YOU ARE AT:CarriersFring Alliance looks to stem carrier OTT losses

Fring Alliance looks to stem carrier OTT losses

WebRTC-based white-label voice, video, messaging platform core to Fring Alliance plans

ORLANDO, Fla. – One of the biggest challenges facing telecom operators are over-the-top services that compete against what the operator is providing to consumers – sometimes at a cheaper price – and running over that operator’s network. These types of OTT services include voice, video and messaging applications from the likes of Skype, Facebook and Google.

A recent white paper produced by U.K.-based Juniper Research projects wireless carriers will lose a staggering $14 billion in the next year as consumers give voice and message business to OTT service providers including Skype, Facebook and WhatsApp.

One way carriers have attempted to counter these OTT moves is by launching their own Web-based applications that take advantage of the same technology used by the OTTs, but with a greater level of service quality enabled by the operator having better insight into its network.

Fring, which Genband acquired in 2013, has come out as a supporter of these moves, providing a platform that allows mobile operators and telecom carriers to offer messaging, voice and video services as a white-label service to battle over-the-top players. The Fring Alliance claims telecom operators that service more than 55 million customers have signed up for its “federated” service that allows users to use the platform for cross-carrier communications.

Roy Timor-Rousso, GM of the Fring Alliance, talked with RCR Wireless News at the recent Genband Perspectives 15 event about the organization’s recent partnerships with telecom operators, as well as how the organization views its ability to cater to conservative telecom operators and use its platform to battle OTT players. He notes that the organization’s use of WebRTC technology allows telecom operators to offer more compelling services.

Genband paid for travel accommodations to the Perspectives 15 event

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