# Get outbound working

} from '../../../components/docs';

[Get a number](https://docs.voicelogica.ai/telephony/) is inbound - a customer dials you. This section is the other direction: the agent places the call. **Try this agent** never proves outbound. A campaign or API call that looks "dead" is usually a missing plan flag, no trunk to dial out on, or a **Draft** campaign.

## Why setup matters

Three things have to be true or nothing rings out:

1. The plan includes **Allow Outbound Calls** - **Subscription & Billing**.
2. A **trunk with numbers** exists - [Get a number](https://docs.voicelogica.ai/telephony/). Outbound spends **AI minutes and VoIP credits**.
3. **This agent** can place calls - **Call handling - Outgoing** is available (not plan-locked).

Then pick a path. Do not start three at once.

## How the pieces connect

| Step | Where | What happens |
|------|--------|----------------|
| 1 | **Subscription & Billing** | **Allow Outbound Calls** is on. |
| 2 | **Telephony - Trunks** | A number to dial *from*. |
| 3 | Agent - **Call handling - Outgoing** | Who speaks first, how long it rings, dropout line. |
| 4 | **Campaigns**, or `POST ./initiate-call` | Who gets called, and when. |

The **Outbound** sub-tab on [Routing](https://docs.voicelogica.ai/telephony/routing/) is only when a second trunk or prefix must win. With one trunk, skip it.

## Open Outbound

The company list is sidebar - **Campaigns**. The agent's behaviour is **Call handling - Outgoing** - not a Campaigns tab.

  <ShotPlaceholder
    src="/assets/outbound-calls/campaigns.png"
    name="ob-campaigns"
    alt="Campaigns empty list with New Campaign"
    capture="Sidebar Campaigns."
  />

Empty state: **No campaigns yet** - campaigns dial leads with an AI agent on a schedule you set, then capture structured results. Status chips at the top track **Active**, **Paused**, **Completed**, and **Draft**.

- **Outgoing** — who speaks, ring, dropout
- **Campaigns** — lists, schedule, Try it on me
- **API** — one call from your system

## Which path

- **A list on a schedule, no code** — turn on **New Campaign** (needs Sidebar - **Campaigns**. [Campaigns](https://docs.voicelogica.ai/outbound-calls/campaigns/).)
- **CRM event, form, missed-call callback** — turn on **initiate-call** (needs [API](https://docs.voicelogica.ai/outbound-calls/api/) - API key with **Calls**, plus a trunk id.)
- **The agent should wait for hello before talking** — turn on **Who speaks first** (needs [Outgoing](https://docs.voicelogica.ai/outbound-calls/outgoing/) - set **Who speaks first?** to **User (Wait for user to speak)**.)

Demo / unpaid workspaces may lock **Outgoing**. [Activate your subscription](https://docs.voicelogica.ai/getting-started/activate-subscription/) first.

## First setup - one test call that is not Try this agent

1. **Confirm inbound already works**

   [Your First Agent](https://docs.voicelogica.ai/getting-started/your-first-agent/) sounds right, and a [production number](https://docs.voicelogica.ai/telephony/) rings this agent. Outbound on a broken greeting just scales the same greeting.

2. **Confirm Allow Outbound Calls and a trunk with numbers**

   **Subscription & Billing**, then **Telephony - Trunks**. No number on the trunk = nothing to show as caller ID.

3. **Open Call handling - Outgoing**

   Set **Who speaks first?** for your use case. [Outgoing](https://docs.voicelogica.ai/outbound-calls/outgoing/).

4. **Place one call**

   Fastest no-code path: [Campaigns](https://docs.voicelogica.ai/outbound-calls/campaigns/) - **+ New Campaign** - pick a purpose (start with **Blank**), one lead, **Try it on me**. Or one [API](https://docs.voicelogica.ai/outbound-calls/api/) `initiate-call`.

     <ShotPlaceholder
       src="/assets/outbound-calls/index-form.png"
       name="index-form"
       alt="Create a new campaign with Blank selected"
       capture="Campaigns New Campaign Blank."
     />

5. **Open Calls**

   You should see an outbound row. If the list is empty, the campaign is still **Draft**, the schedule window is closed, or the plan / trunk is missing.

## Troubleshooting

**Try this agent works but campaigns never dial**

1. **Allow Outbound Calls** is on the plan.
2. A trunk has numbers (**Manage numbers**).
3. **Call handling - Outgoing** is not locked.
4. The campaign status is **Active**, not **Draft**.
5. You are inside the campaign's calling days and hours (and the right time zone).

**The call starts and dies immediately**

Outbound spends AI minutes **and** VoIP credits. Check **Subscription & Billing**. A transfer to an external number uses the same credits.

## Next Steps

[Outgoing](https://docs.voicelogica.ai/outbound-calls/outgoing/) - who speaks first, ring timeout, dropout.  
[Campaigns](https://docs.voicelogica.ai/outbound-calls/campaigns/) - list, schedule, **Try it on me**.  
[API](https://docs.voicelogica.ai/outbound-calls/api/) - one call from your system.