Tata Communications launches hosted, white label mobile VOIP platform

Tata Communications has launched a hosted, white label mobile VoIP* platform as part of its Voice Business Apps suite to extend its existing strategy of providing industry-leading hosted and managed services for service provider customers.  

The mobile VoIP platform allows mobile network operators (MNOs) and other retail voice providers to deliver and monetise converged IP communication services across voice, chat, video and file sharing. It offers a rich feature set that enables operators to leverage existing brand value and customer billing relationships to quickly roll out their own branded mobile VOIP packages, creating competitive differentiation among different user communities, including roamers, migrants, and digital natives.
 

The app can be directly integrated into the existing user management, billing and reporting platforms through a web API, and supports all the major smartphone and desktop platforms. The service reach can be extended by making it possible for customers to use mobile VOIP minutes for calls from laptops or tablets.

Consumers using the app will instantly see who’s available to chat, message, talk or video call. All address book contacts will be automatically visible, and popular social networking contacts can be easily synced. Enhanced features include instant video conferencing, follow-me, private numbers, voicemail, identity numbers and local numbers in geographies where permissible. A full suite of IP-PBX features also opens opportunities for retail service providers in the SMB/SME space.

Christian Michaud, Senior Vice President, Product and Business Strategy, Global Voice Solutions, Tata Communications says, “Mobile operators are looking for ways to evolve their services portfolio to better meet the needs of their end users. Our mobile VoIP offerings allow operators to gain additional revenue from today’s ‘always connected’ users, and create new market segments without the significant upfront capital investment and lead time required for true native rich communication services.”

According to one research firm**, more than 1 billion people will be using mobile VoIP through smartphone apps by 2017. OTT* services are becoming increasingly popular with the growing adoption of smart phones and tablets. End users today have many choices for voice communications and are looking for the ability to have rich conversations with their contacts across numerous devices and multiple screens. Mobile network operators are constantly looking to introduce innovative offerings that will cater to this demand.

Anthony Cox, Associate Analyst at Juniper Research, said that operators need to consider what mobile VOIP can do for them: “Mobile VoIP can be used by MNOs or indeed fixed-line or cable players to address specific target markets or develop new service bundles such as video conferencing. Such services may be difficult or even impossible to deliver through traditional carriage methods,” he said.  

*VOIP, or voice over IP, refers to making voice calls through the Internet (IP) rather than on traditional phone cables.

*OTT services, or over-the-top services, are value-added services above the basic telephone subscription that has been purchased. Generally, any service beyond text messaging and the ability to make and receive voice calls would be OTT.

** The Rise of Mobile VoIP: VoIP Review’s Take on the Forthcoming Mobile VoIP Popularity Surge