telephony

Send SMS/MMS, poll inbound messages, and place outbound calls via Twilio.

Updated May 4, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/JamesFincher/gengar --skill telephony-jamesfincher
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: telephony
Source: https://github.com/JamesFincher/gengar/tree/main/optional-skills/productivity/telephony
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/JamesFincher/gengar --skill telephony-jamesfincher

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes scripts (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

Telephony enables practical phone workflows—SMS/MMS, direct calls, outbound AI calls, and inbox polling—without modifying Gengar’s core toolchain.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Twilio number ownership: buy, persist, and reuse an agent-owned number across sessions.
  • SMS/MMS sending and inbox polling: send from the owned number and retrieve inbound texts later via REST polling and checkpoints.
  • Outbound calling paths: place Twilio direct calls using generated TwiML plus AI calls via Bland.ai or Vapi (with an optional Twilio->Vapi import workflow).

Quick Start

Use the telephony skill to diagnose your current setup by running: "python3 /path/to/telephony/scripts/telephony.py diagnose".

Frequently Asked Questions about telephony

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I send SMS messages using Twilio in my agent workflow?

To send SMS messages using Twilio, the telephony skill provisions an agent-owned phone number, validates inputs against safety rules, and executes message sending through CLI scripts. It stores credentials and state locally to persist number ownership across recurring notification workflows.

Can I make outbound AI voice calls through Twilio?

Yes, outbound AI voice calls through Twilio are supported by integrating with Bland.ai or Vapi. The telephony skill provides provider-specific CLI operations to place AI calls, including an optional Twilio to Vapi import workflow for automated voice interactions.

What is the best way to retrieve inbound Twilio messages without using webhooks?

Retrieving inbound Twilio messages without webhooks is handled through REST API inbox polling. The telephony skill uses checkpoints to fetch inbound texts later, suiting recurring notification and interaction workflows that need later retrieval rather than real-time gateway access.

Does this Twilio integration support MMS as well as SMS?

Yes, the Twilio integration supports MMS as well as SMS sending. The telephony skill validates inputs and applies safety guardrails before sending multimedia or text messages from your agent-owned Twilio phone number.

How do I provision and persist a Twilio phone number for recurring use?

To provision and persist a Twilio phone number, the telephony skill buys a number and stores credentials in local environment and state files. This enables consistent number reuse across sessions for your outbound calling and texting workflows.

Do I need real-time webhooks to use Twilio for agent notifications?

No, you do not need real-time webhooks to use Twilio for agent notifications. The telephony skill satisfies recurring notification workflows by polling for inbound messages and storing state locally, avoiding the need for real-time webhook-based gateways.