November 2020 Summaries

This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to use Bandwidth's Voice and Messaging APIs along with their Python SDK. It covers the installation of required packages, initialization of clients, sending text messages, making phone calls, and handling callback/webhooks. The article also explains the variables needed for each operation and provides additional resources for further learning.

Bandwidth offers a comprehensive suite of messaging API solutions that enable businesses to send messages from various types of numbers, supported by reliable delivery through established carrier relationships. The article provides a detailed guide on using Bandwidth’s Voice and Messaging APIs with its Ruby SDK, including installation and configuration of necessary gems, initializing the SDK client, and coding examples for sending SMS and making phone calls. It explains how to set up a server to handle callbacks and webhooks for message delivery confirmation and call actions, and highlights the need to customize variables for specific account settings. Additionally, readers are directed to further resources, including a webinar and developer tools, for deeper exploration of Bandwidth’s capabilities and a free trial offer for hands-on experience.

This article provides a detailed guide on how to use Bandwidth's Voice and Messaging APIs along with their Java SDK. It covers the initialization of the SDK client, sending text messages, making phone calls, defining callback classes for both messaging and voice services, and setting up a server that can receive callback/webhooks. The article also provides an explanation of the variables used in the code snippets provided.

Cloud communications and CPaaS have been gaining popularity as the use of public switched telephone network (PSTN) declines, with legacy systems like internal private branch exchanges (PBXs) being replaced by hosted cloud alternatives. One reason for this shift is the emergence of the bring-your-own-carrier (BYOC) telecommunications service model. BYOC allows businesses to choose their own carrier and integrate it into their CPaaS or other cloud communications platform, providing greater control over telecom services and enabling custom communication solutions. The adoption of BYOC has driven evolution in the cloud-based telecom service market, offering benefits such as agility, reduced costs, more administrative control, no risk of service loss, number portability, automation, programmable access to carrier-grade resources, and superior scalability.

Short codes are a type of number for text messaging that offer several benefits for businesses. They enable high-volume, high-throughput messaging and mobile-friendly marketing. Short codes are easy to remember, secure customer information, and are scalable. Additionally, they improve consumer engagement, inspire confidence in customers, and have been around long enough for people to be familiar with them. To mitigate the risk of traffic getting blocked, it's important to follow CTIA guidelines regarding opt-ins and use a dedicated short code.

The text delves into various methods of call transferring and forwarding, highlighting their differences and applications using Bandwidth's Dashboard and APIs. It begins by defining a transfer as the routing of a call to another number after being answered, contrasting it with call forwarding, which redirects a call before being answered. The document explains the simplest form of call forwarding using Bandwidth's Dashboard or Numbers API, which is beneficial for SEO and ad tracking. It then explores more advanced methods via Bandwidth’s Voice API using BXML, such as the <Forward> verb that offers real-time call analytics and flexibility in setting call forwarding numbers, and the <Transfer> verb that supports advanced use cases like IVR call routing and simultaneous ringing. The <Bridge> verb allows control over both legs of a call, enabling functionalities like sim ring without prioritizing the first answer, and supports actions like call surveys post-disconnection. Finally, the text discusses the <Conference> verb for calls with more than two participants, facilitating warm transfers where a calling party is introduced to another agent before the original party leaves, with an emphasis on the additional costs and implicit creation of conferences.

T-Mobile has released a Code of Conduct for commercial messaging traffic on their network, which indicates that businesses must abide by new rules to reach customers with T-Mobile-connected devices. Shared short codes are being phased out due to potential confusion and spamming issues. Businesses using shared short codes will need to migrate to a dedicated number (10DLC, Toll Free, or Short Code) in the future. This change is part of an industry effort to reduce spam, fraud, and abuse. Companies should clarify their designated number status with their messaging provider, plan ahead for potential changes, and take action to ensure smooth migration to a dedicated short code.

Moving phone numbers to a new provider can sometimes be a hassle due to port order rejections and delays. Established processes and procedures, including FCC regulations, exist to help protect customers from unauthorized porting activity. Common reasons for port order rejections include address mismatch, incorrect business name, authorized name, account number, billing telephone number (BTN), passcode/PIN, and pending orders. To avoid these issues, accurate Customer Service Record (CSR) information is crucial. Bandwidth offers a CSR lookup tool & API to help verify CSR information and reduce rejections during the porting process.

This article provides a brief overview of how to use Bandwidth's Voice and Messaging APIs along with their PHP SDK. It includes code examples for sending text messages and making phone calls using PHP from a Bandwidth number. Additionally, it explains the variables needed for these actions and provides a reference guide for them. The article also mentions resources available for further learning on developing with PHP and offers assistance from experts as well as developer resources.

Contact centers have been under pressure to maintain operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness during the lockdown, prompting a focus on several strategies to reduce communication expenses. Transitioning to cloud-based communication services is suggested as a significant cost-saving measure, potentially reducing IT spending by replacing traditional capital expenditures with manageable subscription models. Consolidating communication suppliers can streamline operations and yield volume-based discounts, further decreasing costs. The 'Bring Your Own Carrier' (BYOC) approach is recommended for maintaining control over call routing and extending market coverage by allowing businesses to choose their network suppliers independently. Automating processes through APIs can save valuable time and resources by handling tasks like regulatory submissions and number porting, although inconsistencies in API use across countries can pose challenges. Finally, maintaining high call quality is emphasized as a crucial factor in differentiating customer experience, with troubleshooting tools necessary to ensure seamless support and interaction.

Bandwidth offers a comprehensive suite of messaging API solutions that enable businesses to send messages and make calls using toll-free numbers, local numbers, or short codes, ensuring reliable delivery through its carrier relationships. The article provides a practical guide on using Bandwidth's Voice and Messaging APIs with Node.js, including code examples for sending SMS and making phone calls. It covers essential steps such as package installation, client initialization, and server setup for handling callbacks or webhooks, along with variable explanations necessary for personalizing the integration with Bandwidth's platform. For those seeking further assistance, additional resources like webinars, developer tools, and expert consultations are available to enhance the development experience.

This article provides a detailed guide on how to use Bandwidth's Voice and Messaging APIs along with their C# SDK and .NET Core. It includes code examples for sending text messages and making phone calls using C#, as well as information about setting up callback/webhooks servers. The article also explains the variables needed for the code to work with a Bandwidth account.

This blog post discusses tools to help diagnose issues in WebRTC development. It covers two main tools: WebRTC Internals and the WebSocket inspector. WebRTC Internals is a tool within Chrome that shows details of WebRTC connections, while the WebSocket inspector helps developers investigate initial negotiation for establishing the WebRTC session. The post provides step-by-step instructions on how to use these tools and highlights their usefulness in debugging quality issues and understanding how sessions are established.

A "hop" in telecommunications refers to the traversal of a device, such as a router or switch, by phone calls or network traffic to reach their destination. Networks require these devices to function but they introduce latency and points of failure. Latency is the time taken for information to travel from one point to another, while points of failure are potential breakdown spots in the network. To reduce hops, telecom carriers can take control of their networks by setting up peering arrangements with other providers, thus avoiding multiple carrier middlemen. This reduces latency and points of failure, improving voice call quality.

The use of text messaging by local businesses has significantly increased in recent years, with commercial or business messaging known as application-to-person (A2P) being done through short codes, toll-free numbers, or even local numbers. There is a growing debate over what businesses can and should do via text messaging while maintaining the integrity of the channel free from spam and unsolicited texts. The North American SMS/MMS market has undergone radical shifts in regulatory and pricing changes over the last two years, with new A2P programs coming online. Carriers have been preparing to launch their 10-digit long code (10DLC) routes throughout 2020, which will allow higher volumes of sanctioned traffic over local numbers than before. The exact dates and pricing for these changes are not finalized yet, but it is expected that the new process will be easy for businesses to navigate.