Businesses using Frontier Communications for their voice calling needs will now be able to send and receive texts with consumers thanks to a new partnership with a Seattle startup. Zipwhip today announced a new deal with Frontier that will add texting capabilities for businesses that want another way to communicate with customers. Zipwhip’s technology allows companies to use their existing landline number as a way for people to send text messages about everything like scheduling an appointment at a dentist’s office to placing an order at a restaurant. “Frontier’s partnership with Zipwhip to add texting to their full base of business phone lines represents the first significant shift in what we believe will become the new norm for consumer-to-business communication-text or call, one number does it all,” said Zipwhip CMO John Larson.

Frontier Communications Corporation today announced a partnership with Zipwhip, Inc. that allows its business landline numbers to become text messaging channels to advance business communications. Frontier Texting powered by Zipwhip gives businesses the ability to connect with customers who choose the convenience of text messaging as their preferred means of communication. With Frontier Texting, Frontier customers can text, or receive a text from, a business’ existing landline or toll free number. The message is then pushed at the same time to the business’ Internet-connected devices, such as a laptop, desktop, smartphone, or tablet. A business user can then reply back from whatever device they’re on using a Frontier Texting app powered by Zipwhip. “Adding text messaging to a voice-only line helps businesses handle orders, remind customers of appointments, and answer customer inquiries through a medium that is both familiar to and popular with their customers,” said Ann Burr, President, New Product Trials and Integration for Frontier. “Best of all, the messages go straight to the customer’s texting app on their mobile phone–eliminating the need to download and manage a new app.