Deploy Voice and SMS with Twilio and Vodia PBX

Published on:

October 19, 2020

The Vodia PBX has enhanced its communication capabilities by integrating Twilio’s SMS and MMS API, allowing users to send and receive messages directly from the Vodia platform. This integration supports seamless messaging across Vodia applications, including Windows, web browsers and mobile apps. To get started, users need a Vodia PBX license, a Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN), a Let's Encrypt certificate and an active Twilio account. After purchasing a Twilio DID number for SMS and voice, you’ll configure the webhook settings in Twilio to direct incoming messages to your Vodia PBX. In the Vodia admin panel, input the required Twilio credentials and save your settings.

Hamlet Collado

Twilio has been the front runner in voice and SMS technology. This is great because you now have Twilio SMS and MMS API capability on your Vodia PBX.

In this tutorial, we will show you how to get started with Twilio and how to configure it all on the Vodia PBX.

What are the benefits?

Become an SMS provider
Use your existing Twilio account for both messaging and voice
Users will be able to SMS and MMS from their Vodia Apps, including the Vodia Windows App, Vodia Web browsers, IOS and Android Apps
Provides a new revenue stream
Twilio is the front runner in Voice and SMS
Creates new services for your subscribers
Vodia multi-tenant subscribers can enjoy the simplicity of a new way to communicate through the PBX

Setting up Voice and SMS on Twilio is extremely easy and will only take a few minutes.

Here's what you will need:

When when you log in to your Twilio account, navigate to the all-products-icon and click on phone numbers, then Buy a number. Next, type in your customer Area code and, under categories, choose SMS and Voice.

Purchase your number

Next...buy your new DID number.

Success!! Now that you have acquired a Twilio number, you can start using the Twilio SMS feature by plugging in a few values.

We will be also using the DID number in Vodia's notification settings, so keep that number handy.

Let's SMS with Vodia

Now that you've purchased your number, click on the hyperlink phone number to access the SMS settings.

Scroll down to messaging under "A Message comes in" Choose Webhook for the value https://Your PBX FQDN/recvsms

Next, we will need the Auth Password of the SMS application. Navigate "Console Dashboard" then click on the "Project info"

Project info

The project info has the user|password token we will need to supply the Vodia PBX when setting up the SMS feature; for now, copy-paste the "ACCOUNT SID" and the "AUTH TOKEN" into your notes.

Getting SMS configured on Vodia PBX

In the administration mode, navigate to Messaging|Notifications

We will need to provide the project info found on your Twilio portal, which is the (Account SID) and (Auth Token) - see above for more info.

Provider choose Twilio
Username or account (Use the Account SID)
Application token (Use Auth Token)
URL prefix for receiving messages (recvsms)
Address for pulling for sending MMS messages (Enter your FQDN) ex: https://yourvodiapbx.com
Default ANI for sending SMS messages (enter your purchased Twilio number)
Save your configuration

Let's test SMS

Now it's time to test the service.

Open up your Vodia Windows App - if you don't have the App, you can download it here. For more info on the Vodia Windows App, visit us here.

Next, on your Windows App type in a number on your Vodia App, then press the SMS chat icon to send the SMS to the recipient.