How To Add Voicemail Forwarding and Transcription For A Twilio Number

NOTE: Transcriptions for recordings are a paid feature. Your account will be charged if you use this service.

You may want your phone number to be forwarded to another number, and yet sometimes you may want it to directly send a call to voicemail. The caller can leave a voicemail which will be transcribed and emailed to you. Follow these steps to set up the voicemail forwarding within Twilio:

Step 1: Update Referins settings to have a blank call forwarding number.

• Under Settings > Phone Numbers, leave the "Call Forwarding" number blank.

Step 2: Build a TwiML app within Twilio.

• Log in to your Twilio account.

• In the Dashboard on the left-hand side, navigate to “Develop” and “TwiML apps”

• This is where you can build little apps within your Twilio. 
• Click “TwiML apps,” and in the new tab that opens, click “Create new TwiML App” at the top right.
• In the popup, add a "Friendly Name" for the voicemail.
• Fill out the Voice and Messaging Configuration.

• Click “Create” to complete.

Step 3: Using the TwiML Bin you created.

• Navigate back to Develop > Active Numbers.
• Click the desired phone number to modify.
• Scroll to the Voice & Fax section, and then modify the phone number’s routing.
• When a call comes in, the default should be a webhook that reads a default Twilio message.

• Update and change this to "TwiML Bin" and choose the name of the voicemail you set up.

• Click save in the bottom left.

NOTE: We recommend that after setting this up, you call the number to test it. When you dial the number, you should be directed to the voicemail, and it should speak your message in the voice you chose. Leave a message, and it should be transcribed and emailed to you.

PRO TIPS:

• In order to generate a transcription from a call recording, use the <Record> verb in your TwiML and set transcribe=”true”.
• The max recording time is 2 minutes in length.

FAQ: 

1. Do I get charged for voicemail transcriptions?
Yes, transcriptions for recordings are a paid feature, and your account will be charged when using this service.

2. How do I forward calls to voicemail in Twilio?
You can forward calls to voicemail by setting up a TwiML app and updating your Referins settings to leave the "Call Forwarding" number blank. This allows incoming calls to be directed to the voicemail system you configured.

3. How can I test if my voicemail forwarding is working correctly?
After setting up the TwiML Bin and linking it to your phone number, you should call the number to test it. You should be directed to the voicemail, where the message you configured is played. Leave a message to verify if the transcription is emailed to you.

4. Can I customize the voicemail message and have it transcribed?
Yes, you can customize the voicemail message by using the <Record> verb in your TwiML setup and setting transcribe="true". The recorded message will be automatically transcribed and sent to your email, with a maximum recording time of 2 minutes.