October 2012 Summaries

The Rutgers hackathon, known as HackRU, is a student-run competition that showcases the deep hacker culture in central New Jersey. Organized by the Undergraduate Student Alliance of Computer Scientists (USACS), the event focuses on providing an educational experience rather than just offering prizes. The 130 attendees, including students from Rutgers and other universities, submitted hacks addressing various problems, with first-time hackers taking home a prize. The top three teams were announced, with HackRU 2023 winners creating innovative applications such as Dumb Phones Turned Smart, a smartphone-like app that allows users to access weather and movie information without a phone. The event is shaping up to be an important bridge between the New York and Philadelphia tech scenes, with HackRU 2024 already being planned.

Authy was founded in 2011 by Daniel Palacio after a series of high-profile password breaches that compromised user accounts. As a member of Microsoft's Windows security team, Palacio recognized the need for two-factor authentication to protect consumers from account takeovers. To make it easy for website administrators to add two-factor authentication, Authy turned it into a cloud service that connects to their API, eliminating the burden on IT staffs. The company chose Twilio's cloud communications platform as its solution, citing its industry-leading uptime and international reach, ease of use, and scalability. With Twilio, Authy can reliably deliver security codes via text message or voice to customers in 150 countries and multiple languages, making it a reliable and secure two-factor authentication solution.

We recently completed a 6-week European roadshow covering 17 events in 7 cities, meeting over 10,000 developers along the way. We partnered with Facebook on three World Hack events and ran coding workshops at Apps World London's Twilio booth. Syd presented his live demo at Dublin Web Summit, where one of our participants won a startup competition for their SmartThings app. We're hiring for the European Twilio Developer Evangelist team and are supporting various initiatives including Startup Pack, which offers discounts to web-based tools and services for startups. We'll be attending several events in November, including Geek Lates, Music Hack Day, and the Mobile Entertainment Awards.

Uber and Redbeacon are two companies that prioritize delivering great customer experiences in their products, with a focus on streamlining their business and empowering customers through the use of Twilio's communication services, including Twilio Client and SMS. Both companies leverage these tools to connect users with professionals or drivers in real-time, enabling seamless interactions and updates.

Join The FTC in their Fight Against Evil Robots The FTC is launching a contest to help end robocalling, offering $50,000 and a free trip to Washington D.C. to the developer or team of developers who can create a functional solution. Developers can submit either a fully functional product or a detailed proof of what they will build and how it works when the contest goes live tomorrow. The FTC is seeking innovative solutions to combat robocalling, which has become a common experience for many people.

Sessions is a personal exercise coaching program that uses SMS and email to provide support, accountability, and encouragement to help people build sustainable exercise habits. The company was founded by Nick Crocker after he became frustrated with the healthcare system in 2010 and wanted to use his experience in technology and behavior change to create a more effective way to promote healthy living. Sessions pairs users with personalized coaches who create customized plans based on individual needs, and uses text reminders to help users stay on track. The company is using Twilio's SMS platform to deliver these messages, and is currently launching its third version of the product and completing further clinical piloting to validate its model. By combining technology and behavior change, Sessions aims to make it easier for people to exercise and live healthier lives, particularly those who are too busy or have difficulty accessing traditional healthcare services.

Lyft has implemented a Twilio API-powered anonymous calling service to enhance safety and communication for its drivers and passengers. The company uses this system to assign unique phone numbers to approved drivers, allowing them to communicate with passengers without revealing their personal cell phone numbers. This system also enables drivers to contact passengers when needed, such as if they have left something behind in the car. Lyft chose Twilio due to its positive experience working with the API and found the setup process to be relatively effortless, thanks to the markup language and clear documentation provided by Twilio. The company continues to add services offered by the Twilio platform, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to improving its service.

The TwilioCon 2012 Hackathon saw the top prizes go to DialTalent and TextAngel, with exceptional technical valor showcased by numerous other projects. The hackathon was made possible by sponsors Amazon Web Services, Box, Dropbox, among others, who provided prizes for the teams building with their APIs. The judging panel consisted of Jeff Lawson, Craig Kitterman, and Patrick McKenzie, who recognized DialTalent's innovative approach to recruiting campaigns and TextAngel's SMS hotline for people in hard situations as standouts. Other sponsors awarded prizes to teams behind their favorite apps, including Acme SIP, Dropbox Notifier, Octopong, Piratedial.io, Nerderater, Care Squirrel, Staxx, and Team Shout.

Flask-RESTful is a Flask extension that simplifies the process of building RESTful APIs by abstracting away HTTP boilerplate code and providing a clean interface for parsing arguments, formatting output, and organizing routing. It aims to give developers a simple and extensible starting point for building their API while staying out of the way of business logic. The framework provides features such as flexibility and maintainability, performance and asynchronous processing, and better tools and libraries to help build modern APIs. By using Flask-RESTful, developers can keep their existing business logic and model code intact and decouple the processing of requests from the rendering of output.

This new feature called Sip from Twilio allows companies to connect their SIP gateways directly to the cloud with Twilio, extending the life of expensive telecom hardware and enabling features such as failover, retries, and weighted routing priorities. With this feature, companies can send traffic to any SIP endpoint, including arbitrary data back and forth between applications and SIP gateways, and enable username and password authentication using customer SIP headers. The Sip from Twilio beta is now available for sign up at http://www.twilio.com/beta/sip.

At TwilioCon 2012, CEO Jeff Lawson introduced new Twilio products with global reach, including availability on six continents, new APIs for developers, and enhancements to the platform such as WebRTC for Twilio Client, brand new Twilio Developer Profiles, and Premium Support. The company aims to continue its growth powered by a community of developers and DOers changing the future of communications, with a focus on providing tools that enable developers to build global communication solutions using the Twilio platform.

Meet the developers and entrepreneurs who are building next generation tools by creating innovative mobile apps that utilize Twilio's communication platform to make a difference in various fields such as voting rights, natural disaster preparedness, social causes, education, sports, and business. They have developed applications that enable users to receive real-time updates via SMS, integrate with popular platforms like Salesforce and Zendesk, and power grassroots campaigns, among other features. Their apps are not only functional but also contribute to creating a better world by addressing issues such as communication barriers for the deaf and hearing impaired, natural disaster preparedness, and social causes.

Twilio API is now available through Windows Azure Mobile Services Platform, allowing developers to easily implement features like structured storage, user authentication, push notifications, two-factor authentication, and SMS messages triggered by database updates in their iOS and Windows 8 apps. This provides a more streamlined experience for building next-generation communications apps. The integration enables developers to tap into the tools they need with ease, making it simpler to construct innovative applications that incorporate Twilio-powered capabilities.

At TwilioCon 2012, Jeff Lawson highlighted 12 innovative teams, termed "DOers," who are pioneering transformative communication tools. These developers and entrepreneurs have created applications addressing diverse needs, such as enabling the deaf to communicate, preparing individuals for natural disasters, and integrating the Internet of Things to control physical devices. Notable projects include Cost Of Freedom Voter ID, which provides updated voting information via SMS; Prepared.ly, offering disaster preparedness alerts; Text My Bus, delivering real-time bus schedules in Detroit; Activist.io, facilitating one-click calls to Congress; and Talkdesk, a browser-based call center. Other initiatives include Deaftel for the hearing impaired, Authy for two-factor authentication, Remind 101 for educational communication, and Amicus, a fundraising platform for non-profits. Additionally, Sendhub connects teachers with under-resourced students, NinjaBlocks links digital actions to physical outcomes, and GameChanger enhances amateur sports experiences with real-time updates. These projects reflect a commitment to leveraging technology for social impact and innovation in communications.

TwilioCon 2012 Community Hall will feature a variety of companies offering products and services that can be added to developers' toolkits, including Amazon Web Services, Box, Dropbox, Google Cloud, Heroku, Mashery, OpenShift by Red Hat, Parse, SendGrid, Singly, SoundCloud, SugarCRM, and Windows Azure. These companies provide a range of solutions for cloud computing, API management, customer relationship management, mobile app development, email infrastructure, personal data integration, audio platforms, and more. The Community Hall will be open during conference hours on October 17th and 18th, allowing attendees to meet these companies and learn about their offerings in person.

Twilio has partnered with various companies to offer a range of call tracking analytics tools, including CallerReady for advertising conversion, CloudSquads for social enterprise telephony services, Crushpath for sales team control, Fruition Partners for integration with ServiceNow, Impact Dialing for auto dialing, IVR Central for speech and voice response solutions, Mobile Commons for mobile messaging campaigns, Pervasive for data management, Oracle RightNow for customer experience platforms, RingDNA for intelligent conversations, Vivocha for live engagement software, and Zendesk for web-based customer service. These tools aim to simplify call tracking analytics and provide innovative solutions for businesses in various industries.

The future of communications is being discussed at TwilioCon 2012, with speakers sharing their visions on how technology will shape human interaction. According to one speaker, the future may involve more communication with robots, while another hopes for a return to social interaction. The speakers also emphasize the importance of breaking down barriers in communication, such as language and accessibility issues. They predict that humans will increasingly rely on technology to reconnect with each other, and that meaningful human-to-machine interactions will become more prevalent. Overall, the discussions highlight the need for innovative solutions to enhance human communication in a rapidly changing world.

At TwilioCon 2012, eighteen startups from five developer communities showcased their products in the Community Hall, offering a platform for attendees to meet and interact with these innovative companies. The Community Hall was open throughout the conference on October 17th and 18th, providing an opportunity for developers and entrepreneurs to discover new technologies and build connections. Startups featured included those from Austin, Bay Area, East Coast, PacNW, and Vegas Tech regions, each offering unique solutions in areas such as mobile commerce, file sharing, telephony, and more.

This article discusses implementing two-factor authentication in an ASP.NET MVC 4 application using Twilio's SMS verification service. The process involves adding a property to the UserProfile entity to store the user's mobile number and a boolean indicating whether the user has verified their phone number through SMS. The application uses SimpleMembershipProvider for user management and generates a six-digit SMS verification code that is sent to the user's registered mobile number via Twilio. After registration, the user is redirected to an SMS verification page where they enter the received code to complete the registration process. The article provides step-by-step instructions on how to implement this feature, including adding properties to the UserProfile entity, installing the Twilio.Mvc package, and updating the AccountController to handle the SMS verification flow.

Code For America Detroit Fellows launched Text My Bus, a simple app that uses SMS messaging to provide real-time bus arrival information to Detroit residents. The app was developed in collaboration with the Detroit Department of Transportation and community groups, and has improved the lives of students and developers alike by saving them from waiting hours for buses. The Code For America team is now working on other civic challenges in Detroit, such as increasing access to city property records and promoting community engagement, with the goal of empowering local coders to build apps that make a positive impact.

The future of communications is expected to be primarily text-based, with a focus on mobile adoption and simplified payment systems. Some experts predict a throwback to bag phones or pagers, while others envision more integrated methods of communication, such as video phone watches or open source satellites. Developers will have access to various tools and platforms, including Twilio's API, to build communications and digital engagement experiences.

The future of communications is a topic of discussion among developers and industry experts at TwilioCon 2012, with speakers envisioning a range that includes smoke signals, SMS, online commerce integration, and developer-powered open platforms. Rand Wacker will address cloud security issues during his panel, while Josh Gosse plans to build an SMS-powered doorbell system for checking in visitors. Delyn Simons will provide developers with guidance on marketing tactics to avoid and how to engage their community at TwilioCon. The event aims to map out the future of communications, with a focus on building the next generation of communication technologies.

Ready Set Work is a service that uses online scheduling and SMS notifications to simplify the process of managing staff shifts and communication in the service industry. The company was founded by Jacob Dreyfuss, who saw the challenges of paper schedules and wanted to create a more efficient solution for business owners and employees alike. Since its launch, Ready Set Work has sent over 420,000 messages to employees about their work schedules, resulting in faster response times and improved communication. The company is now expanding through Europe with Twilio's support, aiming to double its distribution network within the next six months.

The Twilio Test Toolkit (TTT) is a Ruby gem that simplifies testing Twilio applications by simulating incoming or outgoing calls from Twilio's perspective. It allows developers to write integration tests for their Twilio apps with minimal fuss and syntax, focusing on testing the app's functionality rather than dealing with Twilio details. TTT can simulate interactions with TwiML elements, press digits, and inspect responses, making it easier to test complex scenarios in a Twilio app. The gem is open-source and available as a Ruby gem, providing documentation and a list of ideas for contributors. With TTT, developers can write test-driven development tests, run them frequently, and have confidence that their apps will work as intended.

The pace of events is accelerating with Team Twilio hosting 17 events in seven cities over six weeks in September and planning to meet DOers across Europe this October. The company partnered with Facebook World Hack, where developers built impressive mashups, including the award-winning Squirrel Spotter game at Facebook Hack London. Additionally, Twilio collaborated with 3Beards for Sizzle 6 The Art Hack, a project that showcased innovative ideas such as music generated from goldfish locations and a necklace made of Twitter stats. Twilio is also supporting UK incubators Wayra in London and Oxygen in Birmingham, and will be participating at Apps World at Earl's Court, London on October 2nd and 3rd, offering technical workshops and free exhibition space.

I can summarize the text for you. As a newcomer to engineering, I transitioned from a liberal-arts college background and initially worked as a customer service rep at Twilio before joining the engineering team two months into my rotation. The first few weeks were challenging due to the steep learning curve, but our team's process of breaking projects down into smaller tasks helped me integrate more smoothly. I learned how engineers work by accessing server logs and debugging code, which greatly improved my understanding of the system. With guidance from mentors and a supportive team, I completed several small projects and eventually landed full-time as an engineer working on internal tools and reporting. My experience emphasizes that diligence and methodical problem-solving are more important than innate brilliance in becoming a successful developer.

Qwikon is a platform that helps businesses send out daily deals, coupons, and codes to their customers via text message. The idea behind Qwikon was born out of frustration with the traditional couponing method, which often resulted in lost sales due to customer forgetfulness or misplaced coupons. To address this issue, Qwikon's founder Brooks created a more streamlined way for businesses to market to their customers by leveraging the high likelihood that customers will bring their phones with them when shopping. With its simple dashboard and scheduling capabilities, Qwikon aims to empower small business owners to fill empty seats on demand through text-based offers, expanding into various industries such as restaurants, health and beauty, retail, and even sports teams.