# About.chat > About.chat gives local businesses an AI messaging assistant. It is built from the business's own website and Google Business Profile, and it answers customers' questions about hours, menu, services, prices, directions and policies over RCS business messaging, from the Message button on the business's Google listing, a link or a QR code. When it isn't sure, it says so and shares the business's phone number. - Name: About.chat, said "about dot chat"; the name is the address. Also written: About Chat, Aboutchat, AboutChat, about dot chat, Aboutchat.ai. aboutchat.ai was the earlier address and now redirects here. - Website: https://about.chat/ - Sign in and sign up (business owners): https://app.about.chat/ - Contact: hello@about.chat - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aboutchat - Company: About.chat is a Redirect Ventures company, operated by Redirect Ventures Inc. (https://www.redirectventures.ai/). - Who it's for: local businesses with a website, in the United States for now. English only. - Price: free during the pilot, with no contract. Businesses are invited a few at a time. - Category: AI messaging assistant for local businesses; RCS business messaging (RCS for Business); conversational AI for small business. ## How it works 1. The owner gives About.chat the business's website. About.chat reads what the business already publishes: hours, address and directions, menu, services and prices, policies and FAQ. 2. The owner checks what the assistant learned, corrects it, and messages the assistant from their own phone, the way a customer would. 3. About.chat takes the assistant live: it handles brand verification and mobile carrier approval. Nothing goes live until the owner says so. 4. Customers message the business in their phone's own messaging app, over RCS, with the business's verified name and logo. They start from the Message button on the business's Google listing (where Google offers it), or from a link or QR code on the door, receipts and website. 5. The assistant answers only from the business's information. Open or closed is worked out from the real hours and time zone. When it isn't sure, it says so and offers the business's phone number. It replies to customers who message first, and doesn't send marketing. 6. Connecting Google Business Profile keeps hours, holiday hours, address, phone and services current. About.chat also checks the website for changes. ## Pages - [Home](https://about.chat/): what About.chat does, example conversations, and sign-up - [About us](https://about.chat/about): who we are, the name, and how to reach us - [RCS for local business](https://about.chat/rcs-for-local-business): what RCS business messaging is and how a local business uses it - [Messaging on your Google listing](https://about.chat/google-business-profile-messaging): how customers message a business from Google Search and Maps - [Privacy Policy](https://about.chat/privacy) - [Terms of Use](https://about.chat/terms) ## Questions owners ask ### What is About.chat? About.chat gives a local business an AI messaging assistant. We build it from your website, and it answers your customers' messages in seconds, with your real hours, menu, services, prices, directions and policies. Customers reach it in their phone's own messaging app, over RCS, with your name and logo on the conversation. ### What does it answer? What your website and your review cover: hours, location and directions, menu, services and listed prices, policies and amenities, and your FAQ. Ask it something outside that, and it says it isn't sure and shares your contact details. ### What do I have to set up? Almost nothing. Give us your website, and your assistant is built in minutes. Check what it found, fill any gaps, and message it from your own phone. ### What if I don't have a website? For now, you need one. It's where your assistant learns about your business. ### Which businesses is it for? Local businesses with a working website, in the US for now. We've built assistants for restaurants, salons, skincare studios, auto glass and auto repair shops, home services such as plumbing, heating and electrical, gyms and fitness studios, shops, florists, cleaning services and landscapers, and we're adding more. If yours isn't one of those, sign up anyway and we'll tell you when it's ready. ### Can it say something wrong about my business? Any automated assistant can make a mistake, which is why you review what it knows first and can correct it any time. It answers only from your information. When it isn't sure, it says so and offers your phone number. ### Where do customers use it? In their phone's messaging app, with your name and logo, and tappable buttons for things like calling you or getting directions. They start from the Message button on your Google listing, where Google offers it, or from the link and QR code we give you for your door, your receipts and your website. ### What is RCS, and do my customers need an app? RCS is the upgrade to text messaging that's built into the messaging app on Android phones and iPhones. A business on RCS shows up with its verified name and logo, and can send cards and buttons where a text message has only words. Your customers don't download or sign up for anything. ### How long until customers can reach it? You can message it yourself within minutes. Going live with the carriers takes longer, because it needs brand verification and carrier approval. We do that work and keep you posted. ### What happens when my info changes? Connect your Google Business Profile, and changes to your hours, holiday hours, address, phone and services reach your assistant from there. We also check your website for changes, and you can change anything yourself in Aboutchat. ### What does it cost? It's free during our pilot, with no contract. We'll tell you before that changes. ### Is it About.chat, About Chat or Aboutchat? About.chat, at about.chat. Say it “about dot chat”. People who hear the name often write “About Chat” or “Aboutchat”, and we used to be at aboutchat.ai. All of them lead here. ### I already have an account. Where do I sign in? Sign in at app.about.chat, with the Google account you used to set up your assistant.