Vocatech runs an email gateway that lets you send an SMS or WhatsApp message by sending a regular email. It’s useful when Textdock or a messaging app isn’t available — anywhere you have email, you can reach a customer.
The shortcut
We built a small tool that generates the right email address for you. Fill in the two phone numbers, pick Text or WhatsApp, click Generate email, and your mail client opens with the address and subject pre-filled.
How the gateway addresses work
The email format is always the same pattern:
FROM-TO@txt.vocatech.comWhere FROM is the 10-digit number you’re sending from (your Vocatech number), and TO is the 10-digit number you’re sending to (the customer). Use @whatsapp.vocatech.com for WhatsApp instead of @txt.vocatech.com.
Example:
- Text:
7183951550-7185551234@txt.vocatech.com - WhatsApp:
7183951550-7185551234@whatsapp.vocatech.com
Whatever you put in the email body becomes the message the customer receives. Attachments on SMS are subject to MMS size limits; WhatsApp accepts the usual image, audio, and document types.
Who receives the reply
Replies from the customer come back to the same Vocatech number. If you’re using Textdock, the reply appears in the Webex space as usual. If you’re using the email-based mode, the reply is delivered as an email to the address configured for that number — usually a team mailbox or a distribution list.
Common issues
Gmail isn’t opening when you click “Generate email”
Most browsers default to a desktop mail client. To make Gmail the handler for mailto: links:
- In Chrome, go to Settings → Privacy and security → Site Settings → Additional permissions → Protocol handlers.
- Turn on “Allow sites to ask to become default handlers for protocols.”
- Refresh Gmail. A small diamond icon appears in the address bar — click it and choose Allow for mail.google.com.
“Invalid number format”
Each number must be exactly 10 digits. Drop the leading 1 if you have it, and strip any dashes, parens, or spaces.
Message never arrived
Check that the FROM number is actually one of your Vocatech numbers — the gateway rejects emails from addresses that don’t match a number on your account. If you’re sure the number is right and it still doesn’t go through, call us at 718.395.1550.