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Prerequisites

What You'll Need

  • A Vobiz account with API access
  • A phone number purchased from Vobiz
  • A web server that can receive HTTP requests (webhook endpoint)
  • Basic understanding of HTTP and XML

Recommended Tools

  • ngrok or similar for local development tunneling
  • cURL or similar for testing webhooks
  • Node.js, Python, or PHP for server-side logic
  • XML validator to check syntax

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Hello World Example

Start with the simplest possible voice application: answering a call and speaking a greeting.

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Step 1: Create a Webhook Endpoint

Set up a simple HTTP server that returns XML. Here’s a Node.js Express example:
server.js
const express = require('express');
const app = express();

app.post('/answer', (req, res) => {
  const xml = `<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Response>
    <Speak>Hello! Welcome to Vobiz telephony platform.</Speak>
    <Hangup/>
</Response>`;

  res.type('application/xml');
  res.send(xml);
});

app.listen(3000, () => {
  console.log('Server running on port 3000');
});

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Step 2: Expose Your Server

For local development, use ngrok to create a public URL.
Terminal
ngrok http 3000
ngrok will provide a URL like https://abc123.ngrok.io

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Step 3: Configure Your Application

In the Vobiz Console, configure your Application’s Answer URL: 
Answer URL: https://abc123.ngrok.io/answer
Method: POST
Assign this application to your Vobiz phone number. When someone calls that number, they will hear your greeting.

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IVR Menu Example

Now build an interactive IVR menu that collects caller input and routes calls accordingly.

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Answer Endpoint

POST /answer - Present IVR Menu
app.post('/answer', (req, res) => {
  const xml = `<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Response>
    <Gather
numDigits="1"
executionTimeout="10"
action="https://abc123.ngrok.io/menu-choice"
method="POST">
        <Speak>
            Press 1 for sales, press 2 for technical support,
or press 0 to speak with an operator.
        </Speak>
    </Gather>
    <Speak>We didn't receive your input. Goodbye!</Speak>
    <Hangup/>
</Response>`;

  res.type('application/xml');
  res.send(xml);
});
POST /menu-choice - Route Based on Input
app.post('/menu-choice', (req, res) => {
  const digit = req.body.Digits;
  let xml;

  switch(digit) {
    case '1':
      xml = `<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Response>
    <Speak>Connecting you to sales.</Speak>
    <Dial>+14155551111</Dial>
</Response>`;
      break;

    case '2':
      xml = `<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Response>
    <Speak>Connecting you to technical support.</Speak>
    <Dial>+14155552222</Dial>
</Response>`;
      break;

    case '0':
      xml = `<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Response>
    <Speak>Transferring to operator.</Speak>
    <Dial>+14155550000</Dial>
</Response>`;
      break;

    default:
      xml = `<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Response>
    <Speak>Invalid selection. Please try again.</Speak>
    <Redirect>https://abc123.ngrok.io/answer</Redirect>
</Response>`;
  }

  res.type('application/xml');
  res.send(xml);
});

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Testing Your XML

Method 1: Real Phone Calls

The most accurate way to test is calling your Vobiz number from a real phone.
  • Test audio quality and timing
  • Verify DTMF input collection
  • Check call transfer functionality
  • Monitor webhook logs in real-time

Method 2: Webhook Simulation

Use cURL to simulate Vobiz webhook requests to your endpoint:
Test with cURL
curl -X POST https://yourapp.com/answer \
  -d "CallUUID=test123" \
  -d "From=+14155551234" \
  -d "To=+14155559999"
Development Tips
  • Log all incoming webhook data to debug call flows
  • Validate your XML syntax before deploying changes
  • Use descriptive Speak messages to understand which code path executed
  • Start simple and add complexity gradually
  • Monitor server response times - keep them under 1 second