steps outlined below to purchase messaging funds.

Step	Action	Visual
1	Click the Zone settings icon (gear icon) for the Zone where you wish to purchase funds.
2	In the Zone messaging funds and phone numbers area, click Add funds.
2	Enter the amount, between $20 and $2000 U.S. dollars, of funds that you wish to add.
3	Check the Auto-recharge this amount when funds are low check box if you'd like your account to be automatically charged this amount again when funds are low.
4	Read all text remaining on the page. If you agree to all stated terms, click Add funds to confirm your payment and purchase the funds, using the default payment method on file for this Zone.
5	You can always refer to the Zone messaging funds and phone numbers area to see your funds balance.
6	At any time, you can toggle on or off the auto-recharge option. When that option is enabled, funds will be automatically repurchased when current funds reach $3.

Note: All Zones are initially granted $2 in funds.

Purchasing a phone number for text messaging 

To send or receive text messages, your Zone needs at least one clean local phone number active for use.  Follow the steps below to activate a local number that you can use for text messaging.

Step	Action	Visual
1	Click the Zone settings icon (gear icon) for the Zone where you wish to purchase a phone number.
2	In the Zone messaging funds and phone numbers area, click + Add number.
3	Select the country, and the desired area code, if the country you select supports it.
4	Check the Allow international texts check box if you wish to allow international texts to be sent or received on this number.
5	Read all text remaining on the page. If you agree to all stated terms, click Get new number to confirm your payment and purchase the phone number, using the default payment method on file for this Zone.
6	Any purchased phone numbers are visible in the Zone messaging funds and phone numbers area.  From here, each individual number can be enabled or disabled for international texting, as well as deactivated.

Understanding the free trial for Zones created by individuals in the United States or Canada  

While you are still on the free plan, if your Zone was created by a user U.S. or Canadian phone number, you have the option to allow GraceBlocks to automatically procure your first phone number. Block builders activate this 30 day trial period the first time they activate text messaging inside any Block for the Free plan Zone in one of two ways:

By using the Text messaging template while adding a tab

By adding the Messaging thread field type to an existing tab

When either of these steps is taken, the Block builder needs to acknowledge and agree to activate the 30-day trial. Once the builder has agreed, GraceBlocks automatically procures a clean local number that is aligned with the country and area code of the user who created the Zone.  For example, if the person who created your Zone used a +1 901 area code when creating and verifying their GraceBlocks account, the number GraceBlocks automatically procures, if the steps outlined above are taken, will be in the 901 area code. 

To continue using this number, a Zone owner must upgrade the Zone to a paid plan before the trial period ends. Otherwise, the number will become Inactive, and inactive numbers cannot be reactivated. If you do upgrade to a paid plan while the complementary number is still active, GraceBlocks will waive the monthly fee to use this number.