In this episode, Drew sits down with Webb Bostic, President and CEO of MessageBridge, to explore the evolving landscape of business text messaging and what happens when AI becomes the gatekeeper to your customers. The discussion covers the SMS ecosystem from carriers to platforms, the difference between good and bad text experiences, the upcoming RCS protocol shift, and a thought-provoking look at a future where AI agents screen messages before humans ever see them. Webb shares insights from building messaging platforms for B2B companies and advocacy organizations, and offers practical advice for businesses looking to leverage text as a strategic channel.Takeaways1. Text messaging remains the most direct channel to reach customers in the US market.2. 98% of Americans own a phone and over 90% read texts within minutes.3. The US is unique—SMS dominates here while WhatsApp and WeChat lead globally.4. There's a right way and wrong way to use text messaging for customer engagement.5. Trust must be established before jumping into sales or marketing sequences.6. RCS (Rich Communication Services) is rolling out and will make SMS feel like iMessage.7. AI agents will soon act as intermediaries, screening texts before humans see them.8. AI is actually more predictable than humans—this creates new opportunities.9. Businesses need to learn from their messaging data to stay ahead of these shifts.10. Text messaging should be treated as a strategic channel, not an afterthought.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Webb Bostic and MessageBridge02:49 Webb's Journey: From Bandwidth to Building Messaging Platforms05:10 Why Text Messaging is Underrated in Business06:43 The US Market: Why SMS Still Dominates08:07 The Threat: Don't Let Text Become the Next Email10:00 Good vs Bad Text Experiences: The Doctor's Office and Daniel14:15 Building Trust Through Text: Permission-Based Outreach17:10 The SMS Tech Stack Explained: Carriers, Platforms, and Tools24:00 AI Agents as Intermediaries: The Future of Messaging32:41 When Siri Screens Your Texts Before You See Them37:00 The Flip Side: AI is More Predictable Than Humans41:27 How Businesses Should Prepare for AI Gatekeepers44:30 Practical Advice: Getting Started with Text Messaging48:00 Where to Find Webb and MessageBridgeConnect with Webb & MessageBridgehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/webb-bostic-a761b113/https://www.messagebridge.com/Connect with Drew & StealthXhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/drewhburdick/

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