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Inst8 SMS Gateway - Setup Guide

Inst8 SMS Gateway Setup Guide

User Guide v1.0.0

Table of Contents

Introduction

Inst8 SMS Gateway is a solution that allows you to send and receive SMS messages directly from your Android device, integrated with your Zoho CRM. This guide will walk you through the process of setting up your Inst8 SMS Gateway account and connecting your Android device.

System Requirements

  • An Android smartphone with SMS capability
  • Active mobile service with SMS plan
  • Internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data)
  • Zoho CRM account (for integration)

Important Note

Inst8 SMS Gateway only works with Android devices. Due to iOS restrictions, Apple devices cannot be used for SMS gateway services.

Account Registration

1. Visit the Inst8 Website

Navigate to the Inst8 website at https://inst8.com and click on the "Register For A FREE Trial" button.

Inst8 Homepage

2. Complete the Registration Form

Registration Form
  • Enter your name in the first field
  • Provide your email address (this will be your login username)
  • Enter your mobile number including country code (e.g., +1 for US)
  • Complete the reCAPTCHA verification
  • Click "Register" to create your account

3. Check Your Email

Upon successful registration, you will receive an email with your account details.

Registration Email
  • Check your inbox for an email from Inst8 SMS
  • The email contains your login credentials (username and password)
  • Save these details as you'll need them to sign in

Trial Account

Your free trial includes 100 SMS credits and is valid for 7 days. During this period, you can test all features of the Inst8 SMS Gateway.

Mobile App Installation

1. Sign In to Your Account

Login Page
  • Go to https://app.inst8.com or click the "SMS Gateway Login" button on the Inst8 website
  • Enter the email address and password from your registration email
  • Click "Sign In" to access your dashboard

2. Add Your Android Device

After signing in for the first time, you'll be prompted to add your Android device.

Add Device Popup

If the popup doesn't appear automatically, you can add a device by:

  1. Navigate to the "Devices" section in the left sidebar
  2. Click the "+ Add Device" button in the top right

3. Scan the QR Code

QR Code Scanning
  • Using your Android phone, scan the QR code displayed on your screen
  • This will direct you to download the Inst8 SMS app
  • If your camera doesn't automatically open a browser, manually open your camera app and point it at the QR code

4. Download and Install the App

App Download
  • After scanning the QR code, your phone browser will open a download link
  • You may see a warning that the file was not downloaded from Google Play - click "Download anyway"
  • Once downloaded, tap "Open" and then "Install"
  • If prompted about installing apps from unknown sources, allow installation from this source

Security Notice

The Inst8 SMS app is not available on Google Play Store and must be downloaded directly. Your Android system may display security warnings during this process. These warnings are standard for apps installed outside the Play Store, and you can safely proceed with installation.

App Permissions

Grant Required Permissions

App Permissions

After installation, you'll need to grant several permissions for the app to function properly:

  1. Allow Inst8 SMS to make and manage phone calls
  2. Allow Inst8 SMS to send and view SMS messages
  3. Allow Inst8 SMS to access photos, media, and files on your device
  4. Allow Inst8 SMS to run in the background
  5. Set Inst8 SMS as the default SMS app (you can change this later if needed)

Permission Requirements

All requested permissions are necessary for the app to function as an SMS gateway. The app needs to:

  • Access your SMS to send and receive messages
  • Run in the background to process messages even when not actively using the phone
  • Access phone state to properly handle messaging during calls

Device Setup

1. Sign In to the Mobile App

App Sign In
  • After granting permissions, the app will prompt you to sign in
  • Select "SIGN IN USING QR CODE" from the login screen
  • Scan the second QR code displayed in the web dashboard

2. Configure Your Mobile Number

Mobile Number Setup
  • If your SIM card doesn't auto-populate the mobile number, you'll be prompted to enter it manually
  • Enter your full mobile number including country code (e.g., +15551234567)
  • This number will be used to send and receive SMS messages through the gateway

3. Start the SMS Service

Start Service
  • Press the pink "play" button on the dashboard to start the service
  • Confirm the service start by tapping "YES" in the dialog
  • Once started, the service will continue to run in the background

Battery Optimization

To ensure reliable operation, you may need to exempt the Inst8 SMS app from battery optimization. This allows the app to run continuously without being suspended by the system's power-saving features.

Account Activation

Device Connection Confirmation

Device Connected

Once your device is successfully connected to the Inst8 SMS Gateway:

  • You'll see a confirmation message in your web dashboard
  • Your device will appear in the "Devices" section with a "Connected" status
  • You can now send and receive SMS messages through the gateway

Test Your Connection

To verify that your setup is working correctly:

  1. Navigate to the "Sender" section in the web dashboard
  2. Enter a mobile number to send a test message to
  3. Type a test message and click "Send"
  4. Verify that the message is delivered and shows in your dashboard

CRM Integration

Now that your Inst8 SMS Gateway is set up, you can proceed to connect it with your CRM system. Refer to the relative CRM integration guide for detailed instructions on how to link your Inst8 Gateway account to your CRM.

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

App Not Connecting

  1. Ensure your device has an active internet connection
  2. Verify that all required permissions are granted
  3. Check that the app is not restricted by battery optimization
  4. Try restarting the app and/or your device

Messages Not Sending

  1. Check your device's signal strength and mobile data connection
  2. Verify that your SIM card has sufficient credit/balance
  3. Ensure the SMS service is running (pink play button is active)
  4. Try sending to a different number to rule out recipient issues

App Stops Working in Background

Some Android devices have aggressive battery optimization or memory management that may prevent the app from running properly in the background.

  1. Go to your device Settings > Apps > Inst8 SMS
  2. Select "Battery" and choose "Don't optimize" or "Unrestricted"
  3. Also check "App permissions" to ensure all necessary permissions are still enabled
  4. For Xiaomi/Redmi/MIUI devices, add the app to "Lock apps" or "Protected apps"

Support

Contact Information

Getting Help

If you experience any issues with your Inst8 SMS Gateway setup, please contact our support team with the following information:

  • Your account email address
  • Device model and Android version
  • Description of the issue
  • Screenshots of any error messages