Skill

create-phone-number

Name: create-phone-number
Author: Vapi

manage Vapi phone numbers

Published by Vapi Updated Jul 20

Covers Operations Voice Twilio

Description

Set up and manage phone numbers in Vapi for inbound and outbound voice AI calls. Use when importing Twilio, Vonage, or Telnyx numbers, buying Vapi numbers, or configuring phone numbers for assistants.

SKILL.md

Vapi Phone Number Setup

Import phone numbers from Twilio, Vonage, or Telnyx, or use Vapi's built-in numbers to connect voice assistants to real phone calls.

Setup: Ensure VAPI_API_KEY is set. See the setup-api-key skill if needed.

Quick Start — Buy a Vapi Number

Vapi provides free phone numbers for testing with daily call limits.

curl -X POST https://api.vapi.ai/phone-number \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $VAPI_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "provider": "vapi",
    "assistantId": "your-assistant-id",
    "name": "Main Support Line"
  }'

Import from Twilio

curl -X POST https://api.vapi.ai/phone-number \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $VAPI_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "provider": "twilio",
    "number": "+11234567890",
    "twilioAccountSid": "your-twilio-account-sid",
    "twilioAuthToken": "your-twilio-auth-token",
    "assistantId": "your-assistant-id",
    "name": "Twilio Support Line"
  }'

Import from Vonage

curl -X POST https://api.vapi.ai/phone-number \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $VAPI_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "provider": "vonage",
    "number": "+11234567890",
    "credentialId": "your-vonage-credential-id",
    "assistantId": "your-assistant-id",
    "name": "Vonage Support Line"
  }'

Import from Telnyx

curl -X POST https://api.vapi.ai/phone-number \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $VAPI_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "provider": "telnyx",
    "number": "+11234567890",
    "credentialId": "your-telnyx-credential-id",
    "assistantId": "your-assistant-id",
    "name": "Telnyx Support Line"
  }'

Assign an Assistant

Every phone number can be linked to an assistant or squad for inbound calls:

curl -X PATCH https://api.vapi.ai/phone-number/{id} \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $VAPI_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "assistantId": "your-assistant-id"
  }'

Or assign a squad:

curl -X PATCH https://api.vapi.ai/phone-number/{id} \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $VAPI_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "squadId": "your-squad-id"
  }'

Phone Number Hooks

Configure automated actions when calls come in:

{
  "hooks": [
    {
      "on": "call.ringing",
      "do": [
        {
          "type": "say",
          "exact": "Please hold while we connect you."
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Managing Phone Numbers

# List all phone numbers
curl https://api.vapi.ai/phone-number \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $VAPI_API_KEY"

# Get a phone number
curl https://api.vapi.ai/phone-number/{id} \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $VAPI_API_KEY"

# Update a phone number
curl -X PATCH https://api.vapi.ai/phone-number/{id} \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $VAPI_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"name": "Updated Name"}'

# Delete a phone number
curl -X DELETE https://api.vapi.ai/phone-number/{id} \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $VAPI_API_KEY"

Inbound Call Flow

Caller dials your Vapi phone number
Vapi routes the call to the assigned assistant or squad
The assistant speaks its firstMessage
The conversation proceeds with the configured model, voice, and tools

Outbound Call Flow

Create a call via POST /call with phoneNumberId and customer.number
Vapi dials the customer from your phone number
When answered, the assistant begins the conversation

Free Number Limitations

Cannot make international calls
Daily call limits apply
For production use, import your own Twilio/Vonage/Telnyx numbers

References

Additional Resources

Vapi provides a documentation MCP server that gives compatible AI agents access to the Vapi knowledge base. Use its documentation search for advanced configuration, troubleshooting, SDK details, and anything beyond this skill.

Manual setup: If your agent doesn't auto-detect the config, run:

claude mcp add vapi-docs -- npx -y mcp-remote https://docs.vapi.ai/_mcp/server

See the Vapi MCP integration guide for setup instructions across supported agents.

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