There’s little doubt that broadband and the Web are changing the complexion not only of data and video, but also of voice services. And it’s not just by enabling companies like Vonage to deliver VoIP. The move to IP and Web services also means that voice can be combined quickly and easily with various other applications to create communications capabilities that seem entirely new. For service providers, that can mean faster time-tomarket with new and interesting services, potentially higher revenue and new avenues through which to build customer loyalty.
All these topics will be discussed in more detail during today’s session “Voice Is a Mashup.”
Of course, “mashup” is a relatively new term referring to the combination of multiple services or applications, as mentioned above. Examples of mashups include calling and messaging launched from IM programs and click-to-call from Web sites.
Among the companies that offers tools to address service providers’ need to deliver new VoIP-related services quickly and affordably, and with the ability to tweak services as needed, is LignUp Corp., which sells the LignUp Communications Application Server. This app server streamlines application creation by providing a framework for using, creating, exposing and managing VoIP-based Web services, which serve as reusable software blocks for building communications-enabled applications.
One of the speakers during today’s “Mashup” session is Kevin Nethercott, president and COO of LignUp. Nethercott founded U.S.-based LignUp about a year ago after having established and run nine-year-old Japanese software and toll bypass company SkyWave.
In addition to selling the app server, LignUp in late 2005 forged alliances with a handful of other companies to create what it calls FastLign, an effort to enable companies to more easily offer value-added voice services.
Also on today’s panel is Trevor Baca, vice president of software engineering at Jaduka, an Austin, Texas-based Web services API provider, which is owned by NetworkIP, a company best known for its conferencing and prepaid calling platforms.
In 2004, Jaduka introduced its APIs, which were developed initially for NetworkIP, to the public, and just this year the company began publicizing the availability of its APIs, which are free on the Internet, explained Baca. By creating their own applications with Jaduka’s APIs or working with third-party independent software developers, he said, service providers can offer enterprise customers a broader service offering.
LignUp Corp. www.LignUp.com
NetworkIP www.networkip.net
