Messaging & Communication

Effective communication is at the heart of every successful freelancing relationship. Opengates provides a comprehensive suite of messaging and communication tools designed to help freelancers, clients, and contract teams stay connected, collaborate seamlessly, and get work done efficiently — all without ever leaving the platform.

Whether you need to send a quick text message, share project files, hop on a voice call, or coordinate with an entire team in a group chat, Opengates has you covered. This guide gives you a complete overview of all the communication features available on the platform.

How Messaging Works on Opengates

Opengates uses Azure Communication Services to power its messaging and calling infrastructure. This means you get enterprise-grade reliability, end-to-end encryption for your conversations, and high-quality audio and video calls — all built directly into the platform.

You don't need to install any third-party apps or plugins. Everything works right inside the Opengates app (on mobile) or in your web browser (on desktop). Your messages, files, and call history are synced across all your devices in real time, so you can pick up a conversation on your phone that you started on your laptop.

Key Messaging Features at a Glance

• Direct Messages: Send one-on-one text messages to any user on the platform.
• File & Image Sharing: Attach documents, images, and other files directly in your conversations.
• Read Receipts: Know when your messages have been delivered and read.
• Message Notifications: Get notified instantly when someone sends you a message, whether you're on mobile or web.
• Group Chats: Create dedicated chat rooms for contract teams, project groups, or any collaboration scenario.
• Voice Calls: Make crystal-clear voice calls to other Opengates users directly from the chat interface.
• Video Calls: Start face-to-face video calls with screen sharing capabilities for presentations, demos, and walkthroughs.
• OLA AI Assistant: Get instant help from our Gemini-powered AI assistant for platform questions, tips, and guidance.

Direct Messaging

Direct messaging is the simplest and most common way to communicate on Opengates. You can start a conversation with any user by visiting their profile and tapping the Message button, or by navigating to the Messages section of the app and searching for a user by name or username.

Once a conversation is started, you can:

• Send text messages of any length.
• Attach files such as PDFs, Word documents, spreadsheets, and more.
• Share images and screenshots to provide visual context.
• React to messages to quickly acknowledge them.
• See when your message has been delivered and when it has been read (read receipts).

All messages are stored securely and remain accessible in your conversation history. You can scroll back through past conversations at any time to reference earlier discussions, shared files, or important details.

Message Notifications

Opengates sends you notifications whenever you receive a new message. Notifications work across both the mobile app and the web version of the platform. You can customize your notification preferences in your account settings to control:

• Whether you receive push notifications on your phone.
• Whether you receive email notifications for unread messages.
• Whether you want to mute specific conversations temporarily.
• Notification sounds and vibration preferences (on mobile).

Group Chats

When you're working on a project that involves multiple people — for example, a client, a lead freelancer, and several team members — group chats make coordination effortless. Instead of sending the same update to five different people individually, you can create a single group chat where everyone sees the same information in real time.

Group chats on Opengates are especially useful for contract teams. When a contract is created that involves multiple freelancers or stakeholders, you can set up a dedicated group chat for that contract. This keeps all project-related communication organized and in one place.

Key group chat features include:

• Creating groups with custom names and descriptions.
• Adding and removing members at any time.
• Mentioning specific people using @mentions to get their attention.
• Pinning important messages so they don't get lost in the conversation.
• Sharing files with the entire group at once.

To learn more, see our detailed guide on Group Chats.

Voice & Video Calling

Sometimes a text message isn't enough. For complex discussions, project kickoffs, feedback sessions, or quick check-ins, Opengates offers built-in voice and video calling powered by Azure Communication Services.

Voice Calls

You can start a voice call directly from any conversation — just tap the phone icon at the top of the chat window. Voice calls are ideal for:

• Quick discussions that would take too long to type out.
• Clarifying project requirements or feedback.
• Catching up with a client or freelancer in a more personal way.

Video Calls

For situations where face-to-face interaction is important, video calls let you see the person you're talking to. Video calls also support screen sharing, which is incredibly useful for:

• Walking a client through a design mockup or prototype.
• Demonstrating a completed feature or deliverable.
• Troubleshooting technical issues in real time.
• Conducting interviews or onboarding sessions.

Both voice and video calls work on the mobile app and the web version of Opengates. For the best experience, we recommend using a stable internet connection and a headset or earbuds to reduce background noise.

For a complete guide on making calls, see Audio & Video Calling.

OLA AI Assistant

Opengates includes an intelligent AI assistant called OLA, powered by Google's Gemini technology. OLA is designed to help you navigate the platform, answer questions, and provide guidance on a wide range of topics.

What OLA Can Help With

• Platform navigation: Not sure where to find a feature? Ask OLA and it will point you in the right direction.
• Account questions: OLA can help with questions about your profile, settings, verification, and more.
• Tips and best practices: Get advice on writing better proposals, setting competitive rates, or communicating effectively with clients.
• General information: Ask OLA about Opengates policies, community guidelines, payment processes, and other platform-related topics.

How to Access OLA

You can access OLA from anywhere on the platform by tapping the OLA icon (usually located in the bottom-right corner of the screen or in the navigation menu). Simply type your question in natural language, and OLA will respond with helpful information.

OLA is available 24/7 and responds instantly. While OLA is incredibly knowledgeable about the Opengates platform, for complex account-specific issues (like payment disputes or account recovery), you may still need to contact our human support team.

Communication Best Practices

To make the most of Opengates' communication tools, keep these best practices in mind:

Be Professional and Respectful

Even though messaging can feel casual, remember that you're communicating in a professional context. Use clear, polite language, and be mindful of the other person's time. Avoid sending excessive messages when a single, well-organized message would suffice.

Respond Promptly

Timely responses show professionalism and build trust. If you can't respond right away, send a quick acknowledgment (e.g., "Got it, I'll review this and get back to you by tomorrow") so the other person knows you've seen their message.

Keep Project Communication on the Platform

For your own protection, keep all project-related communication within Opengates. This ensures that there is a record of all discussions, agreements, and shared files. If a dispute arises, the Opengates support team can review these records to help resolve the issue.

Use the Right Tool for the Job

• Quick updates or questions? Send a text message.
• Complex discussion? Start a voice call.
• Need to show something visually? Use a video call with screen sharing.
• Coordinating a team? Set up a group chat.

Privacy and Security

Your privacy and security are paramount. Here's how Opengates protects your communications:

• Encryption: All messages and calls are encrypted to protect your data.
• Block and Report: You can block any user to prevent them from contacting you, and report abusive or inappropriate messages.
• Data Retention: Your messages are stored securely and are accessible only to the participants of the conversation.
• No Third-Party Access: Opengates does not sell or share your communication data with third parties.

Explore Messaging Guides

Ready to dive deeper? Check out these detailed guides:

• Sending Messages — Learn how to send messages, share files, manage notifications, and more.
• Group Chats — Create and manage group conversations for your contract teams.
• Audio & Video Calling — Make voice and video calls with screen sharing directly on Opengates.

Still need help? Contact our support team and we'll be happy to assist you.