Ng-init via function

As you know, it is possible to initialize objects as follows:

<div ng-init="friends = [{name:'John', phone:'555-1276'},
                         {name:'Mary', phone:'800-BIG-MARY'},
                         {name:'Mike', phone:'555-4321'},
                         {name:'Adam', phone:'555-5678'},
                         {name:'Julie', phone:'555-8765'},
                         {name:'Juliette', phone:'555-5678'}]"></div>

Is it possible to define object similar like this but via a function:

<div ng-init="init()">

My aim is actually taking the objects from an API and show them in a list via ng-repeat