Get the latest announcements from MEF Members across the mobile ecosystem globally in this weekly review of member news…
AIS Joins Forces with IPification to Deliver Next-Gen Phone Verification to Thailand
Hong Kong – AIS, the leader in Cognitive Tech-co and telecommunications services in Thailand has joined forces with IPification to deliver next-generation phone number verification solutions to Thailand. IPification is the leading global provider of mobile IP address-based authentication, phone verification, and fraud prevention solutions.
The longest-running network in Thailand, AIS prides itself on continuously improving its services to enhance its customers’ lives and businesses. With IPification as its partner, AIS not only improves the quality of life of its customers but also re-establishes its brand as one of the biggest innovators in the region.
“AIS recognizes the importance and benefits of enabling developers to access services and capabilities of telecommunications service providers, which will support and expedite the development of secure applications and digital services with seamless user experience. Prioritizing the security of digital services users will positively impact the overall economy. Partnership with IPification will accelerate mobile application development through API more efficiently and foster digital application innovation for the future,” said Mr. Phupa Akavipat, Acting Chief Enterprise Business Officer, AIS.
“I’m proud to say that IPification is entering the Thai market and no less than with a partner like AIS. I’m now expecting to see many apps from different industries implement IPification, including fintech, banking, taxi and delivery apps, gaming apps, etc. Finally, we’re sending a huge thank you to AIS for their trust and support. We’re very much looking forward to the great changes this partnership will bring to Thailand’s mobile security ecosystem,” added Mr. Stefan Kostic, CEO at IPification.
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OTT Business Messaging Traffic to Reach 175 Billion Globally by 2025, as Regulation Reduces Market Siloes
Hampshire, UK – 12th March 2024: A study by Juniper Research, the foremost experts in telecommunications, has found that the total number of OTT (Over the Top) messages will increase from 120 billion in 2023 to over 175 billion in 2025; a substantial growth of over 70% in two years.
WhatsApp will introduce third-party interoperability in early March to align with the EU’s Digital Markets Act. Through this interoperability, users will be able to exchange messages from WhatsApp to other messaging channels. This will reduce the constraint of siloed ecosystems on messaging growth.
The report forecasts that by 2028, the global number of unique OTT messaging app users will reach 4.3 billion. However, with a large number of users, the report predicts that mobile messaging scams prevalent over SMS, such as smishing attacks, will migrate to OTT channels. Smishing attacks occur when fraudulent actors imitate well-known and trusted brands to manipulate users into revealing sensitive information.
Research author Alex Webb remarked: “OTT messaging apps must take responsibility for the levels of fraud over their channels. Authenticating brands before conversations are initiated is the first critical step to ensure that OTT networks remain clean and minimise any potentially fraudulent traffic.”
Smart Manufacturing Cellular IoT Connections To Exceed 150 Million In 2028
London, 12th February 2024 – A new report by connectivity experts Kaleido Intelligence has found that cellular smart manufacturing deployments will grow to over 150 million connections, almost trebling 2023 deployments.
Kaleido’s latest report, Cellular IoT Connectivity Series: Manufacturing Opportunities & Forecasts 2023-2028, shows that while overall penetration of cellular connectivity into factories will remain low, those areas that are building new factories rapidly will have an accelerated path to connectivity. As such, several European markets will approach or exceed 20% of factories with cellular connectivity by 2028, while the East Asia & Pacific region as a whole will have 13%.
The new research shows what automation use cases will be key to the emerging smart manufacturing sector, detailing how the sector will generate over 240 petabytes of data as video-based analytics takes off.
“In the manufacturing environment, deploying edge computing to limit data transport distances will be vital to maintaining the low latency required for many use cases,” remarked research author James Moar. “Our survey-based research shows that providing strong value-added services to support advanced devices will be a key competitive advantage for connectivity providers in this sector.”
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Brita Strandberg Joins Numeracle Board of Directors
Numeracle, Inc., the pioneer of Verified Identity and Entity Identity Management for Communications, today announces the appointment of Brita Dagmar Strandberg to its Board of Directors.
Brita boasts extensive experience advising communications and technology companies, helping catalyze growth and reach successful public offerings. With a track record advising industry giants like Zoom, RingCentral, Cisco, and others, Brita has navigated regulatory landscapes, facilitated market entry, managed operational challenges, and assisted with transformative transactions and IPOs. Brita also serves as an independent Director and member of the Audit and Compensation Committees at Aircall, a leading customer communication and engagement platform.
“I am honored and excited to join Numeracle’s Board of Directors at this pivotal moment in the Company’s growth,” Brita said. “I look forward to collaborating with the team to advance Numeracle’s leadership in the industry and return trust to communications.”
“Like many others, I have leaned on Brita’s wisdom and insights to overcome the toughest hurdles in telecom. It is an honor to have her join the board to help guide Numeracle in paving the way for identity adoption in all communications while also being financially sound and responsible in our pursuit,” Rebekah Johnson, founder and CEO of Numeracle said. “It is important for me to have a board that is aligned in our vision for Numeracle’s future, but also value those who bring different opinions and perspective from my own as CEO and board member.”
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Twilio Concludes Operational Review of Segment Business and Announces $2 Billion Expansion of Share Repurchase Authorization
Twilio (NYSE: TWLO), the customer engagement platform that drives real-time, personalized experiences for today’s leading brands, today announced the results of its operational review of its Segment business. The company also provided targets for FY 2024 and FY 2025, and announced an additional $2 billion share repurchase authorization that it is targeting to complete during FY 2024.
“Our top priority is creating long-term value for our shareholders by driving Twilio towards durable, profitable growth,” said Khozema Shipchandler, CEO of Twilio. “In connection with this priority, myself, the Twilio management team, and the Board evaluated an extensive range of alternatives for Segment’s path forward. We unanimously came to the same conclusion: retaining Segment and taking aggressive action to accelerate the path to profitability is the best opportunity available to enhance value for our customers and shareholders. We also believe that Segment will further strengthen our Communications product offerings and allow us to capitalize on expanded opportunities presented by AI. We will execute against a clear set of priorities to achieve break-even non-GAAP income from operations for Segment by Q2 2025, exercising operational rigor to right-size our investments, accelerate time to value, and drive more disciplined execution. In addition, the Twilio Board has authorized an additional $2 billion in share repurchases, which reflects our improved free cash flow profile, our confidence in our strategy, and the tremendous opportunity we see ahead.”
Ooredoo Group Partners with DropBox to Upgrade Business Collaboration
9 March 2024, Doha, Qatar – Ooredoo Group has entered into a strategic partnership with Dropbox, becoming the first telecommunications company in the EMEA region to offer Dropbox’s full suite of business tools for its customers.
The partnership, which was signed at Mobile World Congress 2024, will provide business customers across Ooredoo’s markets with access to Dropbox’s fast, secure and reliable syncing and collaboration software, enabling them to increase efficiency and productivity through a single, trusted provider.
Ahmad Abdulaziz Al Neama, Group Regional CEO, Ooredoo, said: “We are proud to partner with Dropbox to provide our business customers with the tools they need to keep their teams working togethr efficiently. This partnership underlines our commitment to delivering comprehensive digital solutions for our business customers.”
