November 2026 Summaries

OpenClaw can place and receive AI-mediated phone calls when connected to a phone number and calling provider, with options ranging from self-managed integrations to hosted services. Bland promotes its Agent Phone Plan, which provides a dedicated US local number for calling and texting, AI text replies, one simultaneous call, US and Canada coverage, and capped included usage for an introductory $9.99 first month followed by $19.99 monthly. OpenClaw’s official voice-call plugin and the open-source ClawVoice plugin instead require users to supply accounts, numbers, webhooks, and usage payments through providers such as Twilio, Telnyx, or Plivo, while offering more direct control. Other services include Telnyx’s ClawdTalk, with a limited free shared-number plan and paid dedicated-number tiers; ClawCall, which offers shared or reserved numbers; and AgentPhone, which charges separately for numbers and minutes. The appropriate option depends on whether users prioritize a flat-rate managed number, developer control over telephony infrastructure, a ready-made calling agent, pay-per-use pricing, or a free trial. Bland can be connected through an OpenClaw-guided signup process, manual API-key configuration, or an MCP server integration, although payment approval and account setup remain user-controlled.

AI agents such as ChatGPT or Claude can receive phone calls through dedicated-number plans, but inbound calling availability, pricing, capacity, and setup requirements vary among providers. Bland’s Agent Phone Plan costs $9.99 for the first month and $19.99 thereafter, includes one US local number with texting and inbound calling, allows up to 1,000 combined inbound and outbound minutes daily, and supports only one simultaneous call; users must configure the number’s instructions or attach a saved voice agent before sharing it. Its free trial supports outbound calls only from a shared number. ClawCall offers outbound calling on lower-priced shared or reserved-number tiers, while inbound AI answering is limited to its $18.99-per-month Unlimited Reserve Plus plan. AgentLine supports inbound and outbound calls across all hosted plans, with options ranging from one to 12 numbers and included monthly minute allowances, plus overage charges. The comparison emphasizes that Bland may suit users needing one configured number with texting and high daily usage limits, AgentLine may be preferable for multiple numbers, and ClawCall may be useful for agents that initially only need outbound calling.

Grok Bot can be connected to Bland’s AI phone service through a compatible setup, offering a free outbound-call trial using a shared number or a paid Agent Phone Plan with a dedicated US local number that supports outbound and inbound calls and text messaging within plan limits. Users are advised to verify compatibility before purchasing because support for the Phone with Bland template is not confirmed, while developer integrations may require a custom MCP connection using Bland’s server URL and authorization key. The service is presented as separate from Grok Bot’s built-in calling capability, which reportedly allows calls to people or businesses, announces that a virtual assistant is calling, may record calls, and uses temporary provider-issued numbers. Bland’s paid plan can be initiated through Grok Bot signup and Link payment for the first month, after which the account owner must add a card for renewals.

Codex, OpenAI’s coding agent, can be connected to Bland’s Agent Phone Plan to place and receive calls or texts through a US local number, with Codex determining when to call and what to ask while Bland supplies the AI voice, phone infrastructure, and API authentication. The integration uses Bland’s MCP server and requires adding its URL to Codex’s configuration, storing the Bland API key securely in the BLAND_API_KEY environment variable, and restarting Codex; users can also ask Codex to guide them through plan signup and setup, though it cannot make purchases independently. Once connected, users can instruct Codex to call a number, ask a question, and report the outcome, subject to required consent and recommended tool-approval prompts before real-world actions. The plan costs $9.99 for the first month and $19.99 monthly thereafter, includes calling within stated limits, supports US and Canada numbers, permits one simultaneous call, and is limited to 20 calls per hour, 50 per day, 1,000 shared inbound and outbound minutes daily, and 60 minutes per outbound call.

OpenClaw can gain calling and texting capabilities through Telnyx’s ClawdTalk service, Bland’s Agent Phone Plan, ready-made services such as ClawCall, AgentPhone, and Dial, or a self-managed voice-call plugin using Twilio, Telnyx, or Plivo. ClawdTalk offers Free, Starter, and Pro tiers with monthly call-minute, message, and simultaneous-call allowances, while Bland provides one US local number with calls and texts to US and Canadian numbers under daily limits, including 50 calls, 1,000 shared incoming and outgoing minutes, 100 texts, and one concurrent call. ClawdTalk may be more suitable for users needing multiple simultaneous calls, particularly its Pro tier’s 20-call capacity, whereas Bland emphasizes a flat monthly price and higher daily minute allowance but is limited to one active call. ClawCall is positioned as a low-cost, call-only option, while AgentPhone and Dial offer developer-oriented pay-as-you-go numbers, calling, and messaging. Developers can also configure OpenClaw’s official plugin with their own provider credentials, phone number, and webhook endpoint, gaining features such as task briefs, live conversation steering, and outcome reports. The comparison cautions that published allowances may not reveal all provider limits and recommends selecting a service based on call concurrency, texting needs, geographic coverage, pricing model, and required configuration effort.

Bland’s Agent Phone Plan allows AI assistants such as Claude Code or Codex to initiate signup for a dedicated US phone number, while the account owner must approve the purchase through either a browser-based link flow or a headless Stripe Link wallet flow. The plan costs $9.99 for an owner’s first month and $19.99 monthly thereafter, providing one number for calls and texts to US and Canadian numbers within limits including 20 calls per hour, 50 calls daily, 100 texts daily, and 1,000 combined inbound and outbound minutes per day. The link-based flow supports new and existing Bland accounts and requires the owner to use a temporary link and code, while the headless option is only for new accounts, requires text-message verification and payment approval in Link, and cannot use a Link virtual card. Agents receive API credentials and a phone number only after approval, should not handle payment details directly, and should contact only people who have consented. Bland also offers a free outbound-calling trial using a shared number, a command-line tool for the link-based flow, and notes that canceled plans take effect immediately while the number remains associated with the account.

Muse, Meta’s personal AI agent, can be connected to Bland’s Agent Phone Plan to make calls and send texts from a dedicated US number, then report call outcomes and text replies to the user. Users connect through a Bland API key entered via Muse’s secure credential prompt, or begin Bland sign-up through Muse and complete account approval and payment in a browser; Muse does not handle payment details. The integration uses Bland’s REST API rather than its MCP server, allowing Muse to place calls, send texts, retrieve call details, and provide instructions to Bland’s texting agent. A free Bland option supports outbound calls from a shared number, while the paid plan adds a dedicated number, texting, and incoming calls for $9.99 in the first month and $19.99 monthly afterward. The plan supports US and Canada communications but limits accounts to one simultaneous call, 20 calls per hour, 50 per day, 20 texts per hour, 100 per day, and 1,000 shared incoming and outgoing call minutes daily, with higher-concurrency options available through Bland’s Build plan.

Bland enables AI applications such as ChatGPT, Claude, coding assistants, and custom software to make phone calls through its voice AI, which receives a plain-language task, conducts the call, and returns a summary to the agent. Users can either try outbound calling for free through a shared Bland number or subscribe to the Agent Phone Plan, which provides a dedicated local U.S. number for calls, texts, and callbacks at $9.99 for the first month and $19.99 monthly thereafter. Connections can be made through Bland’s MCP server, REST API, direct sign-in integrations, or API keys, depending on the agent, with setup instructions varying across platforms. Account signup can be initiated by an agent but requires user approval, and some supported agents can use Link-based payments for initial enrollment. The plan is intended for a single agent handling one interaction at a time, with limits on simultaneous calls, call volume, texts, destinations, and total minutes; users needing greater capacity may use Bland’s Build offering. Bland positions its service as a simpler alternative to building a custom voice system with a carrier such as Twilio, while noting that carriers may be preferable for developers requiring full control.

AI assistants can make phone calls when connected to telephony services, either through built-in features such as Google Gemini’s Call for Me or external tools such as Bland’s Agent Phone Plan. Bland provides assistants including ChatGPT, Claude, Codex, OpenClaw, Poke, Meta Muse, and potentially Grok with a dedicated US local number for outbound and inbound calls and texts, generally using an MCP server or API connection, while its free trial uses a shared number without texting or incoming calls. Assistants receive a user’s request, obtain approval before calling, let Bland’s voice AI conduct the conversation, and return a summary afterward; responses depend on information provided by the called party. The plan supports US and Canadian numbers, allows one concurrent call, and includes limits on calls, minutes, and text messages, costing $9.99 for the first month and $19.99 monthly thereafter. The text also notes that some platform compatibility, texting support, and write-action permissions may vary by assistant plan and configuration, while Google’s mobile-based calling feature has separate hardware, location, subscription, and eligibility requirements.