Getting Started

Quickstart (dashboard)

From signup to your first reviewed call in five guided steps: create an agent, talk to it, get a phone number, place a real call, and review the graded result.

New accounts land in a five-step setup wizard, with a coach that tracks your progress and guided tours on every page. This quickstart mirrors that wizard, so you can follow along here or just click Next in the app.

1. Create your agent

   The wizard opens the agent builder with a draft agent already created. Three things to do here:

   1. Write your prompt. The prompt is the script for your voice agent — describe, in any language, who the agent is and how it should handle the call. Call actions like transfers, keypad presses, and hang-ups are plain prompt lines too; no separate configuration.
   2. Talk to your agent. Click Talk and say hello — the agent answers right in the browser (it'll ask for mic access).
   3. Deploy your changes. Every edit autosaves to your draft, but drafts aren't live until you click Deploy. Each deploy is snapshotted in the History tab, so you can restore any version later.

   On the Config tab you can also pick an engine tier (cost vs. speed vs. intelligence), set the primary and additional languages, and attach connected apps and API connections. The builder shows your all-in per-minute rate live as you change settings. Full detail: Build your first voice agent.

2. Set up billing

   ThunderPhone is pay-as-you-go: calls draw from your org's balance at the agent's per-minute rate — no subscriptions, no seats. Under Organization → Billing Settings:

   1. Add a payment method. A card unlocks top-ups and phone numbers. It's only charged when you add funds — never automatically.
   2. Load at least $3.00 to start making real calls. Funds never expire.

   Optionally flip on auto top-up (threshold, refill amount, and an optional monthly spending limit) so a call never dies mid-sentence. Full detail: Add funds and turn on auto top-up.

3. Add a phone number

   On Phone Numbers, click Add number. Two paths:

   • Demo number — a real U.S. number, live in seconds. It costs $1/month plus a 1¢/minute surcharge, is inbound-only, and answers with a short spoken disclaimer — perfect for a first test.
   • Connect VoIP provider — import numbers you already own (recommended for production).

   Provisioning auto-routes the number to your agent; the Inbound select on the number row shows (and changes) who answers. Full detail: Get a phone number.

4. Run a simulation

   Back in the agent builder, click Simulation. An AI caller rings your number and has a real conversation with your agent — generate a caller scenario with AI or write your own, approve the charge, and place the call. A floating activity pill shows the call happening live. (Or just dial your number from your own phone — that counts too.) Full detail: Simulate a call.

5. View your call

   Every call lands in Call History, newest first. Open the top row — your simulation. If it's still in progress you can listen in live and even whisper instructions only your agent hears. Once it ends, read the transcript turn by turn and scrub the recording waveform. Full detail: Review, listen to, and coach your calls.

Next steps#