The Launch App button opens another app on your device from inside an Ingage presentation. Because phone calls and text messages are handled by apps already on your device, you can use that same button to start a call or open a new text message without leaving your content — no special component or integration required.
All it takes is typing the right prefix in front of a phone number:
Goal | What to enter in the App URL field | Example |
Start a phone call | tel: followed by the phone number | tel:+12155550147 |
Start a text message | sms: followed by the phone number | sms:+12155550147 |
Tip: Enter the number with no spaces, parentheses, or dashes, and include the country code (for example, +1 for the United States). This is the most reliable format across devices.
Adding a Phone Call Button
Locate your presentation and enter Edit mode
Navigate to the page where you'd like to add the button
Click the + (plus) button in the upper right corner to open the Component menu
Select Button from the Component menu
Choose the Launch App action from the expanded menu
Position the button anywhere you'd like on the page by dragging it into place
In the Action Panel, give the button a clear name in the Button Name field — for example, Call Office. This name is what you'll see when reviewing your content in Analytics.
In the App URL field, type tel: followed immediately by the phone number, with no space after the colon — for example, tel:+12155550147
Publish your changes when you're ready for your team to see the new button
Adding a Text Message Button
A text message button is built exactly the same way — the only difference is the prefix you type in the App URL field.
Click the + (plus) button in the upper right corner and select Button
Choose the Launch App action from the expanded menu
Position the button on the page and give it a name in the Button Name field — for example, Text Us
In the App URL field, type sms: followed immediately by the phone number — for example, sms:+12155550147
Publish your changes
Testing Your Button
Because these buttons hand off to another app on the device, it's worth confirming the behavior before you present:
Click the Play button in the upper right corner to preview your presentation
Navigate to the page where you added the button
Tap or click the button and confirm that your device opens its phone or messaging app with the number already filled in
Depending on your device, you may see a confirmation prompt before a call is actually placed, and a text message will open as a new, unsent draft addressed to that number. Nothing is sent or dialed without your confirmation.
Common Use Cases
Calling the office mid-appointment — give your rep a one-tap way to reach dispatch, a manager, or the pricing desk without leaving the presentation
Connecting to a partner line — put a financing, warranty, or service number on the page it relates to
Texting a scheduling coordinator — add an SMS button to your closing page so a follow-up appointment can be requested on the spot
Internal and training content — include a "Call Support" button so reps know exactly who to reach when a question comes up
Things to Know
Each button holds one number. If you want to offer several contacts, add a separate button for each one and name them clearly.
The device has to be able to handle the request. A tel: or sms: link only works if the device has an app that places calls or sends texts. On a device without one, the button may do nothing when tapped.
Tapping the button leaves Ingage. Your presentation stays open in the background, so you can switch back to the page you left off on once the call or message is finished.
You don't have to use a button. The Launch App Action can be applied to an existing component like an image, shape, or text block instead. For details on every Action type, see the Action Guide.
Buttons behave differently on iPad. If your button works on Desktop but not on an iPad, see My Buttons Don't Work on Ingage for iPad — components set to zero opacity are a common cause.
Want the customer to use their own phone instead? A QR code is often a better fit. See Adding a QR Code with QR Kit, or Sharing Content Via Web Link to send your content by text after the appointment.