Sprint has become the first telecom provider of an AI-powered texting service, after launching a system that will enable businesses to better communicate with customers. With Sprint Smart Messaging, which is powered by NumberAI, customers can text a businesses landline with simple questions and receive a custom response via AI technology.

While Sprint Smart Messaging can answer simple questions concerning business hours and product availability, the system can also take food orders and set appointments.

“Sprint currently serves over 5m business phone numbers that will now have immediate access to Sprints Smart Messaging AI-powered platform,” said Sasha Gorman, vice president of development for Sprint. “Our business customers can run their operations more efficiently by responding to messaging requests in parallel and in real-time.”

Businesses have the option of manually responding to customer inquiries through mobile devices, tablets and laptops, but can also set up automatic replies using AI-driven auto-response. Using AI technology, Smart Messaging can learn about a business and then uses the collected information to create responses to customer inquiries.

The new feature also includes Call Rescue, in which Sprint Smart Messaging will automatically text a customer back if their call was missed, to avoid that customer resorting to a competitor.

“Voice is an inefficient way to communicate with customers. We are moving towards a WeChat like world where consumers and business interact and conduct commerce over messaging,” said Tasso Roumeliotis, chief executive officer and co-founder of NumberAI. “Sprint is the first carrier in the US to launch a messaging-based solution to further one-to-one interaction for its business customers.”