How to Use Your Own Phone Number with Kalimna

Many businesses already have a phone number that customers know and trust. The good news? You don't need to give it up to use Kalimna. This guide shows you how to connect your existing business number to your Arabic and English AI phone agents.

Kalimna offers three flexible options: buy a new number directly on the platform (where regulations allow), verify your own number for outbound calls only, or integrate a full SIP trunk for complete inbound and outbound routing. Each option serves different business needs, from quick outbound setups to enterprise telephony integration.

For businesses in Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman, keeping your existing phone number means customers continue calling the number they trust—whether it's a clinic in Doha, a real estate office in Dubai, a restaurant in Riyadh, or an e-commerce brand in Kuwait City—while you upgrade to AI-powered call handling behind the scenes.

Watch the Tutorial on Using Your Own Phone Number

Follow along with this comprehensive video walkthrough presented by Salma from Kalimna AI:

💡 Tip: Watch the video while following the written steps below for the best learning experience.

Overview: Three Ways to Connect a Phone Number

Kalimna provides three flexible options for connecting phone numbers to your AI assistants. Choose the one that best fits your business needs:

Option 1: Buy a Number on Kalimna

Best for: Quick setup with minimal configuration

Purchase a phone number directly through the Kalimna platform. This is the simplest option, but availability depends on local regulations—some countries don't allow third-party number sales.

Option 2: Use Your Own Number for Outbound Calls

Best for: Outbound-only campaigns with existing numbers

Verify your existing business number so it appears as the caller ID when your AI assistant makes outbound calls. Note: This option does not handle incoming calls to that number.

Option 3: Integrate Your Own SIP Trunk

Best for: Full telephony integration with existing providers

Connect your existing SIP trunk provider to Kalimna for complete inbound and outbound call routing through your current telephony contract. This is the enterprise-grade option used by businesses with established telecom relationships.

Step 1 – Open the "Your Phone Numbers" Section

Log into your Kalimna dashboard and navigate to "Your phone numbers" in the left-side menu. This is the central hub where all numbers linked to your account are managed.

From this screen, you'll be able to choose which option you want to use.

Option 1 – Buy a Number on Kalimna (Where Available)

In some countries, you can purchase a phone number directly through Kalimna's platform. However, telecommunications regulations in many regions restrict who can sell phone numbers.

If this option is available in your country:

1. Click the option to buy a number
2. Choose your country and area code
3. Select from available numbers
4. Complete the purchase

The number will immediately be available to assign to your AI assistants.

If this option is NOT available: Don't worry—you have two other excellent options below (verify your own number or integrate a SIP trunk).

Option 2 – Use Your Own Number for Outbound Calls

This option allows you to show your existing business number as caller ID when your AI assistant makes outbound calls. It's simple to set up but only works for outbound—incoming calls to that number won't be routed to Kalimna.

When to Use This Option:

• You're running outbound campaigns (lead qualification, follow-ups, reminders)
• You want callers to see your familiar business number on their caller ID
• You don't need to route inbound calls through Kalimna (you have a separate system for that)
• You want the simplest setup with minimal technical complexity

Step-by-Step: Verify Your Number for Outbound

1. Click "Use Your Number"

From the "Your phone numbers" screen, click "Use your number". A verification window will open.

2. Enter Your Phone Number

Type in the business phone number you want to verify. Include the country code (e.g., +974 for Qatar, +971 for UAE, +966 for Saudi Arabia).

3. Click "Call Me Now"

After entering your number, click "Call me now" to start the verification process. Two things will happen simultaneously:

• A 6-digit code appears on your screen
• You receive a phone call from Kalimna's verification system

4. Enter the Code via DTMF

Answer the call. You'll hear an automated voice asking you to enter the 6-digit code. Using your phone's keypad (DTMF tones), type in the code you see on screen.

Make sure to enter all six digits carefully—mistakes will require starting over.

5. Verification Complete

Once you've entered the code correctly:

• The automated call will hang up
• Your number is now verified and connected for outbound calls
• The number appears in your phone numbers list in the interface

You can now assign this number to your AI assistants for outbound campaigns. When your AI agent calls customers, they'll see your verified business number on their caller ID.

Option 3 – Integrate Your Own SIP Trunk (Inbound & Outbound)

SIP trunk integration is the enterprise solution for businesses that want complete control over their telephony. This option supports both inbound and outbound calls through your existing provider.

What Is a SIP Trunk?

In simple terms, a SIP trunk is a way to connect your telephony provider to Kalimna over the internet. Instead of traditional phone lines, calls are routed digitally through your SIP provider to Kalimna's platform.

When to Use SIP Trunk Integration:

• You already have a contract with a telephony provider (like Twilio, Vonage, local telecom companies)
• You need both inbound and outbound calls routed through Kalimna
• You want to keep your existing phone number(s) and provider
• You need enterprise-grade reliability and control
• You're in a regulated industry requiring specific telecom compliance

Let's walk through the complete SIP trunk setup process.

Choose the SIP Trunk Type

Click "Integrate SIP trunk" to open the configuration form. The first choice you'll make is the trunk type:

SIP Extension (Most Common)

Choose this when: Your SIP provider gave you an extension or account number with username and password credentials.

This is the typical setup for most business SIP accounts. Your provider assigns you something like extension "1000" or "1001" and provides login credentials.

Phone Number (DID)

Choose this when: You're connecting a direct phone number from your provider.

DID (Direct Inward Dialing) numbers are directly assigned phone numbers without extensions. This is less common for SIP trunk setups.

If you're unsure: Most businesses using SIP trunk registration with credentials should choose "SIP Extension."

Enter Your SIP Extension

In the SIP extension field, enter the extension or account number your SIP provider assigned to you. This is typically a number like:

• 1000
• 1001
• ext_12345

This tells Kalimna which line to register on your provider's system. If you're not sure what your extension is, check your SIP provider's account dashboard or contact their support.

Authentication Setup (Username & Password)

The Authentication section is where you provide the login credentials Kalimna will use to connect to your SIP trunk.

Username

Enter the username provided by your SIP provider. This might be:

• The same as your extension (e.g., 1000)
• Your account email
• A specific SIP username (e.g., user_12345)

Password

Enter the password or SIP secret provided by your provider. Keep this secure and don't share it publicly.

Kalimna uses these credentials to register with your SIP trunk, allowing it to send and receive calls on your behalf.

Configure Outbound Settings

Outbound settings control how Kalimna places calls from your number to customers.

SIP Address

This is the server address of your SIP provider. It looks like:

• sip.yourprovider.com
• us-west.sipprovider.net
• trunk.example.com

Enter only the domain/hostname—no http:// or sip: prefix, and no port number unless your provider specifically requires it.

You'll find this in your SIP provider's configuration documentation or account dashboard.

Fixed Outbound IP Address (Optional)

Some SIP providers have IP whitelisting security—they only accept calls from specific IP addresses.

• If your provider requires IP whitelisting: Enable this switch and you'll see Kalimna's outbound IP address. Copy it and add it to your provider's whitelist/firewall settings.
• If your provider doesn't mention IP whitelisting: Leave this disabled.

Outbound Calling Number Format

Different SIP providers expect phone numbers in different formats when making calls. Choose the format your provider requires:

• International with + (e.g., +974…, +971…): Most common and recommended default
• International without + (e.g., 974…, 971…): Some providers strip the + symbol
• National format: Local-style numbers if you only call within one country and your provider expects that

If you're unsure: Start with "International with +" as it's the most universally compatible. Check your provider's dialing rules if you encounter issues.

Configure Inbound Settings

Inbound settings control how calls to your number get routed from your provider to Kalimna.

Our SIP Address

This is the Kalimna SIP domain where your provider should send incoming calls. You'll see this value displayed in the form.

What to do with it:

1. Copy this Kalimna SIP address
2. Log into your SIP provider's dashboard
3. Find the inbound routing or call forwarding settings
4. Configure your provider to route calls to this Kalimna address

The exact steps depend on your provider—check their documentation for "inbound routing" or "call forwarding to SIP URI."

Authorization Type for Inbound

Choose how Kalimna will authenticate incoming calls from your provider:

IP Address Authentication

Choose this if: Your provider supports IP-based authentication.

Kalimna will accept calls based on the source IP address. You'll need to whitelist Kalimna's IP addresses in your provider's settings.

Username and Password Authentication

Choose this if: Your provider uses registration credentials for both inbound and outbound.

Kalimna will accept inbound calls using the same username and password you entered in the Authentication section above.

Recommendation: If your provider documentation mentions "IP whitelisting" or "IP-based auth," choose IP address. Otherwise, username and password is safer and more common.

Save Your SIP Trunk Configuration

After filling in all the fields, review everything carefully:

• SIP extension is correct
• Username and password match your provider's credentials
• SIP address is accurate
• Outbound number format is appropriate
• Inbound routing is configured correctly

Then click "Add SIP number" to save and register the trunk.

Cancel closes the window without saving if you need to exit.

After saving, your SIP trunk will appear in your phone numbers list. You can now assign it to AI assistants so they can send and receive calls through your provider.

Which Option Should You Choose?

Still not sure which option is right for you? Here's a quick decision guide:

For most Gulf businesses (clinics, real estate, restaurants, hotels, e-commerce, professional services), SIP trunk integration is preferred when they already have established telephony contracts with local or international providers. It provides full control and flexibility while maintaining regulatory compliance.

What's Next?

You've successfully learned how to connect your existing business phone number to Kalimna—whether through outbound verification or full SIP trunk integration. Your AI assistants can now call from (and potentially receive calls to) the number your customers know and trust.

Recommended Next Steps: