rioastamal.net

Sorry if there are any spelling or grammatical errors, I’m learning English… :)

This afternoon while searching about XML for my assignment, I came across to the term “VoiceXML”. Well, that term sounds strange to me but some of you may have heard it or even have been master on VoiceXML :). “How can an XML structure produce some voice?” is a question that came across my head. According to the wikipedia the definition of VoiceXML is:

VoiceXML (VXML) is the W3C’s standard XML format for specifying interactive voice dialogues between a human and a computer. It allows voice applications to be developed and deployed in an analogous way to HTML for visual applications

So, what things that we need to build our first telephone application. Not much here the list:

• Account at voxeo.com
• A web server to host your VoiceXML document
• Skype software
• Text Editor

Here step-by-step how to build your first telephone application.

1. Create an account at voxeo.com

Voxeo.com is a company that provide IVR (Interactive Voice Response) hosting and all related voice application including VoIP. Start creating account by clicking this link evolution.voxeo.com. Complete all the steps to get an account.

2. Install Skype Software

Skype is the most popular VoIP application. Download the latest version at Skype.com, in this tutorial I’m using Skype for Ubuntu Linux.

3. Create the VoiceXML file

Using your favorite text editor create a new file and write code below:

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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<vxml version = "2.1" >
  <form>
    <block>
    <prompt>
      Hello there, enjoy my blog.
    </prompt>
    </block>
  </form>
</vxml>

Save the file, in this example I named the file “hello.xml”.

Code above shows that we use VoiceXML version 2.1. Keep in mind all tags like <form>, <block> are differ from HTML tag. Sentences inside prompt tag will be read by the voxeo IVR.

4. Upload the VoiceXML file

The next step is to upload the file to web server so Voxeo server can grab and read the file. If you don’t have a hosting account, byethost.com is a good and free web hosting service you may try. After uploading the file just remember the location, in this example my VoiceXML file located at http://rioastamal.net/voice/hello.xml.

5. Creating the Application at Voxeo

After logged into voxeo member area, follow these steps:

1. click Account => Application Manager
2. click Add Application
3. On Development Platform choose Prophecy 8.0 - VoiceXML 2.1
4. click Next
5. Fill “Hello Blog” at Application Name
6. Fill “http://your-url-to/hello.xml” at Start URL 1
7. click “Create Application”

Click the “Phone Numbers” tab to get your application phone number. Take a look at Skype VoIP phone number. That is number you should call from skype in order to test your application.

6. Testing the Application

The last step is testing our application. Testing the application is easy, we just need to call the number from Skype or other VoIP software. Let’s try it:

1. Open Skype
2. Click “Call ordinary phones”
3. Enter your Application phone number
4. Click dial (green phone button)
5. You should hear sentences that you wrote before.

If you want to test my application, just dial this number on your Skype +99000936 9991424802. You may ask, how much the charge when calling these number from skype? The good news is Voxeo and Skype have been partnership. So, you don’t have to pay when calling your application :).

References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VoiceXML
http://www.voicexml.org/
http://www.vxml.org/