Introduction
# Phone Calls Skill
Make AI-powered phone calls on behalf of the user — book restaurants, make appointments, inquire about services, etc.
## Provider: Bland AI
**Why Bland AI?** - Simplest API of all options (Vapi, Retell are more complex) - Just need `phone_number` + `task` to make a call - Low latency, natural-sounding voices - Pay-per-minute, no platform fees - Self-hosted (data stays secure)
## Setup Required
### 1. Create Bland AI Account 1. Go to https://app.bland.ai 2. Sign up with email 3. Add payment method (or use free trial credits)
### 2. Get API Key 1. Go to https://app.bland.ai/dashboard 2. Click your profile → API Keys 3. Copy your API key
### 3. Configure Clawdbot Add to your environment or `.env`: ```bash BLAND_API_KEY=sk-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ```
Or store in `~/.clawd/secrets.json`: ```json { "bland_api_key": "sk-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" } ```
## Usage
### Basic Call ```bash ./phone-call.sh "+447123456789" "Call the restaurant and book a table for 2 at 7pm tonight under the name John" ```
### With Custom Voice ```bash ./phone-call.sh "+447123456789" "Ask about their opening hours" --voice maya ```
### Check Call Status ```bash ./check-call.sh <call_id> ```
## How It Works
1. You provide a phone number and a task/objective 2. Bland AI calls the number with an AI agent 3. The AI follows your instructions naturally 4. You get a transcript and summary after the call
## Example Tasks
**Restaurant Booking:** ``` Call this restaurant and book a table for 4 people on Saturday at 8pm. The booking should be under the name "Smith". If they ask for a phone number, give them +447123456789. ```
**Appointment Inquiry:** ``` Call this dental office and ask what appointments are available next week for a routine checkup. Get at least 3 options if possible. ```
**Service Inquiry:** ``` Call this plumber and ask if they can come out tomorrow to fix a leaking tap. Get a quote for the callout fee. ```
## Pricing (Bland AI)
- **Outbound calls:** ~$0.09/minute (US) - **Varies by country** — check https://app.bland.ai for current rates - First calls may have free credits
## Voice Options
Built-in voices: - `josh` - Male, professional - `maya` - Female, friendly (default) - `florian` - Male, European accent - `derek` - Male, casual - `june` - Female, professional - `nat` - Male, natural - `paige` - Female, upbeat
## Advanced Features
### Voicemail Handling The AI can detect voicemails and either hang up, leave a message, or ignore.
### Call Recording Set `record: true` to get a recording URL after the call.
### Webhooks Get notified when calls complete by setting a webhook URL.
### Conversation Pathways For complex flows (IVR menus, multi-step processes), create pathways in the Bland dashboard.
## Limitations
- Cannot call emergency services (999, 911, etc.) - Some numbers may be blocked (DNC lists) - Rate limited: 1 call per 10 seconds to the same number - Max call duration: 30 minutes default (configurable)
## Troubleshooting
**"Invalid phone number"** - Include country code: `+44` for UK, `+1` for US - Remove spaces and parentheses
**"Insufficient balance"** - Add credits at https://app.bland.ai/dashboard/billing
**"Rate limit exceeded"** - Wait a few seconds between calls to the same number
## Files
- `phone-call.sh` — Make a phone call - `check-call.sh` — Check call status/transcript - `bland.sh` — Low-level API wrapper