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Can someone explain what "inbound call" and "outbound call" mean in this context? Do they mean the "up" and "down" duplex components of a single call, i.e. it's

Can someone explain what "inbound call" and "outbound call" mean in this context? Do they mean the "up" and "down" duplex components of a single call, i.e. it's now cheaper if you only listen when people call in and don't say anything back?

icey 16y ago
An inbound call is when someone calls your application. An outbound call is when your application calls someone.
- tomstuart 16y ago
  Thanks; that's what I originally thought, but something about the wording of this article confused me. Outbound calls that result from inbound calls? I guess this just reflects the way a lot of applications tend to use Twilio's service.
  - icey 16y ago
    Yeah, that's really one of the refreshing things about what Twilio has to offer - they've gone through pains to simplify all parts of the process. The pricing is straightforward, the API is easy to use, and they have gotten really good at community response. It really sets them apart from most of the other Asterix service providers around.
    - dmor 16y ago
      Wow, thanks -- awesome quote, you can write our press release anytime ;)
runT1ME 16y ago
Yeah, I also didn't understand if they meant outbound legs or outbound calls.
- timmaah 16y ago
  If I follow correctly.. it may be more expensive in some cases. Their email states the outbound <Dial> is 2cents a minute. Take the case of an minute long inbound call that uses <Dial> for two short outbound <1 min calls. How much does that call cost? Previous it was 3cents, does it now cost 1 cent, or do those outbound calls now add to the price making it a 5cent call? (1 in + 2*2out)
  - Pyrodogg 16y ago
    If they split it up, they didn't split it up so you could combine the calls arbitrarily again. So, I'm leaning toward the latter. But, I don't work there so maybe someone else will have a better answer.
    - dmor 16y ago
      I tried to explain the various use cases and call legs in our blog post: http://blog.twilio.com/2010/09/announcing-new-pricing-for-the-twilio-voice-api.html http://blog.twilio.com/2010/09/announcing-new-pricing-for-th... let me know if this helps, if not I'll work on a better explanation
      - timmaah 16y ago
        That explains it. So price raise in my case. Doh.. no worries. You guys are worth it.
  - johns 16y ago
    It would be 1c/min for the duration of the call, and 2c/min for the duration of each dial.

icey 16y ago

An inbound call is when someone calls your application. An outbound call is when your application calls someone.

tomstuart 16y ago
Thanks; that's what I originally thought, but something about the wording of this article confused me. Outbound calls that result from inbound calls? I guess this just reflects the way a lot of applications tend to use Twilio's service.
- icey 16y ago
  Yeah, that's really one of the refreshing things about what Twilio has to offer - they've gone through pains to simplify all parts of the process. The pricing is straightforward, the API is easy to use, and they have gotten really good at community response. It really sets them apart from most of the other Asterix service providers around.
  - dmor 16y ago
    Wow, thanks -- awesome quote, you can write our press release anytime ;)

runT1ME 16y ago

Yeah, I also didn't understand if they meant outbound legs or outbound calls.

timmaah 16y ago
If I follow correctly.. it may be more expensive in some cases. Their email states the outbound <Dial> is 2cents a minute. Take the case of an minute long inbound call that uses <Dial> for two short outbound <1 min calls. How much does that call cost? Previous it was 3cents, does it now cost 1 cent, or do those outbound calls now add to the price making it a 5cent call? (1 in + 2*2out)
- Pyrodogg 16y ago
  If they split it up, they didn't split it up so you could combine the calls arbitrarily again. So, I'm leaning toward the latter. But, I don't work there so maybe someone else will have a better answer.
  - dmor 16y ago
    I tried to explain the various use cases and call legs in our blog post: http://blog.twilio.com/2010/09/announcing-new-pricing-for-the-twilio-voice-api.html http://blog.twilio.com/2010/09/announcing-new-pricing-for-th... let me know if this helps, if not I'll work on a better explanation
    - timmaah 16y ago
      That explains it. So price raise in my case. Doh.. no worries. You guys are worth it.
- johns 16y ago
  It would be 1c/min for the duration of the call, and 2c/min for the duration of each dial.