How to route calls to your SIP network with an outbound call
If you are looking to explore SIP functionality, we recommend following the SIP Quickstart to get you up and running in a few clicks!
Are you interested in learning how to make calls using SIP with Twilio programmability? This guide will show you how to use Programmable Voice to make SIP outbound phone calls from Twilio to your Twilio Registered SIP Endpoints.
It's possible to connect an existing Twilio Voice Application directly to your SIP network. You can do this by requesting Twilio make a SIP call from either an existing incoming call, or from an outbound API request. Not only does this give you access to all the powerful Programmable Voice solutions, but it also allows you to lean on the savings by not routing your call through normal PSTN.
Steps to route calls to your SIP Network
- Buy a Twilio Number
- Configure SIP Registration
- Configure your SIP Endpoint
- Make an outbound SIP call
Let's get started!
Buy a Twilio Number
In the Twilio console, search for and purchase an available phone number capable of making outbound calls. You'll use this phone number as the "From" phone number when you initiate an outbound call.
Configure SIP Registration
Note: If you are not using Twilio Registered Endpoint then this step is not applicable to you.
In order to make and receive phone calls to a SIP phone, like Zoiper, SIP Registration is required. This enables routing the calls to SIP phone/Endpoint. In this tutorial, we are using a Twilio Registered Endpoint to receive the call. This guide will show how to enable registration and setup credentials.
- Configure Credential List
- Log in to your twilio account go to programmable voice. Select “credential lists”
- Click the “+” icon to create credential list.
- Add a Friendly Name as
Endpoint
, Username (this can be E164 number, Extention number or name) asUserA
and Password asyourpassword
and click Create. Note: The credential username and password created here will be used on your SIP Endpoints for authentication.
- Configure SIP Domain
- Select “Domains”
- Click the “+” icon to create SIP Domain.
- Add a Friendly Name as
T1
and a unique SIP URI asTrunk1
. Note: SIP URI names needs to be unique, I have used Trunk1 in my example. You might have to find a name that is available - Scroll down to "Voice Authentication" and associate the "Credential Lists"
Endpoint
that you created - Scroll down to "SIP Registration" and click "Enabled"
- In "SIP Registration Authentication" associate the "Credential Lists" that you created. Then click "Save"
Configure SIP Endpoint
Note: If you are not using Twilio Registered Endpoint then this step is not applicable to you.
A SIP Endpoint can be desk phone or soft phone. In this guide, we will use the soft phone and will configure the phone to successfully register to SIP Registrar.
- Download and install SIP Endpoint. Zoiper is used for example
- Provide login name -
UserA@Trunk1.sip.us1.twilio.com
(do add us1 region parameter to your sip domain) and password- Username and password from Credential List Username
- Yourdomain from SIP Domains. For example,
Trunk1.sip.us1.twilio.com
(do add us1 region parameter to your sip domain while configuring zoiper)
- Click "Next/continue" to confirm the Domain
- Optional settings can be skipped
- Done! You see in Zoiper that it is "Registered" and has "Tick" next to your login name.
- You can also verify the successfully registered endpoints under your SIP domain > Registered SIP Endpoints in the Twilio console
Make an outbound SIP call
There are a couple of ways that you can make an outbound SIP call from Twilio. Remember this outbound call that Twilio makes is what will connect with your SIP Network.
Make an outbound SIP call using an inbound call handler
It's possible to have Twilio run code when a call is received. For our example, we will have that code make an outbound SIP call to our network.
We will now write the TwiML for our application. Because this is a static application, we will use a TwiML Bin. Visit the TwiML Bin page and click the +
icon to add a new bin.
Set the Friendly Name as SIP Outbound call
and copy and paste the TwiML below
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Response>
<Say>Welcome to xyz.com. Your call will be routed to an agent now</Say>
<Dial>
<Sip>sip:UserA@Trunk1.sip.us1.twilio.com</Sip>
</Dial>
</Response>
Make sure to add us1 region parameter as part of your SIP domain
With our TwiML Bin created, now we need to wire it up to our number.
- Go to your Twilio Number page
- Click the Number you have purchased
- Scroll down to "Voice" under "A Call Comes in" select your configured TwiML Bin as
SIP Outbound call
from the dropdown menu and click "Save"
Take your cellphone and dial the Twilio Number you purchased. You should hear a notification that you are being transferred and then an outbound SIP call will be made. Congratulations!
Make an outbound SIP call using API
Another way to make an outbound call is by using the REST API. Here we will create a Call
resource and point it directly to our SIP client.
Retrieve your Twilio account credentials
First, you'll need to get your Twilio account credentials. They consist of your AccountSid and your Auth Token. They can be found on the home page of the console.
There are a few key parameters to drill into when making the outbound call.
- "From" - the username or number you are calling from
- "To" - login name of your SIP Endpoint (Zoiper). For example,
sip:UserA@Trunk1.sip.us1.twilio.com
(do add us1 as a region parameter to your SIP Domain) - "Twiml" - The TwiML instructions on what should happen when the other party picks up the phone.
Visit the TwiML Bin page and click the +
icon to add a new bin.
Set the Friendly Name as Notification
and copy and paste the TwiML below
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Response>
<Say>Well done you have successfully made an outbound SIP call from Twilo using an API</Say>
</Response>
Run the code. You should hear a notification that you have successfully made an outbound SIP call. Congratulations!
Where to next?
Great work!
- Make an inbound SIP phone call with Python
- More about Programmable SIP Trunk and its feature
- Pricing
Happy hacking!
Need some help?
We all do sometimes; code is hard. Get help now from our support team, or lean on the wisdom of the crowd by visiting Twilio's Stack Overflow Collective or browsing the Twilio tag on Stack Overflow.