pete_c
Guru
Amazon may soon join Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Apple and other tech giants in remaking voice services
Chris Nolter Dec 14, 2016 10:33 AM EST
As tech giants increasingly popularize apps blending telecom, messaging and video communications, your traditional seven-digit phone number could eventually be a casualty, suggests an analyst from Oppenheimer.
Microsoft (MSFT) , Alphabet's (GOOGL) Google, Facebook (FB) and Apple (AAPL) have all already built or bought apps that allow users to make calls without leaving their apps. And the entry of cloud giant Amazon into the space could further hasten the trend, wrote Oppenheimer analyst Tim Horan in a recent report.
"We have always maintained that the advancements in cloud computing would reshape the communication landscape -- from the way businesses communicate with consumers to everyday life, cloud computing aims to simplify, automate and reduce barriers to communication," wrote Horan.
The app-ification of telecommunications is already well underway with Facebook's Messenger and WhatsApp, Google's Duo and Hangouts, Apple's FaceTime and Microsoft's Skype all allowing users to make calls within them.
"As we move to more IP/app-based voice communications, we would not be surprised to see phone numbers completely replaced by profiles or names." Horan wrote.
Much of the innovation so far has focused on consumers, and especially millennials. But Horan suggests the market for unified communications, which packages voice, messaging and video for business customers, will be especially tempting.
Chris Nolter Dec 14, 2016 10:33 AM EST
As tech giants increasingly popularize apps blending telecom, messaging and video communications, your traditional seven-digit phone number could eventually be a casualty, suggests an analyst from Oppenheimer.
Microsoft (MSFT) , Alphabet's (GOOGL) Google, Facebook (FB) and Apple (AAPL) have all already built or bought apps that allow users to make calls without leaving their apps. And the entry of cloud giant Amazon into the space could further hasten the trend, wrote Oppenheimer analyst Tim Horan in a recent report.
"We have always maintained that the advancements in cloud computing would reshape the communication landscape -- from the way businesses communicate with consumers to everyday life, cloud computing aims to simplify, automate and reduce barriers to communication," wrote Horan.
The app-ification of telecommunications is already well underway with Facebook's Messenger and WhatsApp, Google's Duo and Hangouts, Apple's FaceTime and Microsoft's Skype all allowing users to make calls within them.
"As we move to more IP/app-based voice communications, we would not be surprised to see phone numbers completely replaced by profiles or names." Horan wrote.
Much of the innovation so far has focused on consumers, and especially millennials. But Horan suggests the market for unified communications, which packages voice, messaging and video for business customers, will be especially tempting.
