# twilio-voice-outbound-calls

Guides agents in placing outbound phone calls using Twilio Programmable Voice REST API with AMD and TwiML webhooks.

- skill · `type=skill` · Codex, ChatGPT · ★ 7604
- Author: Twilio · official OpenAI repository
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/openai/plugins/tree/HEAD/plugins/twilio-developer-kit/skills/twilio-voice-outbound-calls/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-08
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/twilio-voice-outbound-calls

## What it does

The skill provides patterns for initiating outbound voice calls using `calls.create()` in Python and Node.js. It explains how to pass inline TwiML or route call handling to webhook servers built with Flask or Express. You can track call states from `queued` to `completed` and trigger call recordings with status callbacks.

Answering Machine Detection (AMD) is covered for dialer workflows, including the instant `Enable` mode and `DetectMessageEnd` for leaving messages after the tone. Trial accounts can only place calls to verified phone numbers. Running these calls requires the official SDK plus the `TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID` and `TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN` environment variables.

Because outbound calls incur billing fees and cannot be undone, the agent must ask for explicit user confirmation of the target number before dialing.

## Install

### Codex (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add openai/plugins --skill twilio-voice-outbound-calls -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/twilio-voice-outbound-calls/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Claude Code

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add openai/plugins --skill twilio-voice-outbound-calls -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/twilio-voice-outbound-calls/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/twilio-voice-outbound-calls/

### Cursor

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/twilio-voice-outbound-calls/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install openai/plugins twilio-voice-outbound-calls
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/twilio-voice-outbound-calls/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/openai/plugins --path plugins/twilio-developer-kit/skills/twilio-voice-outbound-calls
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/twilio-voice-outbound-calls/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/openai/plugins/tree/HEAD/plugins/twilio-developer-kit/skills/twilio-voice-outbound-calls/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- trigger outbound phone calls using Python or Node.js Twilio SDKs
- differentiate between human answers and voicemail using AMD
- serve dynamic TwiML instructions via Flask or Express webhooks
- enable call recording and handle status tracking callbacks

## Example prompts
- Write a Python script to initiate an outbound call using calls.create() and inline TwiML
- Set up an Express webhook to handle Twilio VoiceResponse with Gather
- Configure answering machine detection with async AMD status callbacks in Node.js

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 113d9d70fd4da156.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 113d9d70fd4da156
````text
---
name: twilio-voice-outbound-calls
description: >
  Make outbound phone calls via Twilio's Programmable Voice REST API. Covers
  the full voice platform: calls.create(), answering machine detection (AMD),
  conference-based agent bridging, call recording, status tracking, and SIP
  Trunking. Use this skill for outbound calls, sales dialers, or when asking
  what voice APIs are available.
---

## Overview

> **Agent safety:** Before placing an outbound call, always confirm the recipient number and intent with the user. Outbound calls are irreversible and may incur charges. For automated systems, implement TCPA compliance: obtain prior express consent, respect quiet hours (8 AM–9 PM recipient local time), and maintain a Do Not Call list.

Every outbound call requires a `from` Twilio number, a `to` recipient, and TwiML instructions that define what happens when the call is answered — either as a webhook URL or inline.

---

## Voice Platform Capabilities

Outbound calls go beyond basic `calls.create()`. Here's what you can build:

| Capability | How | When to use |
|-----------|-----|-------------|
| **Basic outbound call** | `calls.create()` with TwiML or webhook URL | Any outbound call — see Quickstart below |
| **Answering Machine Detection (AMD)** | `machineDetection` parameter on `calls.create()` | Sales dialers, call campaigns — filter voicemail from humans |
| **Conference-based agent bridging** | `<Dial><Conference>` in TwiML | Connect agents to live prospects with whisper, barge, hold |
| **SIP Trunking** | Elastic SIP Trunking | Bring your own carrier for outbound calls — cost reduction at scale |
| **Call Recording** | `record=True` on `calls.create()` or `<Record>` verb | Compliance, QA, training |
| **Voice Insights** | Automatic per-call metrics | Call quality monitoring — latency, jitter, packet loss, answer rates |
| **AI Voice Agents** | ConversationRelay + LLM | Real-time speech recognition → LLM → TTS for conversational AI |

For TwiML verbs (Say, Gather, Dial, Record, Conference, Pay), see `twilio-voice-twiml`.
For AI voice agents, see `twilio-voice-conversation-relay`.

---

## Prerequisites

- Twilio account with a voice-capable phone number
  — New to Twilio? See `twilio-account-setup` for signup, getting a number, and trial limitations
  — Trial accounts can only call verified numbers
- Environment variables:
  - `TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID`
  - `TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN`
  — See `twilio-iam-auth-setup` for credential setup and best practices
- SDK: `pip install twilio` / `npm install twilio`

---

## Quickstart

**Python**
```python
import os
from twilio.rest import Client

client = Client(os.environ["TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID"], os.environ["TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN"])

call = client.calls.create(
    from_="+15017122661",    # Your Twilio number (E.164)
    to="+15558675310",       # Recipient (E.164)
    twiml="<Response><Say>Your order has shipped. Goodbye.</Say></Response>"
)

print(call.sid)     # CAxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
print(call.status)  # queued | ringing | in-progress | completed | failed
```

**Node.js**
````
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First 3099 of 10321 bytes. © Twilio · MIT · https://github.com/openai/plugins/tree/HEAD/plugins/twilio-developer-kit/skills/twilio-voice-outbound-calls/SKILL.md

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