Blog Tutorial: Ghost Call Trigger with Vonage Voice and SMS API

This project demonstrates how to set up a system using the Vonage Voice API to receive a "ghost call" by sending an SMS to a virtual number. Extract yourself from an awkward situation discreetly.

Features

• Receive SMS: Listens for incoming SMS messages to a Vonage virtual number.
• Trigger Call: Automatically triggers an outbound call in response to the SMS.
• Customizable Call Flow: Supports both simple and dynamic call flows using NCCO (Nexmo Call Control Objects).

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

• A Vonage API account. Sign up here if you haven't already.
• Node.js and npm installed. Download here.
• Ngrok for creating a secure tunnel to your localhost. Download and set up instructions.
• Basic knowledge of JavaScript and Node.js.

Getting Started

Setting Up the Environment

1. Clone the Repository:

2. Install Dependencies:

   npm install

3. Configure Environment Variables:

   Rename .env.example to .env and fill in your Vonage API credentials and other necessary details.

Running the Application

1. Start the Local Server:

   node index.js

2. Expose the Server using Ngrok:

   In a new terminal, run:

   ngrok http 3000

3. Update Webhook URLs:

   Use the HTTPS URL provided by Ngrok to update your SMS webhook URL in the Vonage Dashboard.

4. Send an SMS:

   Send an SMS to your Vonage virtual number to trigger the ghost call.

Usage

The application is designed to be straightforward:

• Send an SMS to your Vonage number: The content of the SMS can be anything.
• Receive a Call: The number you used to send the SMS will receive a call with either a predefined message or a dynamic response based on NCCO.

Customization

You can customize the call response by editing the NCCO in the index.js file or by modifying the JSON file at the ANSWER_URL.

Support

For any queries or issues, please open an issue on this repository, or reach out on the Vonage Developer Community Slack.