[APP][Pro] WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, Facebook messenger

Apps
1

Have Homey send messages to your own preferred messenger service. You can add multiple services and numbers for everyone in your family.

The app currently supports WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, and Facebook Messenger.

:sparkles: Features

  • Text Messages: Send text messages to all supported platforms.

  • Voice Messages: Start a voice call from a flow (Telegram only). The text will be converted to speech in a selection of languages and voices (Male/Female).

  • Images: Send images directly via flows (Supported for Signal and Facebook Messenger).

  • Group Messages: Send messages to Telegram groups.

Hi all. I was looking for a way to make a Homey app for Signal messenger. After some days work I had it working on my PC and was about to port it to Homey. Unfortunately the Homey app always crashes when it starts up. This is probably caused by the very heavy package that is required to run a full client with all the encryption that Signal has. I tried reducing the package in size, but still Homey keeps crashing (and I used a Homey Pro for my trials).

So for now I have stopped working on a full Signal client for Homey. In stead I found a neat online service that allows Homey to send messages to yourself. Not only via Signal, but also via WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Telegram. It is called CallMeBot .

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It works easy enough from a development perspective. I was able to send a message within a few minutes. Off course turning that into a user friendly app that can be released in the Homey app store is a lot more work :sweat_smile: .

But after a day of work I have a working first version that supports Signal and WhatsApp. I will try to get that released with Athom, and will continue to work on the app to finetune useability and stability, and to add telegram and facebook. I might even add Telegram call (voice), but will have to look first at what it can do exactly.

So stay tuned for more, and let me know if you think this app can be useful to you.

Donate via PayPal

EDIT 1: I just finished adding Facebook Messenger and Telegram :partying_face:
EDIT 2: It is now released in the app store. Have fun with it!
EDIT 3: Voice messages via Telegram is now also released.
EDIT 4: Image sending is finished also (Signal and FB msgr).

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CallMeBot setup instructions

You need to get a personal API key from CallMeBot before using the app. Keep this key secret so only you can send messages to yourself!

VISIT https://www.callmebot.com/ FOR THE LATEST INSTRUCTIONS! (the instructions and/or numbers change sometimes)

:green_square: WhatsApp

  1. Follow the activation steps on Free API to Send Whatsapp Messages - CallMeBot API and add the CallMeBot WhatsApp number shown on that page to your Phone Contacts. Name it “Homey CallMeBot WhatsApp”.
  2. Send the message I allow callmebot to send me messages to the new contact (using WhatsApp).
  3. The bot will answer you with your personal API key.
  4. Add the WhatsApp device in Homey and fill in your phone number including the country code (e.g. +31 6 12345678) and the API key. You can now start sending messages from your flows!

Note: If sending fails with “Your Account is Paused”, send the word resume to the CallMeBot WhatsApp contact.

:blue_square: Signal

  1. Follow the activation steps on Free API to Send Signal Messaging - CallMeBot API and add the CallMeBot Signal number shown on that page to your Phone Contacts. Name it “Homey CallMeBot Signal”.
  2. Send the message I allow callmebot to send me messages to the new contact (using Signal).
  3. The bot will answer you with your personal API key.
  4. Add the Signal device in Homey and fill in your phone number including the country code (e.g. +31 6 12345678) and the API key.

Note: If the bot cannot see your phone number because of your Signal privacy settings, it gives you a UUID instead. Use that UUID in place of your phone number.

:speech_balloon: Facebook Messenger

  1. Start a Facebook Messenger conversation with @api.callmebot (or click here: https://m.me/api.callmebot).
  2. Send the message create apikey to the bot.
  3. The bot will answer you with your personal API key.
  4. Add the Facebook device in Homey and fill in a name for the device and your API key.

:airplane: Telegram (Text Messages)

  1. In Telegram, send /start to @CallMeBot_txtbot (or open Telegram: Launch @CallMeBot_txtbot and tap Start).
  2. Add the Telegram device in Homey and fill in your Telegram username (e.g. @myusername). A phone number does not work.

Note: The Group API key field is only needed for group messages and can otherwise be left empty.

If Homey says CallMeBot may not send messages to you yet, check that you entered your @username and that you sent /start to @CallMeBot_txtbot, then try again.

:busts_in_silhouette: Telegram (Group Messages)

  1. Authorize CallMeBot as described under Telegram (Text Messages) above.
  2. Add @API_CallMeBot to your Telegram group and get the group API key as described on Telegram Group Messages - CallMeBot API
  3. Enter that API key in the Telegram device in Homey, and use the “Send a group message” flow card.

:telephone_receiver: Telegram (Voice Calls)

With Telegram you can start a voice call from a flow. The text (max. 256 characters) is converted to speech in a selection of languages, with a male or female voice. The one-time authorization above (/start to @CallMeBot_txtbot) also allows CallMeBot to call you.

:framed_picture: Images

With Signal and Facebook Messenger you can send images from a flow.

:locked: Data Privacy and Terms of Use

By using this app, you are utilizing the CallMeBot API. Please review their terms of service here: Terms of Service - CallMeBot API

Contact Info CallMeBot service

The CallMeBot service is running on a private server and paid for by donations. If there is any issue with the service please contact them directly:

Telegram: @callmebot_com
Twitter: @callmebot_com
Email: support@callmebot.com
Website: https://callmebot.com

:hot_beverage: Support the Homey app Developer

If you enjoy this app and want to support its ongoing development, please consider buying me a coffee or a beer! Donate via PayPal

3

I would be very happy about such an app. I will post your project in the German forum right away.

4

I think this is a very good idea in principle, but wouldn’t it be better to use the Matrix Messager, because it can do everything CallMeBot can do, but it is extensible and more importantly, open source and can be self hosted.

5

cool. Will definitely check that out. But since I already spent a day on callmebot I will release that now :kissing_heart:

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I know, it should not be understood as criticism. But for me the OpenSource/Self Hosted thought is very important and I use as far as possible no cloud services, so after the moto: “My home is my Castel”.

PS: Matrix was also on my homey-todo list, maybe something can be done with the new Matter protocol, we’ll see …:wink:…

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I looked into it Chris. Very interesting indeed, and one day I would surely like to try using this framework, just as I would one day like to drive a hydrogen fueled car when I am able to produce my own hydrogen at home :wink:

But you mention the most important part, besides being open source, is being able to self host it. Now that is a problem for the average Homey user. The framework and the bridges needed to work with WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, etc. are not lightweight. And furthermore mostly written in Python, a language not supported by Homey. So the self hosting will never be possible with a Homey app. And I do not see the average Homey user installing a server or a rpi for this.

My conclusion: nice for tech savvy HA users on a rpi, but not suited for Homey users without someone creating an online shared service for this. And that would be doing exactly the same as what CallMeBot is doing…

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Looked into this. Looks promising. Any chance it’ll be possible to send messages to a whatsapp group?

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Thx!

Sending to a group is not possible with WhatsApp. But it will be possible for Telegram once I add that to the Homey app.

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There is also a telegram app available in the AppStore

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I know. But it is very easy for me to just add telegram as an option besides the 3 that were not available (whatsapp, signal and facebook).

Besides: with callmebot I can probably create a very easy voice call function that I do not think is possible in the other telegram app.

12

@Gruijter in anticipation of the callmebot app, I requested and received an api code. but now i have already received 2 strange whatsapp messages. does this belong

Screenshot_20210613-104805_WhatsApp
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What do you mean with strange messages? On what messaging service and who is the originator? Edit: I see now you mean whatsapp.

I have no reason to distrust callmebot sending unwanted messages.

But it is important not to share the apikey with anyone, because then it is possible that strangers start sending you messages!

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That would be the next project a Docker based, easy to install and configure “Homey Backend Server”.

As you can see we are not running out of ideas :sweat_smile:

15

I just finished the new verion v1.1.0

  • Added FB Messenger.
  • Added Telegram.
  • Added device display - last sent date/time.
  • New app image.

Screenshot_20210613-143007_Homey
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16

So is it possible to add multiple users for WhatsApp ?

Or send image s to a family group of the house

17

@Gruijter Is it possible that you add the app to the Community App Store please

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Yes. You just need to add every family member seperately in the Homey app.

Not with whatsapp. For Telegram, Facebook and Signal this should be possible once I have time and spirit to add it to the Homey app.

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Yes off course :wink:. I already uploaded it to Athom yesterday, but they have to certify it first. That usually takes a week or so.

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The new version only gives me a spinning icon when i go into settings → Callmebot

Stop start / remove and reinstall from git doesnt help.
Will see what it tells me when i run on console

Ahh,nevermind. missing modules :slight_smile: fixture-stdout’