How Twilio Will Change the Telecommunications Industry

Twilio has quickly become the newest darling among the communications investors. The cloud communications company is reinventing telecom by merging the worlds of cloud computing, web services and telecommunications.

Using Twilio's cloud-hosted API, developers can build software apps that integrate an operator's telephony infrastructure with Web apps. It bridges the old world with the new, and it lets developers interact with voice calls, send text messages, and add IP voice communications into their mobile or Web apps.

Simply put, it's changing the way businesses handle their telecommunication needs because the infrastructure offered by Twilio is allowing web programmers to integrate real-time phone calls across a wide range of platform applications.

For developers it all comes down to a matter of exploiting open source programming which many companies are finding remarkable benefits from.

Pay-As-You-Go

One of the most beneficial ways that Twilio is transforming the telecommunications industry is with its Pay-As-You-Go pricing structure. Under these terms a customer pays for the amount of cloud space capacity they need in the moment. In other words, there isn't any waste paying for extra storage or data compilation space when you don't need it.

Because Twilio's cloud solution eliminates programming, operational and contract hassles rapid growth is easier to come by. There won't be trouble with traffic spikes which is exactly what every company is hoping for. Twilio scales usage in both directions whether you experience highs or lows in your traffic.

Reducing the Learning Curve

Twilio cuts back on the learning curve needed to build out dependable voice communications applications. Think of this as "if it's not broke, don't fix it" approach to programming. Twilio is enabling developers to integrate business communication, VoIP and messaging right into web, desktop and mobile software applications.

There is no longer a need for a startup developer to square off against the telecom giants to help with the testing and developing phase of their products.

Bridging the Gap

Twilio is bridging the gap for software developers to create new communication applications without the burdens of complexity and expense that might have proven to be a hindrance just a few years ago. This puts Twilio on the forefront of helping development quickly move on ideas that can be the most benefit to the end users. It is this kind of direct and rapid response to the development process in the cloud which is making Twilio the go to source for a wide range of mobile communication applications. 

How to Create a Successful Freemium Business Model

You've heard the warning, "You get what you pay for." When it comes to freemium business models, getting something for free could actually be the ticket to a lucrative business.

The internet is crowded with thriving freemium type of sites like LinkedIn, Dropbox, Skype and others. The goal for those companies is not to completely give away services for nothing in return. The hope is that through paid upgrades, companies can convert loyal users into paying customers after trying out basic services.

If you’re considering in creating a freemium business model, understand these factors:  

Make your product your number one priority.

That might seem like an obvious tip but you'd be amazed at how many developers begin with the premise "I've got to make a lot of money fast with an application" as opposed to "I've got to make an application that serves a need."

Your product has to be easy to find and to use with the kind of adaptable features that today's internet user is drawn to. Like most successful products, you need to identify a need then provide a solution. What are you offering that other sites aren't?

You also have to consider the complexity factor as in don't make your freemium complex! You want your potential customers to be able to click over and start using without very little effort. If your site requires lengthy training or tutorial sessions it might turn off potential users.

Make sure you understand the value of free users.

You're going to be spending a lot of capital and development time to get your freemium company up and running. The initial start-up phase is not going to generate any substantial revenue. However, if you appreciate the value of building up your user base then you can easily translate high volume into potential revenue streams through service upgrades.

Do you know your cost per acquisition (CPA)? Do you know your break even point? Are you realistic about how long it will take to achieve that goal? Those factors should all be part of your business model.

Test, test, test.

Make sure that you test every aspect of your business model, from conversion testing to how users consume your service. You can improve your service offerings, tweak your ad campaigns or even determine who your ideal customer is. Without testing, your business can be left behind by fast moving competitors who can snap up your unsatisfied customers.

While starting a freemium service is not always the right model for every industry, used wisely - it can be extremely powerful. Before you start, remember that all start-ups should begin by creating a product that solves an important need for users. 

How Mobile is Driving e-Commerce in the Future

Back in the sixties, the popular sci-fi series "Star Trek" showed us the way with its handheld communicator. This device allowed crew members to talk with their shipmates at very long distances.

They were also able to use that same device to tap into the vast resources of their super computer. Flash ahead to today and that bit of fantasy has become a reality.

We all have the ability to carry a super computer in the palm of our hands. We can look up information, check out the weather, get directions, stay in touch with friends and go shopping. In fact, mobile technology is going to be a leading factor that will drive e-commerce to further successful heights in the coming year.

Here's why the mobile device is having an impact on e-commerce:

1      Multiple devices and platforms increase brand visibility

Each year cyber shopping is carving out a larger portion of the retail pie with no signs of it letting up. It's not just the cell phone that is driving e-commerce but also the pad or tablet device. With iPad leading the charge shoppers are happy to download apps from their favorite stores and sign up for Twitter promotions and special offers. For the online brand, this means developing a web portal that can cross over on many platforms. You shouldn't limit yourself to just one device and stay competitive.

 

       Easy access for the consumer at all times

A major benefit that mobile users enjoy is the instant access to ordering a product online. Mobile apps have improved so much that they are considered the best friends of today’s users. The apps that are preferred are those that make it easier to find products and services on your cellphone and purchase the products. Consumers can download apps which let them scan bar codes to find the best bargain. If it happens that your website is selling that item at a better price then a few clicks later could have you closing a sale.

      Rising mobile demand

As smartphones are becoming cheaper and more powerful, their adoption is rising. In the US alone, web-enabled smartphone purchases have 46% of the cellphone market. Thus, the market for e-commerce consumers via mobile platforms is ever expanding. With the expansion, there is a logical increase in the use of cellphones for e-commerce.  

Improvements in technology are helping businesses and customers shop and it's only going to get better. Case in point: The Shazam app. Once downloaded, you can activate Shazam to "tag" any song playing on the radio or TV. That song becomes part of a virtual shopping list that is tied directly to iTunes. Hear it, tag it, buy it.

The mobile shopping experience doesn't get any better than that! 

Best Apps for Your Small Business

It seems as though with every new technological advancement businesses flourish. The first Xerox copy machine was introduced back in 1960. And now, can you imagine any business surviving without a photocopy machine? The next major innovation was the fax machine which allowed businesses to instantly pass documents and purchase orders across the country and around the world.

Then came the internet and everything changed! Today, savvy small business owners are tapping into a vast array of resources that fit in the palm of their hand. We’re talking about mobile smartphone business applications. How can they help your business succeed?

Consider the following apps to help run your business virtually.

Bump

The number one way for business owners to connect with clients and contractors is by passing along their business card. With the Bump app you can now transmit your contact information directly by “bumping” or touching your phones together.  You can also “bump” photos and files. This might not replace your business card completely but at least you’ll be guaranteed that whoever you “bump” will be getting your info!  You no longer have to keep hanging onto hundreds of paper business cards anymore!

Expensify

Filing an expense report is essential for anyone who wants to be reimbursed by their company. But it’s also a tedious chore to cobble together receipts and mileage numbers. Now with Expensify you can take the drudgery out of writing expense reports. You can scan and upload receipts and file them by the specific business trip. The report generated by Expensify can be directly emailed to a company’s finance officer.

Square

From the founder of Twitter comes a remarkable app that turns your smartphone into a virtual payment processor. Square allows businesses to set up an account and accept credit card payments directly into the phone. This means you can receive a payment in any location and at any time. Best of all, there are no monthly fees or sign up costs. Instead, Square takes a 2.75% service charge for each swipe. That is comparable to a standard credit card machine. This is a great app for a business which sells goods or services away from an office or storefront.

InDinero

With this app you’ll be able to access and track your bank accounts and cash flows. This allows you to manage operational expenses on a day-to-day basis. The InDinero app syncs up to your business bank and credit card accounts.

Google Drive

Google has already changed the way we search the internet. With Google Docs, businesses are able to share information with staff members and clients. Now Google Drive lets those same users effortlessly upload and edit any type of files from your PC to your smartphone. This is like having a mini-cloud drive on your phone. Best of all you get 5GB of storage for free. This is perfect for business that needs to maintain email storage.

Have you discovered an app that has changed the way you do business?