☎️ A programable button using Azure Functions and Twilio to trigger a fake call ☎️
Have you ever wished you could magically get a call in the middle of an awkward social situation? Then you've come to the right place!
- Sample TwiML
- The code needed to run and create your own fake bf/gf/cousin/friend/coworker Azure Functions
- MP3s you may use for the audio of your fake call
- A Flic Button
- An Azure Account- you can get a free account here
- A Twilio account & phone number
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Create a resource in Azure & create a Webhook + API Trigger. For detailed instructions check out this page. You can also use the local.settings.json file to run locally.
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Connect your GitHub account with Azure. You can do this by navigating to the Platform Features tab on your Azure Functions Overview page. Select GitHub under Source Control, and App Service Kudu build server as your Build Provider. Next, select the Oragnization, Repository, and Brand from the dropdown menus under Configure. Finally, click Finish to deploy! The Microsoft Docs have step by step instructions on this with visuals here
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Create a Twilio account & phone number (you can use a trial, but your meesages will have trial messaging in them)
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Create your 2 Azure Functions for your call & messages. You can repurpose the code I have provided, using your Twilio credentials, Twilio phone number, your phone number, custom message, and/or MP3s. You will need to update your Twilio Auth token, Twilio SID, as well as your phone numbers to run this locally. I highly suggest using your *Applications settings in Azure to set up encrypted environment variables (to ensure your SID, token, and phone numbers don't get accidentally shared and abused). You can learn more about App Settings and Deployment in the Microsoft Docs!
Note: The TwiML used for the message itself has been provided for the MP3 + custom robot message voice. TwiML and MP3s can be hosted through Twilio in the Assets and TwiML Bins section under Runtime.
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Add your function URL to your Flic Button app under 'Internet Request'.
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Create a contact for your fake human in your phone, using the Twilio number you created earlier.
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Push your Flic Button! (If you need music for inspo, try this 🙃🎶)
🚨 Need more visuals? Stuck? You can read my blog post here for a more verbose version. 🚨
Nope- it can be whatever you want! Your dad, a friend, your cousin, Cher- you can upload and record whatever MP3 you wish!
If you'd like to have the recordings and texts play seamlessly, yes. Otherwise, you'll get a message about your trail account before each message.
Yes- you can get a free account here
No, I built this because I'm an ambivert. You can read all about that here.