***

title: <Icon size="6" icon="fa-duotone fa-phone-arrow-up-right" />  Outbound calls
subtitle: Flows where your scenario initiates the call
------------------------------------------------------

Outbound flows start when you trigger a routing rule manually (Control Panel) or through the Management API (`startScenarios`).
VoxEngine then starts `AppEvents.Started`.

### Outbound Voice AI pattern

Outbound calls have different methods depending on the destination channel (PSTN, SIP, WhatsApp, app user),
but the overall pattern is similar: trigger the call, listen for `CallEvents.Connected`, then set up the Voice AI client and media bridging.
The call methods require a `callerId`. For phone numbers this must be a verified caller ID or a purchased Voximplant number.
For WhatsApp, this must be a verified WhatsApp Business number.

```js title="Outbound Voice AI pattern"
VoxEngine.addEventListener(AppEvents.Started, () => {
  // Retrieve information passed when the scenario was triggered
  const { destination, callerId } = JSON.parse(VoxEngine.customData());

  // Choose your call method based on the destination & desired network
  const call = VoxEngine.callPSTN(destination, callerId);
  // const call = VoxEngine.callUser({ username: destination, callerid: callerId });
  // const call = VoxEngine.callSIP(`sip:${destination}@your-sip-domain`, callerId);
  // const call = VoxEngine.callWhatsappUser({ number: destination, callerid: callerId });

  // Handle call events
  call.addEventListener(CallEvents.Disconnected, ()=>VoxEngine.terminate());
  call.addEventListener(CallEvents.Failed, ()=>VoxEngine.terminate());

  // Set up the Voice AI client and media bridging only after the call is connected
  call.addEventListener(CallEvents.Connected, async () => {
    const voiceAIClient = OpenAI.createRealtimeAPIClient({apiKey: "your-key", model: "your-realtime-model"});
    // Bridge media between the call and the Voice AI client so they can speak and hear each other
    VoxEngine.sendMediaBetween(call, voiceAIClient);
  });
});
```

### Start the outbound flow

Choose one of these options:

#### <Icon size="5" icon="fa-sharp fa-solid fa-square-1" /> Start from the GUI (Control Panel)

In `manage.voximplant.com`, open your application, go to **Routing**, choose the rule that points to your outbound scenario, then start it with `script_custom_data` that includes destination and caller ID.

<video src="https://files.buildwithfern.com/voximplant.docs.buildwithfern.com/d069fdc3a9286e112cf236e82fee42ec15d7853a5c29da2ac8db6001ac0e6bb5/docs/assets/getting-started/manage-run-rule.mp4" width="100%" autoPlay loop playsInline muted controls />

#### <Icon size="5" icon="fa-sharp fa-solid fa-square-2" /> Start from CLI (Management API)

Use `curl` to call `StartScenarios` and pass the same `script_custom_data` JSON payload from your terminal.

```bash title="CLI example via StartScenarios"
curl -X POST "https://api.voximplant.com/platform_api/StartScenarios/" \
  --data-urlencode "account_id=$VOX_ACCOUNT_ID" \
  --data-urlencode "api_key=$VOX_API_KEY" \
  --data-urlencode "rule_id=$VOX_RULE_ID" \
  --data-urlencode "script_custom_data={\"destination\":\"+15551234567\",\"callerId\":\"+15557654321\"}"
```

If using the management API via `curl` or one of the [management API Clients](https://voximplant.com/docs/guides/management-api/basics#api-clients),
you will need to [configure an API key](https://manage.voximplant.com/settings/service_accounts?_ga=2.264241679.1608268282.1771956490-551602791.1771956490)
and create an [authorization token](https://voximplant.com/docs/guides/management-api/authorization).

### <Icon icon="fa-duotone fa-list-check" /> Outbound checklist

* Listen for the `AppEvents.Started` entry point
* Use `VoxEngine.customData()` to retrieve any information needed for the scenario, such as destination and caller ID to use
* Place the channel-specific call using one of the call methods (`callPSTN`, `callUser`, `callSIP`, `callWhatsappUser`)
* Listen for key call events (`Disconnected`, `Failed`, etc.) and handle as needed
* Create the Voice AI connector after `CallEvents.Connected`
* Bridge media between call and connector:
  * Use `VoxEngine.sendMediaBetween(...)` for simple two-party bridging
  * Alternatively use `call.sendMediaTo(...)` and `connector.sendMediaTo(...)` for more complex pipelines
* Invoke methods and handle events from the connector to drive your Voice AI logic

#### <icon icon="fa-duotone fa-solid fa-link" /> More information:

* [Calls and Sessions concepts](https://voximplant.com/docs/getting-started/basic-concepts/calls-and-sessions)
* [Processing calls in scenarios guide](https://voximplant.com/docs/guides/calls/scenarios)
* [VoxEngine Call class](https://voximplant.com/docs/references/voxengine/call)