OBD Voice Broadcast in India: Uses, Rules and Setup
Short answer: OBD (outbound dialer) voice broadcast places automated calls to many numbers and plays a recorded or generated message, optionally asking the listener to press a key. Businesses use it for reminders, alerts, surveys and lead follow-up. In India, voice campaigns must respect DND preferences, permitted calling hours and registration rules, so get the compliance set up before you dial.
This guide covers when OBD fits, what to prepare and how a campaign runs. For the product, see the Voice API and outbound dialer API; for costs, voice call pricing.
Last updated: 2 November 2026.
When voice broadcast fits
| Use case | Why voice | Add |
|---|---|---|
| Payment or EMI reminder | Reaches people who miss messages | Press 1 to get a payment link by SMS or WhatsApp |
| Appointment confirmation | Direct and hard to ignore | Press 1 confirm, 2 reschedule |
| Delivery or service alert | Time-sensitive | Press 1 to speak to support |
| Survey or feedback | Quick keypad responses | Short question set |
| Event invitation | Personal reach for local events | Press 1 to RSVP |
| OTP fallback | When SMS is not read | Voice OTP. See Voice OTP API |
How a campaign runs
Confirm consent and the number list
Call people who agreed to be contacted or who have an existing relationship, and remove numbers that opted out.Check DND and permitted hours
Voice campaigns follow TRAI rules on DND and calling hours. See DND compliance in India.Prepare the message and keypad options
Keep the message short, say who is calling first, and offer at most two or three choices.Schedule and set retry rules
Choose calling windows and how many times to retry unanswered calls.Capture responses and follow up
Store keypad answers, send a WhatsApp or SMS follow-up, and review call reports. See IVR call flow examples.
Good practice
- Identify your business in the first few seconds.
- Never use OBD for unsolicited marketing to numbers on DND.
- Offer an easy way to opt out.
- Check your account's concurrency and throughput limits with your account team before a large campaign.
OBD voice broadcast questions
What is OBD calling?
OBD stands for outbound dialer. It places automated calls to a list of numbers and plays a prepared message.
Can I use OBD for promotional calls?
Promotional voice calls are regulated in India, including DND and permitted hours. Get advice on the rules for your use case before running promotional campaigns.
Can listeners respond?
Yes. They can press keys to confirm, reschedule or be connected to an agent, if the campaign includes those options.
Can I send an SMS after the call?
Yes. A keypad response can trigger an SMS or WhatsApp message with details or a link.
How is OBD priced?
Usually by call duration or pulse plus any number charges. See the voice pricing page and ask for a quote based on your volume.
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