You can now control Claude from your phone using Dispatch. But it's unclear why (and it's not for all Claude users).
I tested Dispatch — it's a new feature inside Cowork (and only inside it). You give Claude a task from your phone, it executes on your Mac: files, connectors, local data. You leave and come back to everything done.
First you need to update the Claude mobile app and Claude Desktop, scan a QR from your phone. This creates a unified thread between mobile and desktop. Files stay on the computer, Claude works in a sandbox.
I see headlines saying Anthropic packaged this into one button and it's an OpenClaw alternative. I literally built a similar thing by hand just days ago — through Claude Code, my own server, and a couple of sleepless evenings. No, this is not the same thing at all. Dispatch doesn't work through Telegram or web. It works about half the time. No notifications, one thread, no parallel tasks.
Anthropic also says the Mac must be on. In practice, Cowork cron tasks trigger for me even in sleep mode through Power Nap. But Dispatch is an interactive session and really only works with the Mac on with the screen lit.
Dispatch is currently available on Max ($100-200/mo), on Pro in a couple of days.
Bottom line: if you need an agent that reliably does what you intend — it's still easier to build it yourself via API or install OpenClaw. For repeating tasks, use Scheduled Tasks in Claude Cowork. Dispatch is still a demo of direction, not a working tool. But the direction is right. Controlling Claude Code from your phone without hacks would be great!