Word of the Day: communications platform as a service (CPaaS)

Word of the Day Daily updates on the latest technology terms | July 5, 2019 communications platform as a service Communications platform as a service (CPaaS) is a cloud-based delivery model that allows organizations to add real-time communication capabilities such as voice, video and messaging to business applications by deploying application program interfaces (APIs). The communication capabilities delivered by APIs include Short Message Service (SMS), Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), telephony and video. Communication services can be embedded into business applications, such as sales software, to add features such as notifications, click-to-call and multifactor authentication. CPaaS is deployed by organizations that want to embed communications in their business applications, as well as cloud service providers and developers looking to add communications capabilities to their applications and services. The platforms include standards-based APIs, comprehensive software developer's kits, and Java or .NET libraries for building applications on various platforms. CPaaS providers can also offer bundles that provide pre-packaged, fully functional communication features that can be dropped into applications. CPaaS is typically billed on a monthly basis at a fixed rate for blocks of messages or minutes. Some CPaaS providers offer a pay-per-call, per-video or per-message billing model. CPaaS offers organizations a faster and lower-cost alternative to communication-enable applications rather than developing their own custom applications. Early CPaaS deployments have focused on applications in telehealth, field services, education, customer service and social media. The CPaaS market was originally driven by startups, such as Twilio, TokBox and Plivo, which offer APIs for embedding communications. Legacy unified communications vendors have entered the market with new services, including Genband's Kandy and Avaya's Breeze. Other vendors have acquired startups, such as Cisco acquiring Tropo and Vonage acquiring Nexmo. What do you think?   If you are looking for communication tools to boost collaboration, should you be researching Unified Communication as a Service (UCaaS) or Communication Platform as a Service (CPaaS) vendors? Let us know. Quote of the Day "A CPaaS platform on top of a UCaaS platform can extend an organization's ability to interact with a wide range of customers without complete ripping and replacing its communications infrastructure." - Michael Brandenburg Trending Terms UCaaS CaaS communication service provider Vonage click-to-talk API Learning Center Comparing UCaaS and CPaaS for cloud-based communications When looking to adopt cloud-based communications, it's important to know which options meet your business needs. Learn the basics of UCaaS and CPaaS, the functions they offer and how they handle different types of communications. How is CPaaS influencing UCaaS vendor portfolios? The shift toward more integrated and customizable options for UC has led UCaaS vendors to re-evaluate their platforms. CPaaS provides the flexibility and versatility that companies are looking for, making it a necessary addition for vendors that want to stay competitive. Unified communications market sees demand for customized offerings API-based customization and integration has grown into an important niche within the unified communications market. Read on to find out how channel partners can help customers simplify workflows. CPaaS vs. UCaaS platform: Which should you choose? When deciding between CPaaS vs. UCaaS platforms, look at how the two technologies can be used together, rather than as separate communications products. Should you use CPaaS vendors or develop communications in-house? When embedding communications capabilities into business apps, the decision to develop in-house or use CPaaS vendors depends on two main factors. Learn why these should be included in your decision-making process. Quiz Yourself There are a number of methods you can use to capture VoIP calls ___ a LAN. a. off b. off of Answer Stay in Touch For feedback about any of our definitions or to suggest a new definition, please contact me at: mrouse@techtarget.com Visit the Word of the Day Archives and catch up on what you've missed! FOLLOW US About This E-Newsletter This e-newsletter is published by the TechTarget network. To unsubscribe from Whatis.com, click here. Please note, this will not affect any other subscriptions you have signed up for. TechTarget, Whatis, 275 Grove Street, Newton, MA 02466. Contact: webmaster@techtarget.com Copyright 2018 TechTarget. All rights reserved.