# Phone Announcement

> Symcon documentation · English · generated on 2026-09-26  
> Index: https://www.symcon.de/en/llms.txt

Source: https://www.symcon.de/en/service/documentation/module-reference/notifications/phone-announcement/

_Requires Symcon >= 5.5_

The Telephone Announcement Module allows the convenient linking of a VoIP instance and a text-to-speech instance (Polly) to call a phone number and output a text when the call is answered. In addition, the module can respond to DTMF tones and output other texts.

### Scope of functions
- Calling a phone number and outputting a text
- Evaluating DTMF tones
- Output of further texts on an existing connection

### prerequisites
- Installed VoIP instance
- Installed [text-to-speech instance (AWS Polly)](ttsawspolly.md)

### Software Installation
- Using the [Module Store](https://www.symcon.de/en/service/documentation/components/management-console/module-store/), install the 'Phone Announcement module.

### Setting up the instances in IP-Symcon
- Under 'Add Instance' the 'Phone Announcement' module can be found using the quick filter.
  - More information about adding instances in the [Instances documentation](https://www.symcon.de/en/service/documentation/basics/instances/)

#### Configuration Page:

| Name                            | Description                                                         |
| ------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| VoIP instance                   | The VoIP instance that manages the calls                            |
| Text-to-Speech instance (Polly) | The text-to-speech instance that converts the texts into audio data |
| Duration until disconnected     | The maximum time to wait for a call to be answered                  |

### status variables
The status variables/categories are created automatically. Deleting individual ones can lead to malfunctions.

#### Statusvariables

| Name         | Type   | Description                                                                                                                                                               |
| ------------ | ------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Phone Number | String | The phone number that will be called when "Start Call" is pressed                                                                                                         |
| Text         | String | The text that will be output initially when "Start call" is pressed. If this variable is switched while a connection is established, the new text will be output directly |
| DTMF Tone    | String | If a DTMF tone is used during the call, it will be stored in this variable                                                                                                |
| Start Call   | Script | Starts a call with the currently set phone number and the current text                                                                                                    |

## TA_StartCall

Source: https://www.symcon.de/en/service/documentation/module-reference/notifications/phone-announcement/ta-startcall/

`void TA_StartCall(int $InstanceID)`

_Requires Symcon >= 5.5_

**Parameters**

- `$InstanceID` (int): ID of the Instance

**Returns** (void): The function does not return any value.

ID of the Instance

**Example**

```text
TA_StartCall(12345);
```

## TA_StartCallEx

Source: https://www.symcon.de/en/service/documentation/module-reference/notifications/phone-announcement/ta-startcallex/

`void TA_StartCallEx(int $InstanzID, string $Telefonnummer, string $Text)`

_Requires Symcon >= 5.5_

Starts a call to a phone number and outputs the text

**Parameters**

- `$InstanzID` (int): ID of the Instance
- `$Telefonnummer` (string): Phone number to call
- `$Text` (string): Text to be output

**Returns** (void): The function does not return any value.

Text to be output

**Example**

```text
TA_StartCallEx(12345, "+4945130500511", "I love IP-Symcon!");
```