May 2015 Summaries

The Twilio and Power BI connector was deprecated in January 2023, but Twilio has introduced Twilio Monitor to provide detailed operational visibility into Twilio accounts and apps. Microsoft has integrated Twilio with its Power BI product, offering a content pack that provides pre-defined reports and the option to customize dashboards. Connecting to Twilio in Power BI is straightforward, with automatic data refresh and customizable dashboards available. Users can explore their data using natural language questions or create custom reports by selecting relevant fields from the dataset. The integration enables businesses to gain more visibility into their data and make informed decisions.

The second day of Signal, a Twilio conference, saw attendees engage in various activities such as building with Lego kits, competing in coding challenges, and interacting with speakers including Harper Reed, Eric Ries, and They Might Be Giants. The event also marked the relaunch of TwilioFund, a $50 million investment fund focused on attracting new developers to Twilio's platform. Notable talks covered topics like one-click deployment features and WebRTC usage in businesses. The conference concluded with Jeff Lawson thanking attendees for their enthusiasm and ingenuity, marking the end of the first Signal event and opening up a new chapter for Twilio and its developer community.

The Coney Island For Coders event at #SignalConf featured a carnival-themed experience with coding challenges and games, where attendees could earn tickets redeemable for prizes. The event was hosted by Rob Spectre and included various booths offering classic spin on carnival games, such as drone-piloting ring toss and code challenge battles. The night was filled with fun and excitement among coders, cotton candy eaters, and carnival staff alike, making it an unforgettable experience.

Twilio has launched a new product called Signal, which is part of their developer network. The company aims to empower developers to build any communication technology they want. At the launch event, Twilio's CEO compared the company's competitors to the villain Lord Business from the LEGO Movie, emphasizing the need for developers to build and innovate. Twilio has also launched several new tools and features, including Copilot, Alphanumeric SenderID, new numbers in six countries, video updates, and IP messaging products. These additions aim to support the growth of the developer network and provide developers with the necessary tools to succeed.

Twilio IP Messaging is a suite of APIs that allow developers to embed advanced person-to-person chat in mobile apps, SaaS products, and websites. With IP Messaging, developers can maintain context that's critical to the conversation, providing a better user experience by linking conversations to the situation in which they arise. This allows for richer interactions and experiences, such as real-time communication features and contextual messaging. Twilio provides a reliable cloud infrastructure, including pub/sub systems and storage solutions, to handle high traffic loads and ensure message delivery reliability and security. The IP Messaging SDK is part of Twilio's RTC SDKs, providing modular access to communications functionality for advanced chat features.

The Twilio Video API allows developers to create high-quality peer-to-peer video conversations in the browser, using standard WebRTC technologies. The API provides a rich set of features, including server-side control over conversations, intelligent management of client-side experience, and cross-platform use of APIs like WebRTC's data channel. To get started with Twilio Video, developers need to create an account, install Node.js on their system, and access the video beta program. They also need a web browser that supports WebRTC, such as recent Chrome and Firefox builds. The API provides a JavaScript SDK that can be used to build a communication experience in the browser. The server-side code generates a secure keypair using Twilio's REST API, which is then used to sign an access token for the client. This token grants limited permissions to use Twilio back-end services for NAT traversal and general "endpoint" services like listening for inbound calls and initiating outbound calls. With this setup, developers can create basic video calling applications with two parties in the browser, as well as a backend to handle generating capability tokens using their Twilio account.

Twilio has unveiled Global and Epic Conference, featuring cloud mixing technology that enables developers to embed global audio conferences in their software apps with hundreds or even thousands of participants. The new conferencing technology allows for seamless interaction within collaboration and call center software, and supports advanced features such as start and stop logic, recording, and moderator controls. With Twilio's patented Global Low Latency (GLL) technology, conference calls stay local, reducing latency and improving call quality. The pricing model varies depending on the region where the conference is hosted, with lower rates in some regions compared to others. Additionally, Epic Conference allows for conferences of any size, removing limits on participants, making it suitable for large-scale events such as corporate earnings calls or all-hands meetings.

Twilio has announced the addition of new mobile phone numbers in six countries: Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Hungary, and Israel, expanding its global number inventory to nearly 50 countries. The company also introduced Alphanumeric Sender ID, allowing users to send SMS messages with a brand name as the sender, increasing read rates and improving brand presence in 145 countries where this feature is available.

Messaging Copilot is a tool designed to help Twilio customers scale their messaging applications by providing a global routing and delivery system that automatically selects the best number to send a message based on delivery goals. The tool offers three key features: Geo-Match, which uses local numbers in different countries; Sticky Sender, which enables users to associate a business with one number; and Scaler, which intelligently distributes traffic across multiple numbers to reach large audiences. Messaging Copilot consists of two components: a designated group of phone numbers (number pool) and delivery options, allowing customers to easily route their messages without needing additional software logic or engineering resources.

The Adafruit NeoMatrix library is designed to make it easier for developers to program the Adafruit NeoPixel 8×8 LED Panel. The library builds on top of the Adafruit_NeoPixel and Adafruit_GFX libraries, providing abstractions that simplify the process of changing color and brightness of multiple LEDs arranged in a strip at the same time. The Adafruit_NeoMatrix Library allows for two-dimensional displays using NeoPixels and provides access to pixel positions in a grid arrangement. The library includes functions such as `colorWipe`, `fadePixel` and `crossFade` that can be used to create animations and effects on the LED display. These building blocks are all needed to create a name tag application that scrolls text, including Twitter handles, across the panel.

The new feature "Call Progress Events" by Twilio enables developers to track and control outbound calls with granular call metadata, using webhooks that instantly notify them of call progress events such as Initiated, Ringing, Answered, and Completed. This allows for advanced analytics systems, flexible call control, and rule-based distribution, enabling applications to redirect calls based on specific conditions, making it easier to connect customers and agents efficiently and focus on business rather than maintaining application state.

Greytruck is a third party logistics company that leverages Twilio SMS to provide clients with instant access to critical database information via text messages. The company's "robits" little robots monitor databases and trigger SMS notifications based on predefined rules, allowing clients like fire stations to receive timely data on response times, fires responded to, and other metrics. CEO Eric Xavier finds Twilio an easy integration and uses its API to build custom responses to client queries, creating a conversational interface with the database. By using Twilio SMS, Greytruck aims to help users unlock insights from their databases and have meaningful conversations with them.

The National Association of Guide Dog Users has chosen Twilio to power their hotline, which provides critical information and support to blind individuals with guide dogs. The organization had previously struggled with a brittle and costly service provider that made it difficult to update messages and announcements, resulting in poor audio quality. After switching to Twilio, NAGDU was able to improve the hotline's audio fidelity, add flexibility to update messages, and implement call recording, which helps track down illegal denial of service issues. This new setup enables NAGDU members to easily gather evidence to advocate for their rights as blind individuals with guide dogs.

Creating mobile apps with Twilio and Appery.io is fast and simple, allowing developers to quickly integrate, test, and secure Twilio's API for messaging capabilities. Appery.io provides a visual toolset that enables building enterprise apps with messaging features at an accelerated pace. The platform offers an out-of-the-box plugin for Twilio Messaging API, which simplifies the process of sending SMS messages, viewing message lists, and accessing message details. By utilizing this plugin, developers can easily set up their apps to use Twilio's API, ensuring secure data storage and handling of sensitive information such as AccountSid and AuthToken values.

Twilio is a company that offers cloud communication services, with a strong focus on empowering developers and builders through its API and community. The author of the text recently joined Twilio as part of a significant expansion of the company's workforce, relocating from Texas to California. This new role has allowed them to experience firsthand the company's culture, which is characterized by a sense of community, learning, and creativity. Despite the many perks and traditions that come with working at Twilio, it's the relationships and sense of belonging among employees that truly define the #twiliolife experience. The author is now serving as a storyteller for Twilio, sharing employee stories and experiences across various social media channels to showcase the company culture and values.

Sensay is a startup that connects people who need something with people who can help via Twilio SMS. The company's goal is to provide a human conversation experience, rather than relying on traditional search engines. Its founder, Ariel Jalali, believes that the best way to solve problems is through human interaction, and not just technology. Sensay has already gained traction since its launch in 2014, with a high customer satisfaction rate and significant growth in users. The company plans to expand its reach by launching mobile apps soon.

The Twilio SendGrid team provides a comprehensive guide for early-stage startups to optimize their email strategies, emphasizing the importance of getting email right from the beginning despite other competing priorities. The article suggests tools such as Litmus for testing email categorization in Gmail, Emailology for resolving client-specific display issues, and Zurb's Ink framework for acquiring responsive email templates. It also advises on starting from scratch with templates, using Emailology and Ink as resources, and a tutorial by Nicole Merlin. To ensure template accuracy, EmailChecklist.org offers a seven-point check. Tips for avoiding spam folders are highlighted in a blog post, and the importance of using dashboards, like those integrating SendGrid and Keen.io, is stressed for tracking email performance. The article also references additional resources for developers, like API documentation and community hubs, to further enhance communication strategies.

We used littleBits components, including Arduino, Proto Module, NeoPixel Panel, power module, battery cable, and magnetic shoes, to build a hackable backpack that can display text on an LED panel. The hardware is assembled by snapping together the components with minimal assembly required, making it accessible to developers without extensive electronics experience. To bring the design to life, we wrote code in the Arduino IDE using the Adafruit NeoPixel, Adafruit GFX, and Adafruit NeoMatrix libraries, which enabled us to control the LED panel and display a scrolling message "Twilio" on it. The resulting hackpack is a unique piece of swag that attendees at Signal can customize or use as-is, showcasing the possibilities of littleBits hardware in creative projects.

Monitor is a new tool announced by Twilio that provides full visibility and analysis of Twilio resources, offering operational insight and security features for IT Ops and SecInfo teams, as well as rich data available via the API to support real-time adjustments in applications. It includes event-logging and change-tracking capabilities called Events, which allows users to track changes made to their account, by whom, and when, making it easier to answer day-to-day questions about account activity for compliance and security purposes. The tool is now fully enabled as a Public Beta on every Twilio account and will be available at no cost for most users, with nominal charges related to recording and accessing event logs after exceeding the free usage tier.

Twilio has introduced a Pricing API that provides easy access to current Twilio prices, designed for sophisticated use cases that require flexible pricing information. This new API supports the retrieval of prices for Voice and Phone Number products, with plans to expand to other products in the future. The Pricing API is intended to help customers make dynamic decisions based on call costs, either programmatically or through markup for their own customers.` `The Pricing API is a response to customer demand for a simple yet flexible way to retrieve Twilio prices, and its development was informed by feedback from Twilio's user base.

At Twilio's $bash conference event, a carnival-themed experience will be created to inspire software people to live the spirit of challenge and create lasting bonds between developers, each other, and Twilio. The goal is to recreate the world of possibilities that is a carnival, with no agenda, games, treats, experiences, and opportunities for socializing. A balance between structure and freedom is struck by allowing participants to jump into structured events or sit on the outskirts and observe. The event will exercise all parts of the brain through diverse activities such as code challenges, karaoke, word games, team exercises, and building stations. Personalized prizes are given out, ranging from practical rewards like AWS credits to unique items like mini guitar amplifiers and stuffed animals. To avoid clichés, Twilio is thinking outside the box with food options like cotton candy, churros, and snow cones. Ultimately, the event aims to thank developers for their contributions to changing communications forever and to inspire them to dream big again.

The first time hackathoner, Marinos Bernitsas, won the grand prize at TechCrunch Disrupt NYC 2015 with his app Witness, a personal safety application that captures video, audio, and location data in case of an emergency. The app was inspired by Marinos' concerns for his loved ones, particularly his girlfriend and sisters, who often ask him to text them when they arrive home. With the touch of a single interface element, Witness starts capturing data, which is then uploaded to a web app that can be viewed by loved ones via a link sent via Twilio. The use of Twilio greatly simplified the project, allowing it to be completed in just 24 hours. Marinos plans to submit Witness for review and potentially release it in the App Store.