Twilio buys SendGrid for email APIs
Twilio plans to buy SendGrid in a $2 billion deal that underscores the continued importance of email in business communications and collaboration.
SendGrid makes a set of cloud-based email APIs that businesses can use for sending transactional and marketing emails to customers, such as shipping notices and sales offers. Founded in 2009, the company claims its email APIs are used to contact half of the world's digital users every three months.
Twilio's communications platform as a service supports voice, video, SMS, chat and social media channels -- but not email. SendGrid's email APIs will fill that gap, as the two companies pledged to release "a single platform for all customer engagement" after the deal closes in the first half of 2019.
The acquisition comes as Twilio looks to expand its presence in the cloud contact center market. The company released a prebuilt contact center this week, Twilio Flex. It is a first-of-its-kind offering from Twilio, which had previously only provided the developer tools for building such a service.
"Incorporating email into the omnichannel customer contact center is definitely part of the story," said Dan Miller, lead analyst and founder of Opus Research, based in San Francisco, "but it looks like SendGrid is going to be operated as a subsidiary of Twilio, and integration will have to take place over time."
Twilio also appears poised to gain access to tens of thousands of new customers through SendGrid. Together, the companies said they would serve more than 100,000 businesses, compared to Twilio's current figure of more than 40,000.
UC vendors redouble commitments to email
Over the past couple years, largely following the lead of Slack, unified communications vendors have invested in team collaboration apps -- like Microsoft Teams and Cisco Webex Teams -- that were supposed to reduce the need for email, especially for internal communications.
But a string of recent acquisitions proves that email will remain a valuable business communication tool for the foreseeable future.
Last month, Slack bought startup Astro, maker of a chatbot that lets users check their email and calendars from Slack. Astro also makes an AI platform that helps people prioritize email inboxes and manage calendars.
And over the summer, Facebook bought startup Redkix with the intention of integrating the technology with its business communication and collaboration platform, Workplace by Facebook. Redkix makes a platform that combines email and teams-based chat apps into a single interface.
Vendors must come to terms with the reality that email is here to stay, at least until older generations exit the workforce, said Jon Arnold, principal of Toronto-based analysis firm J Arnold & Associates.
"Right now, [email is] still just too sticky," Arnold said. "So, I think [vendors] have realized they can't just ignore those pieces if they want to get where the money is."
Source: searchunifiedcommunications
Industry news: unified communation news
Latest Jobs
-
- Azure Identity Consultant
- Netherlands
- discussed on applications
-
Are you a cybersecurity expert passionate about identity and access management? We are seeking a talented IAM Technical Specialist to join our Sec Ops team. In this role, you will play a pivotal part in developing and maintaining our IAM infrastructure, ensuring the highest levels of security and compliance. What you'll do: Design, implement, and maintain IAM solutions for both on-premise and cloud environments. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate IAM systems into various applications and processes. Conduct security assessments and risk analysis to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities. Stay up-to-date with the latest IAM technologies and industry best practices. What we're looking for: Experience: experience as a technical specialist with expertise in AD management. IGA concepts: Experience with Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) concepts such as RBAC, PAM, SIEM, SSO, segregation of duties (SoD), data classification, and recertification. Azure Identity Management: Minimum 2 years of demonstrable experience with Azure identity management, specifically within complex organizations. IT knowledge: Good general knowledge of IT environments such as Active Directory, Azure Cloud, Office 365, SharePoint Online, etc. Protocol knowledge: Familiar with SAML, OIDC, OAuth, and SCIM. Programming languages: Minimum 3 years of experience with development languages such as PowerShell; knowledge of Java or C# is a plus.
-
- Cloud Architect- German Speaker
- Hungary
- Upto €48000 per year + bonus + benefits
-
As a Senior Pre-Sales Solutions Architect, you will play a pivotal role in driving our sales success by translating complex technical solutions into compelling proposals that resonate with our clients. You will collaborate closely with our sales teams to understand customer needs, design tailored solutions, and negotiate successful deals. Responsibilities: Solution Design: Develop comprehensive technical solutions that align with customer business objectives and industry best practices. Proposal Development: Create compelling proposals, including requirements gathering questionnaires, presentation materials, and Statements of Work (SOWs). Customer Engagement: Build strong relationships with clients, understanding their technical, business, and commercial requirements. Collaboration: Work closely with sales teams, delivery teams, and third-party partners to ensure successful project execution. Pricing Strategy: Define and deliver pricing strategies that align with customer needs and company objectives. Requirements: Experience in technical pre-sales or sales support roles. Proven track record in designing and delivering successful customer solutions. Strong technical foundation in areas such as VMware, Azure, AWS, cloud computing, and data center technologies. Excellent understanding of sales principles, account management, and negotiation techniques. Ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly and concisely. Experience working in international teams and supporting clients across multiple regions. Fluency in German and English is essential. Benefits: Competitive salary and benefits package Opportunity to work on challenging and rewarding projects Collaborative and supportive work environment Potential for career growth and advancement Please note that this role is focused on supporting German clients, but will also involve global client support as needed.
-
- Microsoft Sentinel Architect
- United Kingdom
- discussed on applications
-
Microsoft Sentinel Architect We're seeking a talented and experienced Microsoft Sentinel Architect to be responsible for the design, deploy of a new Sentinel solution into an expanding Services business. As a key member of our team, you'll play a vital role in driving security operations and protecting clients' assets. Responsibilities: Solution Design: Develop comprehensive Microsoft Sentinel architectures aligned with our clients' specific needs and industry best practices. Deployment and Configuration: Oversee the deployment and configuration of Sentinel components, including data connectors, analytics rules, and playbooks. Integration: Integrate Sentinel with other security tools and platforms within our MSSP ecosystem. Tuning and Optimization: Continuously monitor and optimize Sentinel performance to ensure maximum effectiveness and efficiency. Training and Mentoring: Mentor junior team members and provide training on Sentinel technologies and best practices. Required Skills and Experience: Proven experience as a Microsoft Sentinel Architect with a deep understanding of its capabilities and limitations. Strong technical skills in Azure, security operations, and data analytics. Experience designing and implementing complex security solutions, into a services environment Knowledge of threat intelligence, incident response, and compliance frameworks. Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
-
- Network & Security Consultant
- Romania
- €54000 plus benefits
-
Senior Network & Security Engineer to join a Managed Network & Security Team in Europe. In this critical role, you will: Play a pivotal role in managing and securing network infrastructure across datacenters, customer connections, and on-premise deployments. Proactively monitor network and security devices, analyse incidents, and implement solutions to ensure optimal performance and security. Collaborate with colleagues and customers to troubleshoot issues, troubleshoot outages, and implement effective resolutions. Lead and participate in network system installations for new facilities and expansions. Develop and maintain network infrastructure procedures, recommend technical strategies, and propose improvements to enhance network capabilities. Stay up-to-date on the latest network and security technologies and trends. Work as part of a collaborative international team, contributing to team presentations and knowledge sharing. To be successful, you'll need: Proven expertise in Cisco network solutions (CCNP R&S/Sec/Wireless preferred) for both BAU and project work. In-depth knowledge of network security principles and experience with Fortinet firewalls. Experience deploying and managing large, complex network infrastructure (routing, switching, wireless, security). Solid understanding of ITIL v3 framework for incident, change, and problem management. Excellent troubleshooting skills with experience using Wireshark or similar protocol analysers. Strong communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to work independently and collaborate effectively.