The Channel management module provides a unified way to configure channels. These channels connect Chat App Message Service with third-party instant messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram. Creating and configuring channels lets you integrate the messaging capabilities of different platforms into your business systems. This integration supports cross-platform message automation, customer service, and marketing notifications.
What is a channel?
A channel is a configuration entity in Chat App Message Service that connects to external messaging platforms. Each channel logically represents a unique identity for sending and receiving messages, such as a WhatsApp phone number or a Facebook Page account.
Channel types and resource mapping
Each channel type must be bound to a specific resource on a third-party platform and must adhere to that platform's technical requirements.
Feature | Viber | Messenger | SMS | |||
Bound resource | WhatsApp Business number | Viber Business Account | Facebook Page account | Instagram Professional Account | Not required | Not required |
Prerequisites | A registered WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) | None | A registered Facebook Business Manager account | An Instagram account associated with a Facebook Page | Completed the SenderID filing process for Short Message Service. | Completed the sending preparations for Direct Mail. |
Channel lifecycle
The complete lifecycle of a channel, from creation to deletion, includes the following stages:
Creation: Create a channel in the console and define its type and name. After creation, the channel is in the
Unboundstate.Binding: Complete the binding process with the third-party platform's business account to grant the channel permission to send messages.
Maintenance: Monitor the channel status, view data reports, update configurations, or rebind the third-party platform's business account as needed.
Deletion: Manually delete the channel, which is a permanent action.
Procedure
Prerequisites
Alibaba Cloud account registration and enterprise authentication have been completed.
Chat App Message Service has been activated.
Step 1: Create a channel
The channel limit in Chat App applies across all channel types. The default limit is 100 channels. To increase this limit, contact your operations manager.
Log on to the Chat App Message Service console.
In the navigation pane on the left, choose .
NoteIf your account has service provider status, Channel Management is displayed as Customer Management in the navigation bar.
In the Create Channel dialog box, select a channel type, and enter a custom channel name and description.
NoteThe channel name can be up to 50 characters long.
The description can be up to 150 characters long.
Click Confirm to create the channel.
Step 2: Configure the channel
In the navigation pane on the left, choose to open the channel configuration page.
On the channel action page, you can perform tasks such as viewing the channel data panel, registering or authorizing the account for the channel type, designing templates, sending messages, viewing daily reports, querying message records, and viewing the message list.
NoteThe account registration, binding, and authorization procedures vary by channel type. For more information, see the specific documentation for each channel type.