# Channels overview

> The ways customers reach Airhug (phone, text, email, website chat), what each needs from you, how long it takes, and what is available today.

Source: https://docs.airhug.ai/channels/overview
Last updated: 2026-09-29

Each channel is set up separately and independently. The AI uses the same knowledge, persona and rules on all of them, and all of them land in one inbox.

## What each channel needs

| Channel | You provide | Airhug provides | Typical time to live | Read |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Phone calls | A number choice; recording consent | The AI voice and the phone number (new numbers) | New number: about a minute. Forwarding: minutes. Moving a number: 1 to 4 weeks. | [Phone numbers](https://docs.airhug.ai/channels/phone-numbers.md), [call forwarding](https://docs.airhug.ai/channels/call-forwarding.md) |
| Text messages | Business details (legal name, address, EIN) and, for toll-free, a screenshot of your opt-in | The texting number and carrier registration | Toll-free: a few business days. Local number: weeks. | [Texting](https://docs.airhug.ai/channels/texting.md) |
| Email | DNS access at your domain host; one forwarding rule in your mailbox | The mailbox address `reception@yourdomain.com`, sending, and a forwarding address | Minutes to a few hours, after DNS propagates | [Email domain](https://docs.airhug.ai/channels/email-domain.md) |
| Website chat | One script tag on your site; your site address | The chat widget, hosted by Airhug | Minutes | [Website chat](https://docs.airhug.ai/channels/website-chat.md) |
| Slack, Teams | An owner or admin to connect | The `@airhug` staff assistant | Minutes | [Slack and Teams](https://docs.airhug.ai/channels/slack-and-teams.md) |

## Which phone path should I choose?

| Situation | Choose |
| --- | --- |
| New business, or you want a separate line for Airhug | **Get a new number** |
| You want to keep your number and carrier, and let Airhug catch unanswered calls | **Forward my existing number** |
| You want Airhug to be your carrier for a number you already advertise | **Move my number here** (also called porting) |
| You want texting live this week | A **toll-free** number. See [texting](https://docs.airhug.ai/channels/texting.md). |
| You want a local area code that customers recognize | A local number, and expect weeks for texting approval |

## Availability

| Channel | Standard workspace | HIPAA workspace |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Phone calls | Available | Limited availability. See [HIPAA phone calls](https://docs.airhug.ai/channels/hipaa-phone.md). |
| Text messages | Available. Sending replies needs carrier registration. | Limited availability. Texting for healthcare workspaces moves to AWS messaging under AWS's BAA, and registration takes 1 to 4 weeks. Confirm with support. |
| Email | Available | Available |
| Website chat | Available | Available |
| Slack and Teams | Available | Available. You accept a BAA warning each time you connect. |

See [feature status](https://docs.airhug.ai/help/feature-status.md) for the current, complete list.

## Tokens

Every reply the AI sends on any channel spends AI tokens. A voice minute costs 10 tokens. A text, email or chat reply costs 2. See [AI tokens](https://docs.airhug.ai/billing/ai-tokens.md).