Documentation - Cadence IP

Twilio setup

Connect your Twilio account to enable SMS

Cadence IP uses Twilio to send and receive SMS messages. You will need a Twilio account with an active phone number. Configure your credentials in Settings → SMS Settings.

1

Create a Twilio account

Sign up at twilio.com if you do not already have an account. Twilio offers a trial balance for testing. For production use, add funds or set up a payment method.

2

Get a phone number

In the Twilio console, purchase a phone number with SMS capability. Choose a number in your country or region for best delivery rates. For Australian practices, an Australian mobile number or a Twilio-provided number works well.

3

Enter credentials in Cadence IP

Navigate to Settings → SMS Settings and enter:

Account SID — found on your Twilio console dashboard
Auth Token — found on your Twilio console dashboard (click to reveal)
Phone Number — the Twilio phone number you purchased (in E.164 format, e.g., +61412345678)

4

Test the connection

Click Test SMS to send a test message to your own phone number. If the message arrives, your configuration is correct.

Twilio pricing

Twilio charges per message sent and received. Rates vary by country. As of 2026, Australian SMS costs approximately $0.05–0.08 AUD per message. International SMS rates are higher. Check Twilio's current pricing for your specific destinations.

Sending SMS from matters

Quick text messages linked to matter context

From any matter page, click the SMS tab and then + New SMS to compose a message. Like emails, SMS messages sent from a matter are linked to that matter's communication history.

Recipient — Select a contact from the matter's assigned roles, or enter a phone number manually. The contact must have a mobile phone number on file.
Template — Optionally select an SMS template to pre-fill the message. Templates support the same variable syntax as email templates.
Message — Type or edit the message content. Variables are resolved before sending.

To:

Tanaka & Associates (Foreign Associate) ×

URGENT: Convention deadline for PCT/AU2026/050001 (Widget Fastener) is 15 May 2026. Please confirm JP national phase filing instructions received. — Smith Patent Attorneys

154 / 160 characters

Send

SMS compose view with recipient from role

SMS templates

Reusable message templates with variable substitution

SMS templates work similarly to email templates but for shorter text messages. Create them in Settings → Matter Types → [Your Type] → SMS Templates.

Each SMS template has:

Name — internal label (e.g., "Convention Deadline Urgent Reminder")
Message — the SMS body with variable placeholders

Variables use the same syntax as email templates:

$field.Application No — field values
$title — matter title
$matter_id — matter ID
$role.Applicant.display_name — contact details from roles

Sample SMS templates

Convention Deadline Urgent

URGENT: Convention deadline for $field.Application No ($title ) is $field.Convention Deadline . Please provide national phase filing instructions ASAP. — Smith Patent Attorneys

Filing Confirmation

Your application $field.Application No ($title ) has been filed. We will send full confirmation by email shortly. — Smith Patent Attorneys

SMS inbox

View replies and incoming messages

When a recipient replies to an SMS, the reply is captured and displayed in the SMS tab on the matter page. You can also view all incoming SMS messages across all matters in the SMS Inbox, accessible from the sidebar.

The SMS inbox shows:

Sender — the phone number and matched contact name (if found)
Message — the full text of the reply
Matter — the linked matter (if the system can match the sender to a matter contact)
Timestamp — when the message was received

Reply matching

Incoming SMS messages are matched to matters by the sender's phone number. If the phone number belongs to a contact assigned to a role on a matter, the reply is linked to that matter. If the number matches contacts on multiple matters, it appears in the global SMS inbox for manual assignment.

Character limits

SMS length constraints and multi-part messages

Standard SMS messages have a limit of 160 characters per segment. Messages longer than 160 characters are split into multiple segments, each billed separately by Twilio.

Message Length	Segments	Notes
1–160 characters	1 segment	Standard single SMS
161–306 characters	2 segments	Multi-part message headers reduce per-segment capacity to 153 characters
307–459 characters	3 segments	Consider using email for longer messages

Keep it short

SMS works best for brief, actionable messages. Keep your templates under 160 characters when possible. The character counter in the compose view shows the current length and segment count in real time. Use email for anything that requires detailed content or attachments.

Unicode characters

Messages containing Unicode characters (accented letters, non-Latin scripts, or certain special characters) reduce the per-segment limit to 70 characters. Stick to standard ASCII where possible to maximise message length.

IP example: urgent deadline reminder to foreign associate

A PCT application has a national phase deadline in 7 days, and your foreign associate in Japan has not confirmed receipt of filing instructions. Email reminders have gone unanswered. Here is how to use SMS for an urgent follow-up.

1

Open the matter

Navigate to the PCT Application matter (e.g., M-42 — Widget Fastener). The header shows the national phase deadline is in 7 days.

2

Go to the SMS tab

Click the SMS tab. You can see previous SMS messages to and from contacts on this matter.

3

Compose from template

Click + New SMS. Select the "Convention Deadline Urgent" template. The message is pre-filled with the application number, title, and deadline date. Select the Foreign Associate role as the recipient.

4

Verify and send

Review the message. Check the character count (aim for under 160 characters). Verify the phone number is correct for the Japanese associate. Click Send.

5

Monitor for reply

When the associate replies by SMS, the reply will appear in the matter's SMS tab. You will also see it in the global SMS inbox.

Automate urgent reminders