Tag Archives: OTT

Partnering with OTT from a position of strength

guest | March 5, 2013
partnering with OTTShould we pity today’s service provider? Customers are demanding more, faster, content thanks to our enthusiasm for smart devices combined with over-the-top (OTT) services from players such as Skype, YouTube, Google, and most recently, Facebook.  Service providers are expected to deliver it to consumers in a high-quality format, across multiple channels, and without receiving any corresponding increase in revenues.  Although many fear this will cast service providers in a “dumb pipe” role where all they do is provide connectivity, all is not doom and gloom. In fact, according to a recent Coleman Parkes survey of service providers, over-the-top players and device ... More >>

Is a faceoff with Facebook imminent?

Jonah Pransky | December 15, 2011
If Facebook were in a face off I think they might get Jesse Eisenberg to do it.For the past couple of years we have been regarding Google as the biggest potential OTT (or come from behind) threat to the traditional service providers. And deservedly so.  They had in essence become the internet, and were offering popular voice, chat and video content. They were augmenting that with fiber networks and talk of becoming an ISP. They beat the telecom industry to the mobile payment punch with their m-wallet. They had delivered the worlds most popular smartphone/tablet operating system and they even went out and bought a handset manufacturer. Oh, and all those fancy value-added services telecom operators are talking about – enterprise solutions, cloud? Check and Check. Oh, ... More >>

Losing the hold on the customer

Michal Harris | March 7, 2011
In the not-so-distant past, service providers used to have full control over the customer experience lifecycle. But now, over-the-top providers, niche app vendors, general retailers and others have all moved in to enhance the customer experience lifecycle. Today’s consumers benefit from a wide selection of offers and possibilities and are more empowered than ever. They have the freedom to design their own personalized customer experience path. For example, when buying a mobile phone, instead of just going to their service provider’s local outlet to evaluate phones and plans, today’s customer might first go online to compare phones, check out professional ... More >>

Everybody loves connected devices…well almost everybody

Jonathan Shmukler | February 7, 2011
Having recently returned from CES, I was amongst the tens of thousands of people drooling over the thousands of consumer electronic devices on display. What is immediately noticeable at such conventions is the open, symbiotic relationship between service providers and device manufacturers. Almost every major wireless carrier announced a slew of new connected devices including smartphones, tablets, laptops and even automobiles. The relationship is clearly advantageous to both sides with carriers looking to drive network and service consumption while device manufacturers get to sell more devices. It seems that everybody loves connected devices…well almost. There was one group of companies ... More >>