The Vodia PBX integrates with the Google Translate API to transcribe voicemail recordings into text; this text is then included in voicemail notification emails. To enable this feature, you’ll need a Google Cloud account, along with an active Voice API subscription key - this can be created under “APIs & Services” in the Google Cloud Console. This API key, which should be restricted for security, is entered into the Vodia PBX system to activate transcription capabilities. For multi-tenant setups, voicemail transcription can be managed per domain or disabled for specific extensions, offering flexible control over API usage.
Google offers a powerful API for converting speech into text. The Vodia PBX is currently using this feature to convert voicemail recordings into text format; it includes that text in the voicemail notification, which is typically sent to the user by email. This API must be enabled in the Google Cloud Console.
After you have set up an account with Google Cloud, make sure you provide your credit card information so you can enable the Voice API. You will also have to create a project that holds the API key. You can do this in “APIs & Services” in the Dashboard area.
Activating Google Cloud Subscription Key
After you have created a project, you need to navigate to the “Credentials” area, where you can create new credentials for your project. You need to create a new API Key.
You should then restrict the key by some means (e.g., by limiting it to your server IP address) so nobody else can use that key unless it's used from that IP address.
Enable Voicemail Transcription in Vodia PBX
After you have set up your account on the Google console, copy the API Key into the PBX in admin mode, General/Settings/Notifications. There you can also determine if domains should have the feature enabled or not, unless you set it explicitly in the domain settings.
Multi-Tenant Scenario
In some cases, you would want to disable the Google API per extension. To disable, go the main page of your domain page and click on the edit button, scroll down to "Enable voicemail to text API" and switch it to off.
Join Vodia Networks on April 8 for a live, in-depth webinar on how real-time media streaming is powering the future of voice communication. Discover how Vodia PBX version 69.5.6 enables seamless AI integration, live call transcription using the Whisper API, and secure voice data handling. Hosted by Sales Engineer Eric Altman and VoIP Engineer Hamlet Collado, this session will walk you through real-world use cases, including OpenAI and Google Speech-to-Text integrations, MS Teams support, and new security features. You’ll also get a first look at Vodia’s AI roadmap and have the opportunity to ask your questions during a live Q&A.
Whisper, OpenAI’s Automatic Speech Recognition system, delivers multilingual, noise-tolerant, and technical-language-ready transcription through a streamlined encoder-decoder architecture. With Vodia PBX’s integration, organizations can choose between using OpenAI’s service or hosting Whisper AI locally for complete data sovereignty and control. This on-premise option ensures that sensitive call data stays within your infrastructure while still benefiting from powerful transcription capabilities. To explore deployment options, see our Whisper AI on-premise setup documentation, review a self-hosted integration example, or follow our cloud-based call transcription guide.
Vodia Sales Engineer Eric Altman attended Enterprise Connect 2025 on March 18 and 19, where he connected with partners and gained insight into the future of enterprise communications. AI was the clear focus of the event, with discussions centered on agentic systems, chatbots, and generative technologies. “It was certainly the main element in the atmosphere,” Eric noted. He also shared his excitement about Vodia PBX version 69.5.6, which includes real-time AI integration with OpenAI and call transcription using the Whisper API. The event confirmed that AI is rapidly becoming a core component of modern communication platforms—and Vodia is well-positioned to lead the way.