Vonage Walks the Tok
Acquires TokBox to move into programmable video -- a smart move when cloud is converging and video is booming.
Vonage yesterday announced that is has acquired TokBox from Telefόnica for $35 million. While UC analyst Zeus Kerravala covered the acquisition and the components of TokBox's OpenTok platform in a separate No Jitter post, there's more to be said about the value the company will bring to Vonage.
This acquisition brings WebRTC and programmable video capabilities to Vonage, which will compete with other programmable video providers such as Vidyo, Twilio, Ribbon Communications, and Temasys. It's a complementary addition to Vonage, which acquired Nexmo, a communications-platform-as-a-service (CPaaS) provider in 2016.
I like this acquisition for several reasons, but two big ones stand out: Cloud-delivered services are converging, and video is booming.
Cloud Convergence
Vonage temporarily confused many industry watchers when it acquired Nexmo in June 2016. At the time, the UCaaS industry was all about providing software services or applications, not development tools. By contrast, CPaaS offers building-blocks or tools that add pay-as-you-go communications services into applications, websites, and connected Internet of Things (IoT) devices. With the acquisition, Vonage had crossed an imaginary line into an adjacent sector.
Over the following months, the idea didn't seem so radical. By blurring these boundaries, Vonage emerged as a cloud-delivered communications provider that enabled its customers to build, purchase, and customize applications.
For example, Last month Nexmo announced partnerships with artificial intelligence (AI) players including Amazon Lex, Google Cloud Speech and Dialogflow, and Microsoft Azure Cognitive Services Translator, as well as leading bot platforms such as i2x, MuleSoft, OneReach, Over.ai, VoiceBase, and Voicera. While these partnerships can be used by developers to extend any app, Vonage also pre-built integrations into its CXOne (CCaaS) and Vonage Business Cloud (UCaaS). This gives its application customers the ability to customize and extend their applications without custom development.
Vonage Nexmo has already made several open-source contact center modules available, and WebRTC modules will be highly complementary. For example, many organizations are looking to add video capabilities to their contact centers. We can expect Vonage to offer an integrated WebRTC video solution that will align with its open-source skills-based router it published last March.
Going beyond CPaaS, expect Vonage to use TokBox to strengthen its applications as well. In 2017, Vonage added Amazon Chime for audio, Web, and video conferencing to its portfolio. Although Chime filled a conferencing gap, it's not tightly integrated with other Vonage services. I foresee Vonage creating a richer video conferencing service for Vonage Business Cloud (and CXOne).
Video is Booming
According to IDC, the U.S. programmable video market will be a $7.4 billion opportunity by 2022, representing more than a 140% four-year CAGR. Vidyo and TokBox essentially created video optimized services. The video opportunity is large, but often obscured. Most CPaaS providers remain focused on voice and messaging services, and most UCaaS providers don't see use cases beyond video chat and conferencing.
Consider Doorbot, which reimagined the residential doorbell. In 2013, Doorbot introduced the idea of a doorbell that established a cloud-connected video session to a smartphone. Doorbot evolved into Ring, and Amazon acquired it earlier this year for $1 billion. As another example, consider Netgear, which used its networking skills to create IP-connected cameras. Its portfolio has been so successful that Netgear put its video solutions into a separate company called Arlo, which recently filed for an initial public offering.
Cameras are everywhere, and the use of them continues to grow. Logitech just reported that its video unit grew by more than 60% last quarter. A programmable video service provides general tools to leverage these cameras in a variety of uses cases including security, analytics, conferencing, and monitoring. The timing is excellent; the WebRTC wars are over.
With an increase in cameras and connectivity, there's also an increase in programmable options. Last year, Vidyo launched a video-optimized platform service that is building momentum, particularly within healthcare and customer engagement use cases. In 2016, Twilio acquired WebRTC media processing technologies and the team associated with the Kurento open source media server. But even with these moves, most CPaaS providers remain focused on voice and messaging services.
As connectivity and cameras increase, it's inevitable that so will video-enabled applications. There's tremendous growth opportunities. For example, despite a decade of omnichannel, the majority of contact center interactions are still over voice. But the benefit of enhancing voice with images is illustrated by U.K. company Endsleigh Insurance, which allows customers to send photos as part of its process for low-value claims. Considering that most customers are now calling from camera-equipped smartphones, it's inevitable that video-enabled interactions are coming.
Source: nojitter
Latest Jobs
-
- Information Security Risk Consultant, London. ISO 27005
- London
- 60000
-
REFCH7901 Information Security Risk Consultant, London. ISO 27005 Information Security Risk consultant needed for a London based client. The ability to achieve SC security clearance will be required. ISO 27005 Risk Assessment experience is essential. The role will cover, Risk identification, Assessment and Advisory consulting. This is a client facing role, single client- not multiple. Experience working with multiple teams and internal stakeholders is essential. The information Security Risk Consultant should ideally have a breath of information Security and IT technology based security experience. Prior experience within the public sector is desirable, but not essential. Broad knowledge across Security IT transformation, Cloud is also key. Broad experience across GRC, iso27001, NIST is key. Ongoing support and training provided. Apply today for more information, all details kept in confidence.
-
- Google Cloud platform Security Engineer, Contract, inside IR35
- United Kingdom
- -
-
REF CH7897 Google Cloud platform Security Engineer, Contract, Inside IR35 Looking for a Google Cloud platform Security Engineer will define, document, design, implement, harden and generally improve the security capability of a Google Cloud Platform. The ability to configure, and deploy the following Google Cloud Platform security solutioons is essential; Command Security Centre, Cluster Security, APIGEE, GCP Cloud Armor Hands on technical expertise security experience with Terraform, Kubernetes Security, Container (Docker) security, Secret Manager is essential as is experience securing Google Kubernetes Engine Workloads. It is essential that you have a proven track record of securing a GCP environment and expertise in automating that with Terraform. Scripting experience with the above where appropriate is a key ability. You will be highly technical and have the ability to engage with stakeholders to ultimately deliver a secure and hardened Google Cloud Platform.
-
- IAM Consultant- Identity Governance
- United Kingdom
- Upto £80,000 plus benefits
-
Identity and Access Management Consutlant is required for this established business who put their employees first. the role entails • Develop and maintain IAM services. • Further develop IAM tool integration with Service Now to provide automated JML processes and application access requests and fulfilment. • Provide guidance over Role Based Access in terms of Location based Roles, Application Roles and Business Roles and act as SME over any future RBAC project. • Work closely with our other Technology teams on integrating IAM services with Technology and business systems to increase efficiency through automation around areas such as JML processes, application access request fulfilment and attestation. • Work with the Governance Risk & Compliance (GRC) team to provide application access attestations and toxic combination alerting and reporting. • Involvement with Identity Management initiatives such as Single Sign On (SSO) and Privileged Access Management (PAM), to ensure security and business processes are in line with industry best practice. • Assist in ensuring that all IAM capabilities are mapped to internal processes, policies, and standards. Develop metrics to measure and improve the alignment. • Complete monthly review and report on sensitive group access, i.e., service accounts, admin accounts, etc. validating I&O processes are effective. • Provide information to both internal and external Auditors in response to findings. • Collate audit evidence for AAF audit and control reviews, taking responsibility for identifying service and process improvements to ensure compliance with our controls and standards. We are looking for someone with Hands on technical experience with the IAM tools, you need to have been involved in the integration of the IAM solution into 3rd party software like Servicenow, You will have worked with an IAM tools that are focused into Identity Goveranance, like RSA, CA Identity Suite, Fischer Identity, Hid Global, IBM IGL, Net IQ Identity Goverance, Omada, Ping or Oracle Post covid, this role will invovle a mix of home and office work, the business have a number of office spread across the UK so locaton is flexible for this position
-
- Sales Executive- SaaS/ Cloud/ Telecommunications Services
- Frankfurt
- Upto €80,000
-
A great opportunity has arisen for an expanding Cloud connectivity provider to join their German sales team to help them develop new business into the DACH region, They are looking for an agile and highly driven sales professional to win new enterprise business across the DACH region, with a particular focus on Switzerland. This is an opportunity to take part in help to shape the future of cloud native connectivity. This is a Hybrid role with a mix of account management and new business hunting, so are looking for people who enjoying doing both roles. This is a great opportunity to join a business that is growing and is still in early stages of it European growth phase, where you career will grow with the business If you are a highly motivated and driven individual with experience in selling either Telecommunication, cloud or security solutions and are seeking a sales role working with cutting edge technology in a fast-paced environment this role could be for you. Send your CV and we will call you back to discuss the opportunity in more depth