In the news

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5 Ecommerce Trends to Watch for in 2021

In this recent Shogun article, iconectiv’s Cliff Holsenbeck discusses how SMS marketing can be valuable to ecommerce businesses. Text messaging via shortcodes can offer the perfect opportunity for ecommerce businesses to engage in two-way text conversations with their consumers. With over 275 million smartphone users in the U.S. alone, there is a wide pool of potential customers. Data also shows that at the beginning of 2020, SMS was already averaging 2,755% ROI for ecommerce marketers — not too far behind email’s ROI of 3,800%.
Jan 14, 2021
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How CSPs can restore consumer trust in communications in 2021 – and beyond

In this Vanilla Plus article, iconectiv’s chief product officer Michael O’Brien discusses how understanding the real perception of consumer trust in communications these days is hard to know exactly because so many factors play into it. Over 76% of consumers no longer answer calls from unfamiliar and unidentified numbers, letting them drop into voice mail instead. Some contact center operators say that outbound call answer rates are down 30%.
Jan 7, 2021
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Trusted Communications: Predictions for 2021 — and Beyond

In 2020, COVID-19 accelerated digital transformations that were expected to take several years. This article explores three ways that consumer trust in communications will evolve in 2021: mobile numbers will become your ID, the notion of privacy will get even more fluid and businesses can expect to face an identity crisis.
Dec 22, 2020
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Put It in Writing: How Recruiters Can Create a Connection with Candidates through Short Code Messaging

With 96 percent of Americans owning a mobile phone, human resources professionals are starting to see the benefits of tools like mobile messaging via short codes, chatbots and other forms of automation when it comes to adding an extra layer of personal connection to their recruiting efforts. In this article, iconectiv’s Cliff Holsenbeck explores short code messaging, the less explored channel of communication between recruiters and candidates that can be used to smoothly conduct recruitment conversations.
Dec 22, 2020
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Mapping Out Your Retail Strategy for the Future: 7 Trends to Consider

Over the last two years, retailers have been exploring the use of text messaging in addition to their email marketing. 2021 is likely to see SMS messaging supersede email messaging as retail’s gold standard for messaging channels. In this article, iconectiv’s Cliff Holsenbeck gives advice for retailers looking to utilize SMS messaging in their retail strategy.
Dec 2, 2020
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Executive Broadcast, International Verification

As countries implement SHAKEN-based Calling Number Verification Services, for verifying legitimate calls and rebuilding consumer trust in caller ID, the industry needs to consider the impact on international call traffic. To ensure businesses are not disadvantaged, there is a need for authoritative guidelines for international service providers, to ensure the rules for handling their calls are clearly understood. Watch this executive broadcast with leaders in STIR/SHAKEN, here and abroad.
Nov 30, 2020
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Omni-Channel Verification - Executive Broadcast

Consumer trust in communications must transcend all touch points – from voice to messaging to chatbot interactions. Trust should not be a nice-to-have, it should be an expectation. In this executive broadcast, iconectiv’s CPO Mike O’Brien explores omni-channel verification and how the ecosystem—from technology vendors, service providers, messaging providers, enterprises and regulators—can collaborate to deliver trusted communications.
Nov 25, 2020

Press Releases

Media Contact:
Sharon Oddy
Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications
+1 732 699-5130
soddy@iconectiv.com

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How Can Telecom Operators Grow Their Businesses While Mitigating Risk?

Service providers are under significant pressure to sustain revenue growth and profitability while delivering new digital services. At the same time, regulations, technology disruptions, intensifying competition and changing customer demands are also placing telecom operators at a financial and operational crossroads: How can they grow their businesses while reducing cost and mitigating risk? During an upcoming webinar, “Driving Financial Decisions and Compliance with Fixed Asset Management”, iconectiv’s Eyad Alqadi, Regional Director for Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and John Hayes, Senior Director, will explore the role that FAM plays in providing critical information to drive financial decisions and ensure compliance.
May 17, 2022
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Toll-Free Calls to Benefit from Nation’s Robocall Mitigation Efforts

As part of its new policy, the Secure Telephony Identity Governance Authority (STI-GA) has approved iconectiv as a responsible organization (RespOrg), allowing it to verify the identity of the businesses and contact center operators authorized to use toll-free telephone numbers on our RespOrg. Industry initiatives such as STIR/SHAKEN are rebuilding consumer confidence in voice calls. As a RespOrg, iconectiv now can help verify the identity of the businesses and contact center operators authorized to use toll-free telephone numbers on our RespOrg to help ensure that their outbound calls are not mistakenly flagged as spam.
May 12, 2022
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With Voice and Messaging Communications, Trust is a Two-Way Street

The past few years have demonstrated just how much we depend on our mobile phones – for services, connection and convenience. As a result, digital transformation is gaining significant momentum, and identity verification is becoming more critical than ever. Businesses need to have trust in knowing who their customers are and consumers need to trust that the company that is calling or texting them is indeed who they say they are. In a recent interview with Mobile World Live, iconectiv Senior Vice President George Cray provided insights on how the industry is working to re-establish trust in the global communications ecosystem and the role that iconectiv plays in pushing digital transformation forward while ensuring service providers comply with regulations.
May 2, 2022
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Do You Take Calls from Numbers You Don’t Recognize? Odds Are, You Don’t

In this day and age, where so many in-person interactions have been replaced with remote engagements, digital transformation has become fundamental. As a result, businesses and consumers are relying on their mobile devices more than ever – utilizing voice and text communications to navigate their personal and professional lives. But with more than 85 billion spam phone calls being placed globally each year – costing trillions of dollars in lost business and productivity – keeping both the voice and messaging ecosystem safe for consumers and attractive to business is critical. In a recent interview with Mobile World Live, iconectiv CTO Chris Drake answered these questions, and discussed how to further build trust in communications, insights on new solutions to better identify legitimate businesses and more.
Apr 25, 2022
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How Service Providers are Weeding Out Illegal Robocalls, SMS Spam and Other Fraud Before It Reaches Consumers

Each year, communications service providers (CSPs) worldwide lose over US$39 billion to fraud such as illegal robocalls, SMS phishing (“smishing”) and “wangiri” callback schemes, according to the Communications Fraud Control Association (CFCA) and analyst firms. During the panel session, “Protect Your Customers from One-Ring Scams: Trusted Tools to Fight Fraud,” iconectiv telecom fraud expert David Estes will discuss how CSPs are upgrading their existing call-blocking analytics to identify calls from high-risk and unallocated number ranges and suspicious premium-rate numbers.
Apr 22, 2022
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iconectiv Toll-Free-Number Expert Mike Gilbert Elected ATIS SNAC Co-Chair

Years of illegal robocalls, SMS spam and fraud have undermined consumer trust in voice calls and text messages, including those from toll-free numbers. Restoring trust is critical for service providers and all the retailers, schools, healthcare providers and other organizations that depend on toll-free numbers to inform and engage consumers. As a new co-chair of the ATIS SMS/800 Number Administration Committee (SNAC), iconectiv Senior Account Director Mike Gilbert will oversee key toll-free number industry initiatives such as ensuring consumer trust in voice calls and text messaging.
Apr 21, 2022
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The Path to Trusted Voice Calls and Text Messages

In an effort to stave off the more than 85 billion illegal robocalls placed each year, as well as SMS phishing (“smishing”) and other fraud, industry players have banded together to keep the voice and messaging ecosystem safe for consumers and attractive to businesses. Abe Nejad, publisher of The Network Media Group, recently sat down with iconectiv Senior Vice President George Cray during Mobile World Congress 2022 in Barcelona to discuss the latest on STIR/SHAKEN, Registered Caller™ and industry trends.
Apr 19, 2022