# How to Message an Email Address

Send a message to someone using their email address. If they have a Carbon Voice account, it routes through that. If not, it routes to their email.

## Send a direct message

```
POST /channels/directMessage
Content-Type: application/json
```

```json
{
  "workspace_guid": "string",
  "users": [
    {
      "value_type": "emailAddress",
      "unique_value": "someone@example.com",
      "role": "member",
      "required_for_active_span": true
    }
  ],
  "type": "directMessage"
}
```

Use `"personal"` as the `workspace_guid` for your personal workspace.

**Response:** Includes a `channel_guid` you can use to [send a message](./how-to-send-a-message.md).

## Create a named conversation

```
POST /channels/namedConversation
Content-Type: application/json
```

```json
{
  "workspace_guid": "string",
  "users": [
    {
      "value_type": "emailAddress",
      "unique_value": "someone@example.com",
      "role": "member",
      "required_for_active_span": true
    }
  ],
  "type": "namedConversation",
  "name": "Topic name"
}
```

**Response:** Includes a `channel_guid` you can use to [send a message](./how-to-send-a-message.md).