# Quick start guide (SMS)

To use Clickatell's SMS channel, you need to:

1. [Activate SMS](/sms/getting-started/activate-sms.md) as a channel in your account. *(Connect Lite only)*
2. Add a [new SMS setup](/sms/getting-started/add-new-sms-setups.md). *(Connect Lite only)*
   * As part of this step, you need to purchase a [short code/long number](/sms/getting-started/add-view-and-edit-sms-numbers.md). 
3. Start sending messages:
   1. Via Clickatell's [One API](https://docs.clickatell.com/channels/one-api/one-api-reference/)  or [HTTP API](https://docs.clickatell.com/channels/sms-channels/sms-api-reference/) to send and receive messages directly via SMS.
   2. Via Clickatell's [Chat Flow](https://clickatell.gitbook.io/flow/) and [Chat Desk](https://clickatell.gitbook.io/chat-desk/overview/overview) applications *(*[*Interact* ](https://www.clickatell.com/products/interact/)*or* [*Transact*](https://www.clickatell.com/transact/) *only)*.
   3. You can also use SMS with our Campaign Manager tool.

{% hint style="warning" %}
If you plan on using a **US Long Number**, please refer to the [10DLC](/sms/10dlc-regulations-us/what-is-10dlc.md) section of this guide.
{% endhint %}


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://help.clickatell.com/sms/getting-started/quick-start-guide-sms.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.