The communications solutions that enterprises install are evaluated frequently because of new technologies, both in hardware and software that become available in the marketplace. For large enterprises, this can be a costly and time-consuming process as new platforms are evaluated, purchased and deployed. The introduction of cloud technology, SIP Trunking and Application Programming Interface (APIs), has given organizations the agility to adapt to changing conditions quickly and efficiently without the many weeks or months of network set-up time of traditional carrier models.
Venky Balasubramanian of pipelinepub.com has written an article on just how cloud-based communications APIs are driving a new standard in enterprise agility. The ability to adapt quickly has become an essential quality in today’s ecosystem, and according to Balasubramanian, APIs are accelerating the way communication service providers, OTT businesses and enterprises are able to respond to new opportunities.
The cloud-based communication APIs that organizations deploy is allowing them to launch applications around the world in a matter of weeks and verify users globally, he says.
The greatest benefit of these APIs is it gives enterprises access to local markets. By making their APIs available to a wider audience around the world, local developers can create market specific solutions that are needed where they are. Unlike the traditional communications solutions that were developed for the widest audience possible, today’s ecosystem demands bespoke services that can be adjusted for every community. Not only is this possible, but it can be deployed quickly to market as needs warrant the technology.
As traditional carriers and developers continue to strengthen their relationship, new services that deliver more value to businesses and convenience to consumers are being created. Some of the benefits Balasubramanian said the cloud-based communication APIs will provide include enabling faster and more stable network builds, growth with minimal fraud by implementing 2-Step verification, creating flexible call centers, access to voice broadcasting, and flexibility and scalability without the complexity.
These and other features are driving the growth in the telecom API market. According to a report published by Transparency Market Research (TMR), titled “Telecom API Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 – 2022,” the market is expected to reach $323.44 billion by 2022 globally. The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 23.6 percent during the forecast period.
In the forecast, TMR reported voice APIs held the largest share at around 28 percent, and developers are using them to improve the mobile experiences of their customers. Other segments that will dominate the market include, SMS, MMS, RCS and payment API services. However, the report sees WebRTC API service to grow significantly faster than other APIs, which will grow almost as much as the voice segment with a CAGR of 27.7 percent. As far as the end-user segment, enterprise developers accounted for close to 34 percent of the total market.
Edited by Rory J. Thompson