Last week, I had the pleasure of attending two distinctly different events in London: Capacity Messaging & SMS World and CommCon. These events showcased the contrasting worlds of the messaging industry and real-time video communications, highlighting the challenges and opportunities in uniting these sectors through APIs and CPaaS.
Capacity Messaging & SMS World
Capacity Messaging & SMS World brought together around 350 attendees, predominantly from wholesale telcos and vendors. The discussions were heavily centered around the current state of affairs, grappling with issues like Artificially Inflated Traffic (AIT), regulatory changes, and pricing fluctuations. The atmosphere was one of managing existing challenges and sustaining current business models. While innovation was a topic of interest for some, the majority were deeply entrenched in day-to-day operations, focusing on maintaining their positions in a highly competitive market.
Key Takeaways:
- RCS Growth: Finally seeing rapid growth, especially after Apple’s recent announcement to support it. RCS is typically not seen as an SMS replacement but is being explored for different use cases like advertising.
- SMS: Post-peak according to the analysts, and major concerns remain, including security (AIT, number verification, spoofing etc) and the complications introduced by AI, along with pricing challenges.
- Channel Focus: Much of the discussion was more about channels (SMS, RCS, OTT) than about users, use cases, or customer experience (CX). The telco industry is looking for new revenue streams but is struggling to connect to the developers or innovators building the next generation of communication solutions. Selling CPaaS and solutions is very different from selling bulk SMS!
- Security and Trust: The industry struggles with security and trust issues. A session with regulators from the UK and Denmark highlighted local regulatory efforts, prompting Ira Cohen (MMDSmart) to comment that having 197 different regulations for each country would surely kill the entire industry.
Fireside Chat: CPaaS as the way to address CX requirements
I had the privilege of hosting a fireside chat with Nina Knezevic (Infobip) and Pascal Prot (Legos), where we discussed how CPaaS (omni-channel, beyond simple messaging) is the logical next step to support enterprises looking to improve Customer Experience.
We discussed how regional carrier services are essential for routing messages and voice communications, and how regional differences need to be solved and abstracted to provide developers with a uniform global experience.
We also explored the value of various communication channels (email, voice, SMS, messaging, etc.) and the emerging potential of RCS. Our discussion covered key trends and innovations shaping the future of CPaaS, including Network APIs (GSMA OGI) which provide new opportunities for carriers and MNOs to add value.
CommCon
CommCon hosted a smaller, more intimate group of about 50 IT professionals. Here, the focus shifted towards the future, with an emphasis on real-time video, WebRTC, APIs, and the developer community. The event, organized by Dan Jenkins, featured a pre-conference hackathon that brought together developers to innovate and build new solutions. Dan has been running CommCon for a number of years and has built a loyal group of participants. This year, the event was hosted and sponsored by Cloudflare, which recently launched a worldwide WebRTC STUN network in London and San Francisco.
Key Takeaways:
- WebRTC: While relatively easy to use, it is complex to get completely right, secure, and operational behind every firewall, especially in sensitive environments like hospitals and banks.
- IcePerf: WebRTC (STUN/TURN) testing is coming to CPaaS next, highlighting price and performance issues with different networks.
- OpenSIPs: Presentations on full IMS available in open source reflect the trend of telco becoming more software-centric.
- AI: Developments in sound processing and voice cloning indicate that we are only beginning to see the potential of AI in communications.
- Hackathon: The hope is to see a hackathon on Network APIs soon, as there is a need for more exploration of possibilities.
Looking Ahead: CASA24
Our upcoming CASA24 event in Amsterdam (September 16-18) aims to be the bridge that connects these disparate worlds. By bringing together telcos, developers, business leaders, and technology vendors, we hope to create an ecosystem that thrives on collaboration. The event will focus on use cases, integration, and the potential of APIs to unlock new opportunities and efficiencies.
CASA24 Objectives:
- Foster Collaboration: Create an environment where telcos and IT professionals can learn from each other.
- Highlight Use Cases: Showcase practical applications and integration strategies.
- Drive Innovation: Encourage the development of new solutions through APIs and CPaaS.
Conclusion
While Capacity Messaging & SMS World and CommCon highlighted the current divide between telco and IT, they also underscored the potential for integration. The telco industry’s focus on channels like SMS and RCS needs to align more closely with the innovative developers who are driving next-gen communication solutions. Through platforms like CPaaS and the strategic use of APIs, we can bridge this gap, fostering a collaborative and innovative ecosystem. CASA24 is set to be a pivotal step in this journey, bringing together the best of both worlds for mutual success and growth.