URL: https://help.carbonvoice.app/conversations/creating/start-with-a-phone-number-or-email
Source: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/PhononX/carbon-voice-docs/main/docs/conversations/creating/start-with-a-phone-number-or-email.md

# Start a conversation with a phone number or email

You can start a conversation with anyone using just their email address or phone
number, even if they don't use Carbon Voice yet.

1. From the Home screen, tap the **"+"** icon at the bottom and choose **New
   Conversation**.
2. Choose whether to send a **direct message** or create a **named conversation**, and
   which workspace it should live in. If you don't specify a workspace, you'll find the
   conversation in your personal workspace.
3. Enter the email address or phone number of the person you want to message. If the
   conversation is part of a workspace, you can add someone who isn't a workspace
   member as a **guest**.

📺 [Watch: creating a conversation with a phone number](https://youtube.com/shorts/pfFHs5EqYZ8)

![A Carbon Voice message as it arrives in an email inbox](/img/whats-new/voice-message-as-email.webp)

## Related

- [Types of conversations](https://help.carbonvoice.app/conversations/creating/types-of-conversations) — the difference between direct
  messages and named conversations.
- [Account & Settings](https://help.carbonvoice.app/account-and-settings) — enabling phone contacts.
- [Linked Emails & Phone Numbers](https://help.carbonvoice.app/account-and-settings/directory-services) — so
  people can reach you at any of your addresses or numbers.