Signals from the Noise: What the Latest Data Tells Us about messagings Next Moves

• Pamela Clark Dickson, Data Advisor – MEF

Future of messaging is already hiding in plain sight? Drawing on fresh MEF data from the U.S. and North American markets, veteran analyst Pamela Clark-Dickson decodes the trends shaping channel strategy, enterprise adoption, user behavior, and market velocity. This session goes beyond the dashboards—offering insight into what’s rising, what’s stalling, and what’s coming next. For anyone charting messaging strategy in 2025 and beyond, these signals are impossible to ignore.

Telco APIs: From Connectivity to Commercial Intelligence

• Dario Betti, CEO – MEF
• Shannon Donohue, VP, Global Connectivity & Operations – Vonage
• Mijo Soldin, VP Telecom Strategy and Partnerships – Infobip
• Jonathan Vimont, Director, NA Compliance Operations – Sinch

The telecom API ecosystem is maturing into a commercial reality. This session highlights how APIs for identity, QoS, authentication, and messaging are evolving from pilots into enterprise-grade solutions. This panel explores Open Gateway momentum, developer engagement, monetization strategies, and real-world enterprise use cases.

Trust, Compliance and Accountability: The Invisible Backbone of Messaging Growth

• Paul Ruppert, Advisor – MEF
• Ayshe Alp, Product Director, The Campaign Register – TCR
• John Bruner, CEO – Aegis Mobile
• Brien Jones Lantzy, Head of Compliance, Fraud, Security – Vonage
• Alex Duncan, CEO/Co-Founder – Openmind Networks

In an era where communication channels are expanding rapidly—from RCS to branded messaging, OTT platforms to APIs—trust, compliance, and accountability are no longer back-office checkboxes. They are front-line growth levers, key differentiators, and essential to customer, partner, and regulatory confidence.

Trust Is Not a Destination: The Platform’s Journey to Achieving End-User Trust

• Stephanie Lashley, VP, Messaging Strategic Alliances & Infrastructure – Bandwidth
• Caitlin Long, Senior Director Commercial Product Management –  Bandwidth

Trust is at the heart of every customer interaction, yet it’s increasingly under strain as fraud, spam, and artificial traffic erode confidence in both voice and messaging. As these channels converge, businesses face new challenges—but also new opportunities—to rebuild customer trust.

RCS for Business & Voice of the Customer

• Pamela Clark Dickson, Data Advisor – MEF
• Stephanie Lashley, VP, Messaging Strategic Alliances & Infrastructure –  Bandwidth
• Inderpal Singh Mumick, CEO – Dotgo
• James Lapic, Senior Director of Product Management – Twilio

RCS is gaining strong traction in North America, with over 1B rich messages exchanged daily and traffic surging 14× in 2024 following Apple’s adoption in iOS 18. This panel will explore the evolving verified RCS ecosystem—operator readiness, brand adoption, and the future of RBM. Industry leaders will share insights into how verified RCS is reshaping trust, security, and customer engagement.

Trust at the Edge: ClearSky’s Role in Secure Messaging Scale

• Dario Betti, CEO – MEF
• Erika Warren, Manager, Customer Success dept. – ClearSky Technologies

Messaging ecosystems are expanding into new channels—from RCS to branded messaging and API‑driven workflows—ClearSky’s experience in network trust, identity validation, and carrier collaboration offers a compelling lens on how to build truly accountable scale beyond just U.S. borders. Joined by ClearSky GM Ron Willett, this discussion will spotlight how strategic trust infrastructure and compliance partnerships are becoming the silent accelerators of messaging growth.

Lawfare in the Inbox: The Policy and Legal Fights Shaping Messaging in the US

• Paul Ruppert, Advisor – MEF
• Susan Duarte, Partner –  The CommLaw Group
• Glenn Richards, Partner – Dickinson Wright

When it comes to the policies surrounding messaging, the legal battlefield has moved to your inbox. Robocall/robotext enforcement is intensifying at the federal level where FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has refocused regulatory and enforcement activities aimed at curbing communications fraud facilitated by robocalls and robotexts. Meanwhile, states are testing the limits of their own authority—now eyeing oversight of SMS and RCS. Layer in court rulings that constrain agencies, and the risk calculus changes for every product roadmap. Our panel of telecom policy and experts breaks down what’s enforceable, what’s likely, and what’s noise—so executives can prioritize compliance investments, influence rulemaking, and keep innovation on track.

Regulating Messaging: Balancing Trust, Innovation & Global Compliance

• Dario Betti, CEO – MEF
• Anna Gentry, Senior Corporate Counsel – Microsoft

As messaging becomes the critical conduit for authentication, alerts, and consumer engagement, the regulatory burden has grown—especially in the United States. In this fireside chat, Anna Gentry, Corporate Counsel at Microsoft, joins Dario Betti, CEO of the Mobile Ecosystem Forum, to unpack the shifting regulatory landscape around messaging. Anna shares Microsoft’s dual perspective—as both a major sender and platform provider—on topics like the global rise of sender ID registries, anti-spam frameworks, and the future of SMS in a world increasingly shaped by RCS and WhatsApp.

 From Excitement to Execution: A Brand’s Journey with Rich Messaging

• Matt Ekram, Advisor – MEF
• David Fernandez, Senior Partner – Messaging Advisory
• Cheryl Sanders, VP, Mobile Strategy – Listrak

Brands see mobile messaging as a powerful new “digital billboard” to drive results—but unlocking that promise is not without its challenges. In this 20-minute discussion, David Fernandez (Messaging Advisory) and Chery Sanders (VP, Mobile Strategy – Listrak) share first-hand experiences guiding brands through the realities of adopting rich messaging channels. From educating consumers to avoiding the “spammy” trap, to navigating platform maturity, proving ROI, and managing inconsistent execution across Android and iOS, they will highlight both the opportunities and the hurdles. Join us to learn what it takes to make a brand’s first campaign successful—and why that first win is the key to long-term engagement and channel growth

Branded Calling at Scale: Carrier-Verified Identity for a Trusted Voice Future

• Matt Ekram, Advisor – MEF
• Josh Whitehurst, Head of Product – First Orion
• Tyler Mchugh,  Product Manager,  Trusted Call Solutions – TransUnion
• Jim Tyrrell, Vice President, Global Product Strategy – Transaction Network Services

Branded calling is gaining real momentum across U.S. wireless networks, powered by carrier integrations and enterprise identity standards. This session will highlight the collaborative efforts of TransUnion, First Orion and TNS—now enabling billions of branded calls.

Compliance As a Growth Engine

• Paul Ruppert, Advisor – MEF
• John T. McRae II, Executive Vice Chairman – VORTxT, a VVPUSA Company

Compliance doesn’t have to slow you down. In this session, VORTxT outlines a compliance-by-design approach—automated 10DLC/TCR steps, audit-ready consent, and deliverability hygiene—that cuts time-to-launch and lowers avoidable costs. A practical framework you can adapt to ship messages faster while reducing risk.

Collaboration and the Canadian Perspective: Building the Future of Mobile

• Robert Ghiz, President & CEO –  Canadian Telecommunications Association

Canadian Telecommunications Association President & CEO Robert Ghiz shares how Canada’s unique market structure — with strong national and regional network builders — has delivered lower prices, faster networks, and continued investment. He will highlight how collaboration across carriers, governments, and global partners is driving innovations like Rich Business Messaging and preparing Canada for 5G, direct-to-cell, and the next wave of mobile innovation.

Crossing the Borders: Neighborly Messaging Beyond the US.

• Paul Ruppert, Advisor – MEF
• Ron Willet, Vice President & GM – ClearSky Technologies
• Caitlin O’Neil, Director, Messaging Product Development – CTA
• Nathan Robins, Vice President of Go-to-market strategy and alliances

From regulatory friction to market fragmentation, doing business across Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean demands more than coverage—it requires alignment. This panel unpacks the untapped potential and persistent challenges of cross-border messaging. Hear from regional experts on interoperability gaps, policy divergence, and how to navigate three markets that are closer in geography than in execution.