# Guides

Everything you need to integrate with eCommunicate, from your first API call to production-ready messaging.

## Getting Started

Getting Started
Set up your account, choose a channel, and send your first message in under 5 minutes.

[Read guide](/guides/getting-started)

Authentication
API key management, security best practices, and environment configuration.

[Read guide](/guides/authentication)

## Messaging

WhatsApp Messaging
Templates, media headers, interactive buttons, carousels, chat messages, and SMS fallback.

[Read guide](/guides/whatsapp-messaging)

SMS Messaging
Direct SMS, GSM 7-bit vs Unicode encoding, character limits, and fallback configuration.

[Read guide](/guides/sms-messaging)

Conversations
Long-lived WhatsApp conversations that stay open for days or months beyond the 24-hour window.

[Read guide](/guides/conversations)

Webhooks
Real-time delivery receipts, incoming messages, session status, and partner event notifications.

[Read guide](/guides/webhooks)

## Platform

Live Chat
Agent-based customer chat with ticket management, team assignment, and conversation history.

[Read guide](/guides/live-chat)

Error Handling
HTTP status codes, error response format, delivery failure codes, and troubleshooting.

[Read guide](/guides/error-handling)

Rate Limits & Pagination
Throughput limits, pagination patterns, and best practices for high-volume messaging.

[Read guide](/guides/rate-limits)