How to Use Business Chat to Talk With Companies in Messages
Arriving last week, iOS 11.3 brought a number of interesting new features like a battery health feature, new Animoji for the iPhone X, and more. But one of the more interesting additions is Business Chat.
You can start a Business Chat from a number of different places including Maps and Safari.
As the name suggests, the beta feature allows users to directly contact specific companies directly from Messages on their iPhone or iPad.
Here’s the current list of companies that are available to contact:
- Apple
- Discover
- Hilton
- Home Depot
- Lowe’s
- Marriot International
- Newegg
- TD Ameritrade
- Wells Fargo
- 1-800flowers.com
There are a number of ways to start a Business Chat. Along with using the company name in Maps, Safari, or Search, you can hit the Messages icon to begin. Many of the current partners also allow you to start a chat from a site or app.
Directly in a Business Chat, users can pay for products with Apple Pay and even schedule a delivery.
As always, Apple has put a number of safeguards in place to keep your personal information private. Along with only users being able to start chats, all of your information like name and phone number aren’t available to the company unless you specifically provide it.
Most chats will be with a live agent.
After deleting a Business Chat, the company can’t contact you again unless starting a new chat.
While in a chat, users can make a purchase with Apple Pay, schedule an appointment, and more. It’s also easy to start and chat and then pick it up later when convenient. So there’s no need to worry about being stuck on hold on the phone.
Apple is promising to add more companies to Business Chat soon.
