Market
Current Situation
Today’s phone system is no longer suitable
The traditional phone system was based on an environment where fixed-line phones were the only form of communication and one’s physical address (street, city, state) and name were an appropriate way to find others. Today, people have multiple forms of communication (multiple email addresses, multiple phones, IM addresses, social addresses) and how people know one another is no longer based on where someone lives. As such, a phone system based on the person, rather than a phone number or physical address, will be the way people find others in the appropriate contexts they know them, whether professional, personal or private in nature.
A more socially-connected world
Today, people are now a part of multiple social groups and communicate with others in a variety of methods and forms. This increase in social usage has also created a number of directories found throughout the world, making it challenging for people to find others, particularly as individuals change jobs, move to other locations, etc. As such, future social-based communication will require a 3rd party directory system that ties these directories together based on the individual, linking all forms of communication to the person.
Private-based communication matters
The demand to ‘find and connect’ people to one another is exploding. Individuals want to be able to connect with each other, regardless of location, network or device and are willing to pay to get connected. However, with this explosion of devices, an individual’s privacy needs to be protected. Directory-based solutions that can provide simple and private connectivity for individuals will be critical as we move to a more ‘connected’ world.
Current Challenges
As people become more mobile and the range of devices and connectivity methods (e.g., IM, email, SMS, social network aliases) proliferate, the existing directory models are challenged. The major challenges that face existing directory models are listed below.
Privacy for individuals
Privacy for an individual is paramount. For example, individuals protect their privacy by controlling whom they give their mobile number to. To avoid unwanted calls, many customers are unwilling to publish their telephone number.
Privacy for service providers
Service providers want to protect their customer base as competition intensifies within the different markets. Consequently, they are reluctant to share their subscriber information.
Billable directory platform
Today, an individual’s contact information can now belong to one of a number of service providers, be it a mobile carrier or social networking site. However, service providers are having difficulties billing for simple directory-based connectivity calls.
Individuals have several contexts
Individuals are known in many different circles, whether professional, personal or social in nature. These groups or communities often require a unique nickname or alias for an individual.
Customer information goes out of date
The lack of an interactive platform for customers to manage their own listings means that information is quickly out of date and the customer has little control of how people can find them. Consumer management of content has been a clear focus of the Internet this transition needs to be made in the telecommunication field as well.
Overcoming Current Challenges
The Context Connect Directory as a Service (DaaS) platform provides a clear answer for overcoming current challenges.
- Increase call traffic
- Protect privacy of individuals
- Provide pathway to billable directory and connectivity calls
- Build an effective directory platform
