matrix-twilio-bridge

An alternative to google voice.
Supports:

• SMS
• MMS (picture messages)
• Group SMS / MMS As of 2022, twilio has dropped support for Group SMS.
• Forward voice calls to other phone numbers. (matrix voip not supported)
• Voicemails as audio attachments and text in your matrix client.

Install

Create a system user:

useradd -r -s /usr/bin/nologin matrix-twilio

Create a directory:

mkdir /var/lib/matrix-twilio
chown matrix-twilio /var/lib/matrix-twilio

Checkout:

cd /var/lib/matrix-twilio
sudo -u matrix-twilio git clone https://github.com/bw3/matrix-twilio-bridge.git .

Install in virtualenv:

sudo -u matrix-twilio virtualenv venv
sudo -u matrix-twilio venv/bin/pip install .

Copy systemd service file, and edit as needed:

sudo cp systemd/matrix-twilio.service /etc/systemd/system/

If using a reverse proxy, set it up now. https://gunicorn.org/#deployment

Generate Config Files:

sudo -u matrix-twilio venv/bin/matrix-twilio-bridge generate-config

Add /var/lib/matrix-twilio/registration.yaml to the list of app_service_config_files in /etc/synapse/homeserver.yaml

Enable and start the systemd service:

sudo systemctl enable --now matrix-twilio

Edit crontab:

sudo -u matrix-twilio crontab -e

And add this line:

15 * * * * /var/lib/matrix-twilio/venv/bin/matrix-twilio-bridge cron

User config

Start a direct message with @twiliobot, and type config. This will give you a link to your config page.

Twilio config

• Login to your twilio account.
• Copy your SID and auth token into the bridge config page.
• Go to Conversations > Configure > Global Webhooks
• Set Post-Event URL as <base-url>/twilio/conversation
• Check onMessageAdded, and click Save
• Go to Conversations > Configure > Defaults
• Unlock Handle Inbound Messages with Conversations
• Go to Phone Numbers > Manager Numbers > Active Numbers and click on the phone number you want to set up.
• For voice calls, set a webhook for /twilio/call
• For messaging, set to message service and default conversations service
• Default Conversations Service > Integration: Autocreate a Conversation

Incoming Numbers

Forwarding

You can enter up to 10 numbers to forward your calls to. Call forwarding is down in parallel, and the first phone to answer will be used. The check option prevents any automated system from picking up the call. Note that twilio charges extra for the speech option. This could be a voicemail system, or a recording saying that the user is out of the service area. If you are sure that your phone will never automatically pick up, you can set the check option to None.

Voicemail

You can set custom text to speach message.

Create SMS Conversation

This will create a room with the numbers you specifiy. This can be a 1 to 1 or group sms conversation.

Make Call

This allows you to use one of your forwarding numbers to make a call with the correct caller id.

Set Display Name

Set the display name for a given phone number.