Twilio Dev Phone
The Twilio Dev Phone makes it easier for you to test your Twilio apps when you don't have access to SMS and calling capabilities. It uses existing Twilio products to send and receive calls and SMS from your local development environment.
To use the Dev Phone, you need an installation of the Twilio CLI and access to a spare Twilio phone number. If you use a trial account, upgrade to a paid Twilio account.
After you install the Twilio CLI, add the Dev Phone plugin with the following command:
twilio plugins:install @twilio-labs/plugin-dev-phone
After installation, run the Dev Phone with the following command:
twilio dev-phone
You'll see output that looks something like this:
1# OUTPUT23Hello 👋 I'm your dev-phone and my name is dev-phone-XXXXXX4567✅ I'm using your profile API key.891011💻 Creating a new conversation...1213✅ I'm using the conversation CHXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX from service ISXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX14151617💻 Creating a new sync list for call history...1819✅ I'm using the sync service ISXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX20212223💻 Deploying a Functions Service to handle incoming calls and SMS...2425✅ I'm using the Serverless Service ZSXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX26272829💻 Creating a new TwiML App to allow voice calls from your browser...3031✅ I'm using the TwiML App APXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX32333435🚀 Your local webserver is listening on port 30013637🌐 Opening http://localhost:3001/ your browser3839▶️ Use Ctrl+C to stop the Dev Phone
These services are created when you start the Twilio Dev Phone. When you stop it (by pressing CTRL + C), the Twilio Dev Phone will delete the resources from your account. If you can't tear down the Dev Phone, the plugin removes the old resources the next time you run it.
You may be wondering: is this the tool that you actually need? Ask yourself: Are you having trouble testing your Twilio app with your personal cell phone? If so, the Dev Phone can help.
Some example use cases include:
- You don't have access to a Twilio phone number that can send and receive communications from your region (this is often the case for numbers outside of the US and Canada).
- You don't have cell service but have a reliable internet connection (for example, you're working in a building with poor coverage, the cell network is down, or you're low on minutes).
- Your phone is in another room, and you just don't want to go and get it.
In any of these scenarios, you can use the Dev Phone as a replacement for your Twilio phone number.
Warning
Using the Dev Phone overwrites a phone number's webhooks, so don't use phone numbers that are already configured. If a number is in production, your customers' communications will appear in the Dev Phone tab in your browser.
To send a message, fill out the Destination number field. Then, type in a message in the SMS interface (on the lower right-hand corner of the Dev Phone) and then click "Send".
To make an outbound call, fill out the Destination number field and then click the "Call" button.
To receive inbound calls and SMS, call or text the Dev Phone's configured phone number. Your communications should pass directly through to the Dev Phone, where you can click to accept.
Explore these resources to get more out of the Dev Phone:
- Leave feedback on the Dev Phone so that we can make improvements
- The Dev Phone is open source. Open an issue or pull request on the Dev Phone GitHub repository
- Start building with the Dev Phone instead of your cell phone.