Kazoo Platform

“KazooCon 2014 - Introduction to Kazoo APIs” - KazooCon 2014 - Introduction to Kazoo APIs! from James Solada

“KazooCon 2014 - WebRTC” - KazooCon 2014 - WebRTC from James Solada

“KazooCon 2014 - Control Cellular Service via APIs” - KazooCon 2014 - Control Cellular Service via APIs from James Solada

KazooCon 2014 - Day 1, a set on Flickr.Take a look at KazooCon Day 1. Great photos of our CEO Darren Schreiber, engineers Ricky Ing, Sean Wysor, Chris Cole and more!

KazooCon 2014 - the After Party, a set on Flickr.KazooCon after party photos are officially here. See all the hijinks and hilarity during our after party mixer.

KazooCon 2014, a set on Flickr.Take a look at the first photos from KazooCon! More to be added soon, so stay tuned.

“2600hz Engineers Peter Defebvre and Maxime Roux demo WebRTC at KazooCon 2014” - WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) is an API definition drafted by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) that supports browser-to-browser applications for voice calling ... [More] , video chat, and P2P file sharing without plugins. Web RTC is a young but is a promising & powerful technology.  Vendors who integrate WebRTC will give users true “work from any device” experience – phone, tablet, browser There are limitless possibilities for video, conferences, sharing, social media as well. This presentation explores the multiple layers of technology that enable communication between the browser and the server. KazooCon 2014 - WebRTC from James Solada [Less]

“KazooCon 2014 - Introduction to APIs” - 2600hz Engineers Ricky Ing and Sean Wysor talk APIs at #KazooCon! Take a look! KazooCon 2014 - Introduction to Kazoo APIs! from James Solada

“9 Reasons why I’m going to KazooCon” - 9. Location, Location, Location While the building was constructed in 1919, Broadway Studios first opened its doors in 1993 as a dance studio. In 1997, HBO taped comedy specials at the venue with performers ... [More] such as Dave Chappelle, George Lopez, and Harland Williams. Since that time, Broadway Studios has played host to a multitude of talented acts and artists.  It’s an amazing space in a vibrant community of San Francisco, and we are so excited to be hosting our event there. Come see it for yourself! http://broadwayvenue.com/ 8.  We Have a Cell Tower Who doesn’t want to play with a live cell tower? Range Networks will be bringing their very own cell tower, aptly called “the oven”, which will allow you to test our Kazoo platform on mobile devices. 7. The After-Party No conference is complete without a raucous after-party. If you were there last year, you bore witness to our alcohol-fueled Scrabble game. We had a wild time and know you did too. We’ve got plenty of fun and ridiculous events planned for this year’s party, but we don’t want to spoil the surprise. 6. There’s Gotta be Some Learning, Right? All fun aside, this year’s KazooCon is a deep dive into our unique platform, as well as a forum for intense discussion and engaging demonstrations by telco movers and shakers. Want to learn to build your own app, cellular network, and WebRTC phone? We’re going to teach you, and it’s going to be pretty awesome. 5.  Amazing Speakers All of our staff is poised to give outstanding presentations, and we have been prepping demos for weeks. But we’re not the only ones going to be on the podium this week. Telco gurus from around the world are going to wow you with their talks by presenting their own stories of success, tools for enhancement in the telecom industry, and more. We have C-Level speakers from Range Networks, Sendhub, Ziron, Phonami, SipLabs, Voxter, Quik.IS, Sip Oasis, and Tevnos. You don’t want to miss it.  4. It’s Not Just About Us KazooCon is not only about Kazoo and 2600hz. We have lined up dedicated sponsors who have been supporting us since our infancy. Our sponsors include Quik.IS, Range Networks, Voxter, SFTelco, Ziron, Sonic.net, OrangeFab, and Polycom. This diverse group of companies from around the globe is gathering together in one place, at one time, to contribute to the telecom revolution. They’ve done fantastic things for us, and we’re sure they will for you too! 3. Bring on Kazoo! We’ve developed an ISO that we will load onto flash drives and give to KazooCon attendees. Download the ISO and install it on your computer and you’ll have a dedicated Kazoo cluster in minutes. No, that wasn’t a typo. Plug in, download, take off. It’s yours forever, and it’s that simple.  2. The Kazoo App Store  What is the Kazoo App Store, you ask? Repeat after us: If you build it, they will come. We’ll teach you how to build your own Kazoo App, enabling you to tailor and differentiate your product offering and business in unprecedented ways. We’ll show you how to build your own WebRTC phone, right on your computer. This is a telco field of dreams. 1.  Special Announcement As cliché as it may be to end a list with a special announcement, we’ve got one, and it’s big. Stay until the very end of KazooCon for CEO Darren Schreiber’s announcement, it’s a can’t miss.  See you at KazooCon! [Less]

“Today’s MVNO Secret Sauce: Creating Specialty Solutions and Increased Functionality through Open-Source” - By Darren Schreiber MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) have enjoyed a well-developed industry for some time in European markets. ... [More] However, for those in the U.S., the landscape has historically been different. The Big 4 MNOs have been the default go-to for many customers and businesses. MVNOs have traditionally been the exception to the rule, struggling to maintain relevancy in the telecom marketplace. The MVNO relationship with U.S. customers has been defined by a high churn rate, low profit margins and minor product differentiation.   In recent years, however, that trend has started to change. About one in ten of the US mobile connections are now running through a virtual operator. Competition among the Big 4 to increase subscriber counts at whatever cost, coupled with demand from consumers for more flexible services has given birth to over 140 MVNOs in the US alone. Recognized brands such as TracFone, Cricket, Net10, Straight Talk, and Virgin Mobile are legitimate alternatives to the Big 4 MNOs. So what does the modern MVNO look like, and how can they differentiate and adapt to new markets? Differentiated Products: The Key to Success Customer plans in the MVNO market have historically been based on offering regular cell phone service with only slight variations: payment models (pre-pay vs. post-pay), distribution (retail outlets/ wireless stores/ online only), and handsets for specialty niche markets (seniors, low-income, children, etc). The network-based service itself has been almost exactly the same from one carrier to another, and there are few mechanisms to increase customer loyalty and reduce attrition. But because of platform independence, MVNOs can now stand out and bring new innovations to the market, which benefits themselves, the carrier, and the customer. So how are the New MVNOs differentiating? Increased Features – Small businesses and individuals alike are increasingly demanding rich services that incorporate enterprise level features. Conferencing, call recording, call control, web access & services, custom apps, device groups, and number management are just normal parts of a sophisticated MVNO offering. Offloading – Software and handset configuration options can be set on the consumer or MVNO side, thereby giving the ability to further tailor services to both consumers and seller alike. Some MVNOs, such as FreedomPop, can allow voice and data services with free entry level plans, while others, like Scratch Wireless, allow free VoIP and messaging over WiFi with cellular as an add-on. This ability lowers costs by utilizing different methods for the same type of service that customers are used to getting from a cell tower. Bundling – MNOs are replacing fixed-line services with 4G based products, especially in rural & suburban areas. Many consumers enjoy the ease of a house phone with the convenience of a data connection that comes with no wires. MVNOs can evolve to meet customer needs and expand service offerings by bundling their SaaS product with fixed-line and other services. Business and Enterprise Services – One of the fastest areas of growth right now for MVNOs is in the SMB/Enterprise segment, where both MVNOs and Managed Service Providers offer Integrated Fixed and Mobile device management options. These are typically pre-paid plans that bring in highly reliable revenue streams. MVNOs that can also bundle to sell VoIP, data, software and backhaul solutions increase their revenue potential dramatically, diversifying their options and reducing dependency on exclusively mobile features. Data Only Devices - As the “Internet of Things” gains popularity in the market, the inevitable proliferation of brand new devices will require connectivity. MVNOs and MVNEs (Mobile Virtual Network Enabler) provide a perfect way to bridge the gap through automating activation, device tracking, inventory services and manufacturer integrations . Selling a connected, or “smart” thermostat, for example, might have previously required a contract with a carrier where a manufacturer commits to millions of units so that the units can come pre-loaded with inexpensive connectivity to the internet. With MVNOs, the requirements for such a device might be for just a few hundred or thousand, and software modifications might allow multiple networks (cellular or Wi-Fi) to be utilized by the same device for redundancy. Open Source: The Key to Ultimate Differentiation Carriers are typically averse to building an extensive service structure because it involves coordinating with system vendors, long deployment cycles, capital investment, and yet does not guarantee revenue. MVNOs are not burdened by these legacy systems, and can start building their business using uncluttered new solutions.  They are adapting to the rich new market of cloud-based services that offer SaaS pricing models, built on software that’s flexible for a wide array of customer offerings. Customers are realizing this capability and are beginning to demand advanced functionality that MNOs cannot quickly deploy. 2600hz: The MVNO Swiss Army Knife 2600hz is a game-changer for MVNO’s with a unique hybrid-cloud platform, removing the barriers between telecom systems and its users. By offering an open-source solution that integrates mobile and fixed-line services, 2600hz enables MVNOs to offer highly differentiated products into the market. Furthermore, by utilizing a hybrid-cloud model, 2600hz allows companies to deploy Voice, Messaging, and Data Solutions in an on-demand, highly scalable and always-on environment. With the 2600hz platform, MVNOs can provision and manage both handsets and devices through one convenient interface. Clients on the 2600hz platform can easily add phone numbers, control feature availability, monitor their cluster and integrate with traditional fixed line offerings in the home and enterprise. This allows MVNOs to offer highly customized services that uplift revenue and increase user lock-in, without long deployment schedules or intensive capital investment. The net effect is a dramatic reduction in rollout costs for all services, and a clear path for increased ARPU. 2600hz integrates well with other hardware, software and content providers, maximizing value for bundled offerings. Additionally, 2600hz offers completely new features to MVNO offerings, including conference bridges, find-me-follow me, call recording, and multi-identity services on a handset that make work and personal calls from the same phone using different Caller IDs. 2600hz customers experience seamless call transitions between WebRTC browser phones and desk or mobile phones mid-call, using the same phone number across all devices. With 2600hz, MVNOS have endless opportunities to natively integrate advanced features and customizations to the end user. 2600hz is now attracting two different markets: People who are reselling our services and white-labeling it as their own, and people who are already selling MVNO services who want integration with our open-source platform. But you don’t even have to be an MVNO to get started. Thanks to 2600hz’s unique partnership with Sprint, we are able to offer both per user and wholesale rates to interested partners without an active MVNO agreement. Whether you’d like to resell fixed and mobile service and white-label it as your own, or if you already offer MVNO services and want to utilize our open-source platform for advanced offerings, 2600hz has a solution to fit your needs.  Leverage Open-Source for Maximum Value  MVNOs who are willing to offer a wide array of hardware and features to the end user have a significant advantage over their competitors. By leveraging open-source operating systems on both the handset and the network, MVNOs can offer significantly differentiated voice, data and messaging to their customers at a fraction of the cost. MVNOs that want to take advantage of increased device sales need distributed, scalable systems that can handle the increased demand on provisioning and back-end services, and still be flexible to offer customizations to the end user experience. These customizations require open, innovative software, which is both inexpensive and quick to adapt, a need that only open-source can realistically fill. 2600hz is an industry enabler for MVNOs looking to be at the forefront introducing these technological innovations. So, how would you like to differentiate?  [Less]