Offer AI voice agents as a billable service
You can now add AI voice agents to your cloud PBX and SIP trunking services and gain an additional revenue stream with the new Voice AI Agents (Apifonica) module available via the Add-on Mart.
Your customers can configure AI agents in Apifonica’s no-code voicebot builder (defining conversation scenarios, the knowledge base, and how the agents handle caller requests) and then assign them to phone numbers or extensions in a self-care portal, such as the CloudPBX Self-Care Portal. When a call comes in, the agent responds in real time based on its configuration.
Set your own rates on top of the wholesale price from Apifonica and charge per minute, or bundle this service into a subscription. Use the revenue calculator to estimate how much additional profit AI voice traffic can bring you.
Example
Owl Telecom offers AI agent calls as part of its cloud PBX services and charges $0.20 per minute. A dental clinic that is an Owl Telecom customer configures an AI agent to schedule appointments and answer callers’ questions about pricing. When a patient calls the clinic and selects the appropriate menu option, the AI agent handles the conversation and books the appointment. Owl Telecom charges the clinic $0.60 for the 3-minute AI-assisted call.
What’s improved?
New revenue stream
Become a white-label provider of AI voice services and generate additional revenue from AI-assisted calls.
Lower call-handling costs for customers
Business customers reduce the cost and effort of handling incoming calls by offloading them to an AI agent.
Find more details here.
Allow AI agents to work with PortaBilling data without server setup
You can now provide access to PortaBilling data for both your own AI agents and your customers’ AI agents without the need to install or run a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server locally. The PortaBilling MCP Server module available via the Add-on Mart allows you to use a MCP server that PortaOne hosts and maintains for you.
The MCP server exposes PortaBilling data as tools organized by entity type – Customer, Product, Service, and others – so an AI agent, such as ChatGPT, Claude Desktop, or your own custom agent, can look up the required data and change the configuration through natural conversation.
Each user’s access follows their existing PortaBilling permissions, so the AI agent can only retrieve or modify what that user is allowed to access.
Example
Owl Telecom provides ABC Company, a new call center, with an AI assistant called Kairo. The Owl Telecom team uses the PortaBilling MCP Server to instantly provide Kairo with access to ABC’s data following the same user rules set for ABC’s human staff. John, the PBX admin at ABC Company, asks Kairo to create extensions for a group of new customer service representatives and provides the names, extension numbers, and products to assign. Kairo completes the setup and confirms how many extensions remain available under the service agreement. When John asks Kairo to pull up an invoice history (data that is outside of John’s permissions), Kairo declines and explains why.
What’s improved?
Faster AI service launch
Launch AI assistants for internal teams or customers without wasting time on MCP server setup.
Controlled access
AI agents follow each user’s existing permissions, so sensitive data stays protected without extra configuration.
Find more details here.
Add personalized voice messages to custom voice applications
You can now build custom voice applications that generate personalized voice messages in real time using the Text-to-Speech (ElevenLabs) Add-on Mart module. This text-to-speech (TTS) functionality improves on pre-recorded prompts as it can instantly use information available only at call time (such as the caller’s name, appointment details, service status updates, or a verification code).
Once your custom voice application retrieves the call-specific data (from a CRM or other system) and composes the message text, it can pass the text to PortaSwitch via the API. PortaSwitch converts it to speech using the ElevenLabs service and plays it to the caller in real time. Synthesized audio is cached automatically, reducing ElevenLabs synthesis costs for repeated messages.
Example
Owl Telecom builds a custom IVR application. A solar panel company uses it to handle calls from existing customers. When a customer calls, the application retrieves the caller’s name and assigned account manager from the CRM and generates a personalized greeting. PortaSwitch synthesizes the message using ElevenLabs and plays it to the caller: “Hello Mark Spencer. Let me connect you to your account manager, Alex Brown.”
What’s improved?
More competitive IVR applications
Offer personalized caller experiences that static, pre-recorded prompts cannot provide.
Find more details here.
Secure Configuration server access with two-factor authentication
You can now enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for Configuration server web interface users, providing additional protection for access to global PortaSwitch configuration. Previously, 2FA was available for PortaBilling admins, resellers, customers, and other entities accessing their portals.
With 2FA enabled, a user must enter a time-based one-time password (OTP) from an authenticator app, such as Google Authenticator, in addition to their regular credentials. Even if the user credentials have been compromised, the unauthorized person can’t access the Configuration server web interface without the OTP.
What’s improved?
Stronger access control
Reduce the risk of unauthorized access to the Configuration server web interface.
Security compliance
Meet security policies and audit requirements that mandate 2FA for system access.
Find more details here.
Send branded OTP verification emails to your customers
Some apps, including PortaPhone, let users sign in with a one-time password (OTP) sent by email. PortaSwitch handles OTP generation and validation out of the box. Previously, however, OTP emails could only be sent using the built-in templates and delivery mechanism, rather than branded and customized email solutions.
Now, PortaSwitch can send an event notification whenever a new OTP is generated, allowing custom middleware (triggered by such notifications) to forward the OTP and user information to an external email delivery platform. This enables you to send OTP emails using your own branded templates – including custom logos, colors, layouts, and social media links – through an email platform such as Brevo or a custom in-house solution.
Example
Owl Telecom offers the PortaPhone app and wants OTP emails to reflect its brand. The admin creates a custom template in the external email platform. When a user opens PortaPhone and enters their phone number, they receive an OTP email with the Owl Telecom logo and brand styling rather than a generic system email. The user enters the received code in the app to complete the sign-in process.
What’s improved?
Trustworthy sign-in emails
Users receive OTP emails that reflect the branding of their service provider, rather than a generic message from an unknown sender.
Find more details here.
Assign tax transaction codes to built-in services directly
Admins can now assign tax transaction codes directly to PortaSwitch default (built-in) services, such as Voice calls, Network access, and Messaging. Previously, built-in services didn’t support tax code assignment, so to apply a tax code, admins first had to create a custom service of the same type.
Example
Owl Telecom uses a third-party taxation system and the built-in Voice calls service in its service catalog. To ensure that voice call charges are taxed, the Owl Telecom admin assigns the appropriate tax transaction code directly to the built-in Voice calls service. At the end of the billing period, the taxation system classifies and taxes voice call charges correctly.
What’s improved?
Simpler taxation setup
Admins can configure taxation for built-in services without extra steps.
Find more details here.
Find accounts faster with more precise status filters
Admins can now filter accounts by whether their services are active or restricted (for example, blocked, suspended, or expired). The new Additional status filter is available on both the Find account page and the customer’s Accounts tab.
The existing Status filter has been renamed to Billing status to better reflect what it shows: the account’s lifecycle stage (open, inactive, or closed).
What’s improved?
More targeted account searches
Admins can quickly locate accounts using more specific status criteria.
Find more details here.
