Group Texting lets a sender send a single SMS or MMS message to multiple recipients as a shared conversation. Every recipient is part of the same thread, can see who else is in it, and can see replies from any other participant. This article covers how Group Texting works in ConnecttoTeams, how to enable it for your enterprise, how to send and reply to group texts from each supported surface, and how the feature behaves with Secure SMS.
Note: Group Texting is different from SMS Broadcast
A Broadcast sends the same message to multiple recipients individually — recipients do not see each other, and replies come back as separate 1-to-1 conversations. For a comparison of the two send modes, see Sending SMS to Multiple Recipients.
Note: Group Texting is not the same as an SMS Group.
An SMS Group is a number-sharing arrangement in which a single phone number is shared by a group of Teams users — it is not a way to send a message to multiple recipients.
Enabling Group Texting for Your Enterprise
Important
Group Texting is disabled by default in ConnecttoTeams to prevent unintentional charges. Most carriers bill Group Text messages at MMS rates, which are higher than standard SMS rates. To enable Group Texting for your enterprise, contact your ConnecttoTeams Service Provider.
Group Texting compatibility also depends on the underlying SMS carriers. Not all carriers support Group Texting, and the recipient's carrier determines whether they receive the message as part of a group thread or as a separate 1-to-1 message. For the list of supported carriers, contact your Service Provider.
Where Group Texting Is Available
Group Texting is supported across several surfaces of the Connector Apps. The following table summarizes what each surface supports.
Surface | Start | Receive | Reply | Conditions and Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
SMS Page and Unified Connector App) | Not available when Secure SMS is enabled. | |||
AI Messaging Assistant (Unified Connector App only) | SMS only — cannot start with MMS. Avoid reserved keywords at the start of the prompt. | |||
Teams chat (Unified Connector App) | Created automatically after the first message in a group text. | |||
Teams channel (SMS Connector App(Legacy)) | Created automatically after the first message. Replies are sent via the Respond to Message button. | |||
SMS Composer (SMS Connector App(Legacy)) | Opens from the Respond to Message button in the associated Teams channel. |
Use this table to identify where to perform a given action based on your Connector App and configuration.
Secure SMS and Group Texting
When your enterprise has Secure SMS enabled, the SMS Page is not available. This changes where Group Texting can be performed:
SMS Connector App(Legacy) with Secure SMS: You cannot start a new group text. You can still participate in existing group texts by replying within the corresponding Teams channel.
Unified Connector App with Secure SMS: You cannot start a new group text from the SMS Page, but you can start one through the AI Messaging Assistant in the Chat tab. Once the group text is created, you can reply from the dedicated Teams chat, including with file attachments for MMS.
For more information on the Secure SMS user experience, see When Secure SMS Feature is Enabled.
Before You Begin
Confirm the following before sending a group text:
The Connector App (SMS Connector App(Legacy) or Unified Connector App) has been deployed to your Microsoft Teams client by your organization's Global Admin.
Your Enterprise Admin has enabled SMS service for your Teams user and assigned at least one SMS-capable phone number to you.
Group Texting has been enabled for your enterprise by your Service Provider.
Review the getting started guide for your app:
For SMS Connector App(Legacy), see Using the SMS Connector App(Legacy)
For Unified Connector App, see Using the Unified Connector App for SMS
Learn how to launch the SMS Page within the app you are using. For instructions on launching the SMS Page, see SMS Connector App vs Unified Connector App > Launching the SMS Page.
Sending a Group Text from the SMS Page
The SMS Page is the standard surface for starting a group text. It is available in both the SMS Connector App(Legacy) and the Unified Connector App when Secure SMS is not enabled.
Open the Connector App in Microsoft Teams and launch the SMS page.
In the Message as dropdown, select the number to send from. If only one number is assigned to you, it is pre-selected.
Click the New icon.
In the Mobile Number field, enter up to 10 recipients. You can type each phone number or contact name and press Enter after each entry, or paste a list of numbers directly into the field.
If your mobile number supports Group Texting, you are given SMS Broadcast and Group SMS send options. Select Group SMS.
In the Group Name field, enter a name for the conversation. The Group Name is an alias used to identify this thread; the name is specific to the member who defines it.
Compose your message in the text box.
Click the Send icon.
A group thread is created for the selected recipients. The message is delivered as a group text over the SMS carriers.
How the Group Text Appears in Teams
Unified Connector App: The group text appears as a standard group chat in Microsoft Teams. To view the list of participants, click the pinned message within the group chat.
SMS Connector App(Legacy): The group text appears as a dedicated channel in Microsoft Teams. Recipients can reply directly through the associated Teams channel.
Note
When the recipient list includes phone numbers whose carriers do not support Group Texting, those recipients may still receive the message — but as a 1-to-1 SMS rather than as part of the group thread.
Starting a Group Text via the AI Messaging Assistant
The Unified Connector App includes an AI Messaging Assistant in the Chat tab that lets you start a group text in plain language, without navigating to the SMS Page. This is particularly useful for Secure SMS users, for whom the AI Messaging Assistant is the only surface from which a new group text can be started.
How It Works
From any Teams conversation, launch the AI Messaging Assistant by opening the app from the Actions and apps menu. See video below for a demo.
In the message box, type a natural-language request describing the group text. Click View response to open the Chat tab. The AI Messaging Assistant prompts you for any missing details, then identifies the recipients, composes the message, and sends it on your behalf.
Examples of valid prompts:
“Send a group text to +1 555-123-4567, +1 555-987-6543, and +1 555-222-3333 from +1 747-111-2222 saying: Team meeting moved to 3 PM”
“Start a group SMS with +1 555-111-2222 and +1 555-333-4444. Message: Don't forget to bring your laptops tomorrow. Give alias Group1 to this group text.”
“Text this to a group of +1 555-100-2000, +1 555-300-4000: The project deadline has been extended to Friday”
Phrasing does not need to be exact — describe what you want in your own words. The AI Messaging Assistant prompts for a Group Name if one is not provided. Once the message is sent, the AI assistant returns a confirmation, and a dedicated Teams group chat is created for the participants.
Important
Do not begin your prompt with any of the following reserved keywords. The Chat tab interprets them as traditional commands rather than AI prompts:
echo
help
invite
initiate
In a future update, these reserved keywords will be removed and the Chat tab will fully support natural language without restriction.
Note
Group texts started through the AI Messaging Assistant support SMS only. MMS (pictures, videos, and other media attachments) cannot be initiated through the AI assistant. To send MMS to a group, start the group text first (SMS-only), then send the MMS from the resulting Teams group chat.
Replying to a Group Text
Once a group text exists, replies can be sent from multiple surfaces depending on which Connector App is in use. Replies to a group text are delivered to all participants in the thread.
From the SMS Page
Available in both the SMS Connector App(Legacy) and the Unified Connector App, when Secure SMS is not enabled.
Open the SMS group from the Recent Conversations list.
Type your message in the text box.
Click the Send icon.
From the Teams Group Chat (Unified Connector App)
When using the Unified Connector App, group texts are represented as standard group chats in Microsoft Teams. Reply by sending a message in the group chat — it will be delivered as a group text to all participating phone numbers. MMS attachments can also be sent from the Teams group chat.
How to know when a Teams chat is a group text?
Check the pinned initial message, which shows the sender and recipients. When there is a Group Recipients list, the chat is a group text.
From the Teams Channel (SMS Connector App(Legacy))
When using the SMS Connector App(Legacy), group texts are represented as channels in Microsoft Teams. Replies are sent through the Respond to Message button in the channel:
Open the Teams channel corresponding to the group text.
Click the Respond to Message button. The SMS Composer opens with the recipients pre-filled.
In the Message text box, type your response.
(Optional) Add an attachment for MMS.
Click the Send icon.
Managing a Group Text Conversation
Renaming a Group Text Conversation
Group members can change the group name through the Change Group Name option. The Group Name is member-specific: each member defines their own alias for the conversation. The updated group name is also reflected in the corresponding Teams channel dedicated to the SMS conversation.
Deleting a Group Text Conversation
A group text message thread can be deleted through the Delete Conversation option in the SMS Page.
If the Teams user receives another message from somebody in this group text, a new group text conversation is created.
Starting a New Group from an Existing Group
If the membership of an existing group changes — either by adding new numbers through the plus icon or by removing existing recipients — a new group is implicitly formed when the next message is sent. The user is prompted to define a new Group Name.
Note
If the recipient list matches an existing group exactly, the SMS app does not create a new group. Instead, it reuses the existing group, and the messages continue in the same thread. The group name is updated to the most recently defined name.
To start a new group from an existing one:
From the SMS Page, open the existing group text.
Consider this existing group text below.
Note that there is a + symbol at the end of the participants list.
Click the plus (+) icon. When the + is clicked, the text evolves into a text area where you can add more recipients or remove some recipients.
Since this will be a new group text, you will be asked to give it an alias. Enter a new Group Name.
Type your message.
Click the Send icon.
A new group is created with the new Group Name.
Starting a new group from an existing group requires the SMS Page. This workflow is not available to enterprises with Secure SMS enabled.
Recipient Limits and Compliance
Recipient limit: A maximum of 10 recipients per group text is supported.
Billing: Group Text messages are typically billed at MMS rates by carriers, which are higher than standard SMS rates.
Opt-in and opt-out: Recipient consent and opt-out handling are the responsibility of the sender and the enterprise. ConnecttoTeams does not manage consent records or process opt-out requests.
Next Steps
To compare the Connector Apps and find instructions for launching the SMS Page, see SMS Connector App vs Unified Connector App
To learn more about day-to-day messaging from the SMS Page, see Using the SMS Page within the App
To compare Group SMS with the Broadcast send mode, see Sending SMS to Multiple Recipients
FAQ
Why don't I see the SMS page?
The SMS Page is not available when your enterprise has Secure SMS enabled. To send SMS in this configuration, use one of the following alternatives based on your Connector App:
SMS Connector App(Legacy): Send from the Teams channel associated with the SMS conversation.
Unified Connector App: Send from the Teams chat associated with the SMS conversation. You can also start new conversations through the AI Messaging Assistant in the Chat tab.
Why is Group Texting not working for me?
Group Texting requires several conditions to be met:
Your Service Provider must have enabled Group Texting for your enterprise. Group Texting is disabled by default to prevent unintentional charges.
The sender's phone number must be hosted with a carrier that supports Group Texting.
If a recipient's carrier does not support Group Texting, that recipient may still receive the message — but as a 1-to-1 SMS rather than as part of the group thread.
How much does Group Texting cost compared to regular SMS?
Most carriers bill Group Text messages at MMS rates, which are higher than standard SMS rates. Exact pricing depends on your enterprise's agreement with its Service Provider. Because of the cost difference, Group Texting is disabled by default for new enterprises.
Can I send pictures or videos (MMS) in a group text?
Yes, but with one limitation: you cannot start a group text with an MMS through the AI Messaging Assistant. The AI Messaging Assistant supports SMS only at initiation.
Once the group text exists, MMS can be sent from the resulting Teams group chat (Unified Connector App), the Teams channel via Respond to Message (SMS Connector App(Legacy)), or the SMS Page (where available).
What happens if some recipients' carriers don't support Group Texting?
Unsupported recipients still receive the message, but as individual 1-to-1 SMS messages rather than as part of the group thread. Replies from those recipients return as separate conversations, not to the group.
Can I reply to a group text from the AI Messaging Assistant?
No. The AI Messaging Assistant can be used to start a new group text, but not to reply to an existing one. To reply, use the Teams group chat (Unified Connector App) that was created when the group text was started. The Teams group chat displays the Group Name the AI Messaging Assistant prompted you to define.
What are the reserved keywords I shouldn't start my AI prompt with?
Do not begin a prompt to the AI Messaging Assistant with any of the following words, as they are interpreted as traditional commands:
echo
help
invite
initiate
Rephrasing the prompt so it begins with a different word resolves the issue (for example, "Send a group text..." instead of "Initiate a group text..."). In a future update, these reserved keywords will be removed.
If I add or remove a member from an existing group, what happens?
Changing the membership of an existing group creates a new group when the next message is sent. You will be prompted to define a new Group Name. The original group remains intact — the change does not modify the existing group.
If the resulting membership matches another existing group exactly, the app reuses that group rather than creating a new one. Messages continue in the existing thread, and the group name is updated to the most recently defined name.
Can two participants of a group text give it different names?
Yes. The Group Name is a member-specific alias. Each member sees the name they defined for the group; the name is not shared across members.
What is the difference between Group Texting and an SMS Group?
Despite the similar names, Group Texting and SMS Group are different features:
Group Texting is a way of sending an SMS to multiple recipients as a shared conversation. Recipients see each other and can see replies from anyone in the thread. This is what this article covers.
SMS Group is a number-sharing arrangement in which a single phone number is shared by a group of Teams users. Any member of the SMS Group can send and receive messages from that shared number. An SMS Group is not a way to send to multiple recipients — it is a way to assign one number to a team.