July 2020 Summaries

In the context of digital transformation and cloud adoption, the text discusses the importance of telephony and carriers in communications networks, emphasizing the challenges of using bundled UCaaS products that rely on multiple hidden carriers, which can add costs and reduce control over call routing and quality. It introduces the concept of "unbundling," where businesses separate different layers of the communication stack to maintain flexibility and reduce unnecessary costs, and highlights the benefits of the "Bring Your Own Carrier" (BYOC) model, allowing companies to choose their own network suppliers to improve coverage, connection quality, and regulatory compliance. This approach is particularly beneficial for aaS companies, as it enables them to focus on their core products while outsourcing network services to specialized carriers like Voxbone, thus optimizing performance and scalability.

Healthcare innovation, driven by 21st-century technologies, is significantly improving patient outcomes. Communication technology, such as text messaging and telemedicine, has the potential to enhance healthcare access, increase treatment adherence, and decrease costs. The use of mobile devices in healthcare can improve communication between patients and providers, streamline administrative tasks, and provide more flexible care options for rural areas and patients with chronic conditions. Telehealth services have gained popularity among physicians due to their ability to reduce readmissions and prevent unnecessary ER visits. The rapid adoption of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted its benefits in maintaining social distancing guidelines and preserving personal protective equipment (PPE). As technology continues to advance, healthcare systems will likely see increased adoption of AI, remote patient monitoring, IoMT, and better cloud integration for existing technologies.

Bandwidth, a leading toll-free carrier in the US, offers a unique 5x redundant network that helps businesses reduce operating costs and improve revenue. As a RespOrg with its own Feature Group D Network and direct peering relationships with four other Tier 1 carriers, Bandwidth provides more redundancy than any single toll-free provider. This multi-carrier solution reduces the need for complex routing engines and allows businesses to safely send more of their traffic through a redundant provider, benefiting from economies of scale. By managing toll-free service effectively, Bandwidth helps companies save money while maintaining quality and reliability.

Many enterprises initially choose CPaaS (Communications Platform as a Service) due to its convenience and complete communications stack. However, issues arise when scaling up, including increased costs, substandard coverage, and lack of control over network providers. Hidden carriers and margin stacking contribute to these problems, leading to latency, poor support, and additional markups on rates. Additionally, security risks and downtime can occur due to non-compliant or unreliable networks. To address these issues, businesses are considering unbundling their platforms and underlying telephony, allowing them to maintain control of call routing, extend coverage to more markets, and ensure connection quality. By using a trusted carrier like Bandwidth, enterprises can keep their CPaaS while saving on costs and obtaining compliant numbers in 65+ countries.

The evolving 911 landscape has become increasingly complex due to new regulations and the impact of COVID-19, which necessitated a shift to remote workforces and has now transitioned to a hybrid model. Organizations are advised to consult legal experts to navigate E911 regulations such as Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’s Act, and to consider the needs of both callers and call takers to ensure accurate location information for emergency responses. Testing user endpoints, eliminating prefixes for 911 calls, and designating appropriate notification recipients are crucial steps for compliance. It's important not to intercept 911 calls to avoid delays, except in specific cases like secondary PSAPs. The transition to Next Generation 911 (NG911) will enhance emergency services with IP-based architecture allowing for richer data formats, and Bandwidth is preparing for these changes to support its customers. As emergency services are vital, Bandwidth provides resources and guidance to help businesses stay informed and compliant with the evolving regulations.

In this text, the author describes their experience working on a project at Bandwidth as part of their internship. The company received a request from a customer to expedite the process of ordering phone numbers in all 317 area codes covered by Bandwidth. To address this need, the product team decided to automate the entire process using Bandwidth's APIs. The author collaborated with fellow interns and developed an app that could be easily reused by other customers as well. The app was written in Javascript using Node.js and leveraged Bandwidth's Phone Number SDKs to interact with the API, which checks for available phone numbers in each area code. The script takes user login credentials, account, and site IDs as variables and handles failed orders by listing them in the sub-account's "alerts" section on the Bandwidth Dashboard. After making some improvements based on feedback from their mentor, Josh, the app was successfully launched and received positive feedback from the customer. The author also encourages readers to explore the GitHub repository for more information about the project and how Bandwidth's APIs can help solve specific business needs.