CommioCast

The Top 10 Advantages of RCS

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 16:00:00 -0400

Listen in to this interesting CommioCast for more about Rich Communication Services and its advantages for business messaging compared to traditional SMS and MMS. The hosts elaborate on ten key benefits of RCS, including rich media capabilities, enhanced branding, interactive features, and improved security. While SMS and MMS still add great value, RCS is the future of business communication, offering a more engaging and effective way for brands to connect with their audience.

Learn more about Commio at commio.com.

Addressing Spam and Restoring Trust in Caller ID

Wed, 14 May 2025 14:00:00 -0400

This CommioCast episode highlights the significant negative impact of spam and fraudulent calls on customer trust and engagement. The deluge of unwanted calls has led consumers to distrust unknown numbers, making it increasingly difficult for legitimate businesses to reach their customers. Numeracle statistics emphasize the importance of accurate and verified caller ID. Commio's SignatureCalling™, based on Branded Calling ID™ technology and leveraging the STIR/SHAKEN framework, is presented as a solution to restore trust, protect businesses from impersonation, and improve call answer rates by providing a reliable way for consumers to identify legitimate calls.

Learn more about Commio at commio.com.

Restoring Trust in Phone Calls with Branded Caller ID

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 10:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the CommioCast, we highlight the significant problem of growing distrust in phone calls due to rampant spam and illegal spoofing, leading individuals to ignore even legitimate outreach. To combat this issue, Commio offers Branded Calling ID (BCID™), a secure technology that verifies caller identity and displays brand information like name, logo, and call reason. This innovative approach aims to restore trust in phone calls, protect businesses from impersonation, and increase call engagement by assuring consumers of a call's legitimacy. The development of BCID™, in collaboration with industry groups, utilizes a secure framework to deliver verified and spoof-resistant calls, ultimately benefiting both businesses and consumers by fostering more trusted communication. This enhanced caller ID is intended to re-establish the phone call as a reliable communication channel.

Learn more about Commio at commio.com.

Contact Center Challenges & Opportunities in 2025

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 10:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the CommioCast, we cover the significant challenges facing modern contact centers, particularly those in large industries like airlines and insurance. The primary difficulties include managing communication across numerous channels, meeting rising customer expectations for speed and personalization, and navigating workforce dynamics alongside AI integration.

The good news? We share the considerable opportunities arising from advancements in AI, predictive analytics, voice and text optimization, unified omnichannel platforms, and proactive engagement tools.

Specifically, you'll learn about new solutions in AI-powered routing and coaching, enhanced voice quality, faster messaging systems, intuitive dashboards, and scalable cloud infrastructure. Ultimately, the goal is to create a seamless and delightful customer experience by leveraging technological innovations to overcome current complexities.

Learn more about Commio at commio.com.

Mastering Business Text Messaging in 2025

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 13:00:00 -0400

Business text messaging is a crucial tool for customer engagement, and strategies surrounding application-to-person (A2P) messaging are evolving. This episode from Commio highlights significant shifts in A2P 10-digit long code (10DLC) messaging in 2024, including mandatory registration with The Campaign Registry (TCR) to curb spam. Failure to register led to increased fees, delivery issues, and stricter compliance requirements. Looking ahead to the rest of 2025, registration is now mandatory, and businesses are advised to become Campaign Service Providers (CSPs) for greater control and transparency, stay informed on compliance, and diversify messaging providers for reliability. Ultimately, embracing proactive adaptation and partnering with knowledgeable API providers is essential for effective and compliant business text messaging through 10DLC, which offers benefits like faster setup and lower costs.

Learn more about Commio at commio.com.

Top Reasons to Use Short Codes in 2025... and Beyond

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 14:00:00 -0400

This episode of the CommioCast explores the enduring value of SMS short codes for businesses in 2025 despite newer messaging options. The speakers say that short codes offer superior throughput and reliability for critical communications like alerts and authentication. Additionally, their ease of memorization and the established trust associated with them remain significant advantages. While acknowledging higher costs and longer registration times are downsides, the episode emphasizes short codes' role in a cleaner, registered messaging ecosystem.

Need a new shortcode or looking for better throughput of your existing campaigns? Commio is here to help!

Learn more about Commio at commio.com.

The Future of Contact Centers is... Optichannel Communications

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 16:00:00 -0400

Customers today expect immediate and consistent support across all communication channels. To meet these rising expectations, businesses are turning to omnichannel contact centers, which integrate various channels like phone, email, and social media into a unified platform.

While omnichannel offers a wider range of options, optichannel seeks to optimize the customer experience by using AI and machine learning to direct customers to the most effective channel for their specific needs.

Optichannel leverages technologies like RCS Business Messaging experiences, branded calling, conversational AI, sentiment analysis, and predictive analytics to anticipate customer needs and provide personalized support.

By analyzing customer data, optichannel contact centers aim to streamline interactions, improve satisfaction, and drive business growth by focusing on the "right" channels rather than simply offering more channels.

Commio offers solutions to help build such optichannel solutions. Learn more!

Learn more about Commio at commio.com.

Branded Calling: The New Tool for Brands You Aren't Using

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:00:00 -0500

Branded calling, what is it, and how does it work? The goal is to use it to restore trust in cloud communications by verifying caller identity and preventing fraudulent spoofing. This technology, utilizing Numeracle’s Verified Identity framework, cryptographically protects calls and ensures universal reach across major U.S. carriers. The result? Increase answer rates, reduce fraud losses, and enhance the customer experience by providing recognizable and trusted call information, like a verified name, logo, and reason for calling. Examples given highlight applications such as banks verifying transactions and airlines providing flight updates. Commio aims to empower businesses with tools to transform customer communications, while Numeracle focuses on Entity Identity Management to deliver secure and verified communications.

Learn more about Commio at commio.com.

What is SignatureCalling™? Verified Caller ID & Restoring Customer Trust

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 11:00:00 -0500

Commio, the uniquely customizable communications API platform that makes it easy to deliver integrated voice and messaging conversations, and Numeracle™ Inc. (“Numeracle”), the pioneer of Verified Identity and Entity Identity Management™ for communications, have announced a new partnership to deliver branded calling for Commio’s enterprise customers.

Both Numeracle and Commio are Authorized Partners in the Branded Calling ID (BCID™) ecosystem, an industry-led, standards-based initiative that focuses on delivering secure, trusted caller identification for businesses and their customers. Through the partnership, Numeracle will fulfill the BCID ecosystem’s Onboarding and Vetting functions, delivered through its Secure Verified Identity Presentation (sVIP) solution, while Commio fulfills the role of the Originating Service Provider.

This collaboration empowers enterprises using Commio’s voice network and its 10M+ phone numbers to deliver verified caller information to every wireless U.S. carrier in a single solution for the first time (subject to terminating carrier participation through 2025).

Commio SignatureCalling™ delivers a visual logo powered by Rich Call Data (RCD) plus presents brand contact information with every branded call, ensuring transparent communication while reducing fraud, combating spoofing, and restoring consumer trust in voice calls.

“We’re excited to partner with Numeracle to verify and brand calls to all U.S. mobile carriers in a single solution in 2025,” said Michael Tindall, Co-Founder & CTO, Commio. “The value to enterprises cannot be overstated. The ability to literally put your brand into customers’ hands with a verified level of trust will lead to higher answer rates, conversions, and ultimately revenue.”

“Trust in communications starts with identity—without it, businesses and consumers remain vulnerable to fraud and spoofed calls,” said Rebekah Johnson, Founder & CEO of Numeracle. “From the start, Numeracle has led the charge in building the BCID ecosystem, advocating for a secure, open framework for verified identity. This partnership with Commio gives enterprise customers direct access to this technology today, empowering them to take control of how their identity is displayed while protecting consumers. Together, we’re not just restoring trust in voice calls—we’re setting a new standard for the future.”

Learn more about Commio at commio.com.

RCS Business Messaging or SMS: What Performs Better?

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 08:00:00 -0500

By now, almost everyone knows Rich Communication Services (RCS) business campaigns are coming soon, and the buzz is that it will be Faaabulous, with all sorts of new features and functions, and…whoa—slow down!

Yes, RCS is all that (you can literally power an app experience in messaging) and *might* even be the biggest update to communications since SMS and VoIP, but there are still some management issues and other kinks to work out.

More than that, though, RCS in a perfect world still won’t replace SMS or MMS. Wondering where RCS will fit into your communications arsenal?

Join nativeMsg Co-founder and President Michael Lamb plus Commio Marketing Director Tim McLain as they compare the various types of text messaging, including:

Messaging features and capabilities (hint: not everything requires an app or even an image)
Delivery systems—carriers, providers, and phones, oh my!
Usage scenarios: which version to use when and where (location, location, location)
TCPA and the approval processes
What about OTT apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger?

There are lots of great minds working out those RCA kinks; it will be here before you know it. Will you be ready?

Learn more about Commio at commio.com.

Hidden Costs of Managing Your Own Toll-Free Service

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:00:00 -0500

This episode explores the hidden costs of managing toll-free numbers as a Responsible Organization (RespOrg) versus using a third-party provider, like Commio's Smart Toll-Free.

Becoming a RespOrg involves significant upfront costs, including certification fees and hiring specialized personnel, plus ongoing expenses for advanced monitoring tools and maintaining redundancy. The author highlights the complexities of managing call volumes, rates, and carrier negotiations, arguing that these hidden costs often outweigh potential savings.

Alternatively, using a carrier like Commio as your RespOrg offers expertise, 24/7 support, and potentially better pricing, allowing businesses to focus on core operations rather than toll-free management. The text ultimately advocates for leveraging a carrier’s RespOrg services to improve efficiency and profitability.

Learn more about Commio at commio.com.

Getting Started with Voice APIs

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 14:00:00 -0500

Voice APIs offer a programmable alternative to traditional SIP trunking for businesses needing flexible, customizable voice-calling solutions. Unlike traditional SIP, which requires telecom expertise, cloud-based APIs allow developers to easily integrate voice calling into their applications.

Commio's Voice APIs boast features like routing and call control, IVR, and answering machine detection, along with scalable architecture and a competitive 6-second billing model. Commio emphasizes high-quality calls via direct connections to carriers and provides 24/7 support. The overall goal is to empower developers to create superior customer experiences.

Learn more about Commio at commio.com.

Now What? FCC's One to One Consent Rule Vacated

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 11:00:00 -0500

Last week, the Eleventh Circuit Court vacated the FCC's "one-to-one consent" rule, which required express written consent from consumers for each individual marketing call. The court found the rule exceeded the FCC's authority under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), as it added requirements not explicitly stated in the law. This decision temporarily relieves marketers from the rule's stringent requirements, although the FCC could appeal or create a revised rule.

In this week's episode of the CommioCast, you'll learn that despite the court ruling, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile still insist on one-to-one consent compliance, impacting businesses relying on automated marketing calls. The future of the one-to-one consent rule remains uncertain, pending further action from the FCC or potential litigation.

Learn more about Commio at commio.com.

AI Whirlwind: 2025 Predictions for Cloud Communications

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0500

This episode of the CommioCast covers the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) on our daily lives as cloud communications professionals.

This podcast explores how AI is changing customer engagement, potentially leading to a crisis if businesses prioritize function over experience. The increasing use of chatbots, while beneficial in the short term, risks creating generic and impersonal interactions.

The solution, according to a new reports from Gartner and Accenture, lies in "Personified AI," where companies imbue their AI systems with unique personalities that reflect their brand values and connect with customers on an emotional level.

AI is rapidly evolving from automation to autonomy, driving massive changes in technology and businesses. This shift, called the "Binary Big Bang," is marked by three key technological advancements: agentic systems, generative UI, and digital core. These technologies are reshaping how we interact with software and digital systems, moving us towards a future of abundance, abstraction, and autonomy.

The CommioCast examines the evolution of robotics, driven by breakthroughs in foundation models, natural language processing, and contextual understanding. Robots are becoming more sophisticated in their ability to understand context, communicate, plan, and act, blurring the line between the digital and physical world. As robots become more integrated into our lives, it's crucial for businesses to consider the ethical implications, safety concerns, and sustainability challenges they present.

Finally, this episode discusses how AI is reshaping the future of work, creating a "New Learning Loop" between humans and machines. While AI offers the potential to automate tasks and enhance productivity, it also raises concerns about job displacement, worker engagement, and the need for new skills. The key is to foster a symbiotic relationship between humans and AI, where people leverage AI as a tool for growth and innovation while focusing on tasks that require uniquely human skills and creativity. To do this, companies need to reimagine their talent strategies, prioritize employee engagement, and create clear career growth pathways for a future where AI is an integral part of the workforce.

Learn more about Commio at commio.com.

The One Twilio Feature You're Not Using

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0500

Your Twilio application is booming. You're scaling up your calls and messages, and things are going well. Soon, though, you'll encounter challenges: you need more than 2 calls per second, and your SMS sending capacity is limited. You could spend thousands of dollars to unlock more calls per second and increase messaging capacity. Most challenging of all, Twilio support is expensive and it's hard to get the answers you need quickly.

There is a solution, and it's the one amazing Twilio feature you're not using today: Bring Your Own Carrier, also known as BYOC. In this episode, we'll do a deep dive into this hidden feature most Twilio users don't even know exists. You'll learn how to:

Boost call quality with 40+ carrier options.

Enhance reliability with automated failover and intelligent routing.

Save 30-70% on calling and messaging costs.

Gain control with real-time call transparency and routing.

Get free, responsive, 100% U.S.-based support.

Listen now and be sure to subscribe to the CommioCast!

Learn more about Commio at commio.com.

Tips for Picking a Better Phone Number (DID) Provider

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:00:00 -0500

In this latest episode, the team at Commio explains how VoIP providers, enterprises, and text messaging platforms should shop for a better phone number source. Also known as DIDs, there are 12 factors to consider when choosing a number provider, whether it be for voice calling or text messaging. These factors emphasize reliability, including redundancy, coverage, voice quality, and scalability. The article highlights Commio's services, which boast competitive pricing, flexible capacity options, and robust security features. It also underscores the importance of seamless integration and easy number porting. Finally, the author, Mark Speer, is introduced as the VP of Purchasing at Commio.

Learn more about Commio at commio.com.

How to Comply With FCC's New One to One Consent Rules

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0500

In this episode, we help business owners understand the new FCC regulations requiring one-to-one consumer consent for text messages and calls. Key decisions discussed include providing listeners with compliance resources like sample consent language and a free compliance review service. Significant risks highlighted are hefty fines for non-compliance and potential lawsuits. Upcoming deadlines emphasize the need for businesses to update their practices by mid-to-late January 2025 to meet the new consent rule. Finally, Commio's future plans include developing new resources to aid businesses in navigating these regulations. To get hands-on compliance resources for the FCC one to one consent rules go to commio.com and click Resources > Blog.

Learn more about Commio at commio.com.

Protect Your Bottom Line with Call Redundancy

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0500

This episode of the CommioCast discusses the importance of call redundancy for businesses. It explains the different types of redundancy—outbound, inbound, and toll-free—highlighting the risks of outages and the financial consequences for companies. Commio emphasizes its unique capabilities in offering comprehensive redundancy solutions, including real-time carrier switching and the ability to choose from multiple carriers. The author, Commio's CTO, advocates for proactive redundancy planning to mitigate potential revenue loss and disruptions to customer service. The article promotes Commio's services as a superior solution for ensuring reliable phone service.

Learn more about Commio at commio.com.

5 Ways to Power Better Customer Interactions with Cloud Voice

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0500

As 2025 arrives, the cloud communications experts from Commio offer five strategies to enhance customer interactions in contact centers and any cloud voice application.

Improved communication channels, reduced wait times, engaging hold experiences, accurate information delivery, and high-quality audio are highlighted as key areas for improvement.

The speakers emphasize the importance of technology in achieving these goals, citing examples such as AI and CRM systems. The piece ultimately advocates for using a robust voice provider to ensure seamless communication and positive customer experiences, promoting Commio's services as a solution. A personal anecdote illustrates the impact of exceptional customer service.

Learn more about Commio at commio.com.

Polish Your 10DLC Text Messaging Campaigns Before Submitting to The Campaign Registry

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0500

If your communications depend on messaging, don’t miss this update for registering your brands and campaigns with The Campaign Registry in Q4 2024 and beyond.

On the up side: Long code (10DLC) messaging campaigns are growing in popularity! On the down side: The DCAs are watching. 😳

With great power comes great responsibility, they say, and nowhere is this more clear than with text messaging campaigns. While they’re a great way to communicate short messages, growing popularity means growing scrutiny: from consumers, from fraudsters, and from the DCAs who approve the campaigns.

While the rules haven’t changed much in awhile, they have become increasingly granular as the DCAs hope to plug every gap a sender might hope to wiggle through. Fortunately, Commio’s Director of Customer Success Katie Reddick is here to help you fill in the blanks and keep your messages sending:

Privacy pages, Terms & Conditions, and other website faux pas
What you can and can’t say on your opt-in forms—and how you need to document it
Yes, there are ways to gather opt-ins without your website, but they will be scrutinized
Brand | Help | Stop | Data Rates, and other components you can’t mention often enough
Is it really you? Even if you’ve registered your brand, there may be more to do

Learn more about Commio at commio.com.

What is RCS? The Future of Text Messaging is Rich Communication Services

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 13:00:00 -0500

Rich Communication Services (RCS) is one of the latest evolutions in messaging technology, promising a more interactive, feature-rich experience than traditional SMS and MMS.

In the fast-paced world of cloud communications, staying at the forefront of technology can make all the difference in customer engagement and satisfaction. As messaging technology continues to develop, RCS presents an opportunity to transform how businesses interact with their customers. Here, we’ll break down what RCS is, how it compares to SMS and MMS, and how Commio plans to leverage this technology in 2025 to enhance the communication experience for businesses and their customers.

What Is RCS?
Rich Communication Services, or RCS, is a protocol designed to improve and modernize the messaging experience on smartphones. Think of RCS as an upgrade to traditional SMS and MMS, offering a wider range of capabilities that make interactions richer, more dynamic, and more informative.

Unlike SMS, which has limitations on character count and multimedia support, RCS allows for:

Rich Media Messaging: Businesses can send high-quality images, videos, and GIFs without the compression issues that plague MMS.
Interactive Elements: RCS enables buttons, carousels, and forms within messages, which allow customers to take direct actions without leaving the message thread.
Read Receipts and Typing Indicators: Similar to popular chat apps, RCS includes typing indicators, read receipts, and delivery confirmations, enhancing communication transparency.
Enhanced Branding: RCS supports company logos and brand colors, allowing businesses to create a fully branded messaging experience.
Location Sharing: Users can share and receive location information, adding a layer of context to conversations.
End-to-End Encryption: Unlike SMS, which is sent in plain text, RCS supports end-to-end encryption for secure, private communications.

RCS is essentially the bridge between traditional messaging and the interactive, media-rich experience offered by apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. It’s a compelling proposition for businesses looking to drive engagement, build brand loyalty, and facilitate seamless customer interactions.

Learn more in the latest CommioCast from Commio!

Learn more about Commio at commio.com.

Text Messaging: What Can and Can't You Send?

Sun, 10 Nov 2024 15:00:00 -0500

Get your Messaging Uses Cases eBook, free: http://www.commio.com/messaginguses-ebook

When it comes to text messaging campaign rules, there are A LOT—and they vary by industry and campaign type. If you work for an agency or provider that deals with a wide spectrum of companies, it can feel almost impossible to keep up. Fortunately, you can find all of the common use cases in Commio's comprehensive guide, including:

Which SMS/MMS use cases the DCAs/carriers allow

Which use cases will always be rejected (think SHAFT!?)

How to identify which is which to keep your messages flowing

Know what works and what doesn’t—before you submit your campaign to the carriers.

Download your complimentary eBook now, from Commio:
http://www.commio.com/messaginguses-ebook

Learn more about Commio at commio.com.

Compliance + Cybersecurity for Cloud Voice and Text Messaging

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0500

Get your copy of Commio's eBook @ http://www.commio.com/compliance-ebook

Consumers have had it—and we can’t blame them. There were more than 50 billion robocalls in 2022, or ~4 per person per day (note: not all qualify as spam). And, the number of spam texts first surpassed spam calls in 2020, then soared to 225B+ in 2022! (Mid-term election year, surprise?) The FCC has had it, as well, receiving tens of thousands of complaints each year. With STIR/SHAKEN regulations and tracebacks fully implemented for calling, more legislation will follow, and fines are into the hundreds of millions for callers who spam (ye p, the car warranty guys!).

At the same time, carriers have been feverishly implementing their own text messaging rules, reviews, and fees in an attempt to head off FCC involvement. With these efforts still evolving, it’s hard to say how effective they are at curtailing spam—or whether the FCC will step in anyway.

And then there’s the rest of us. Legitimate businesses who just want to communicate with prospects and customers in a timely manner, plus the providers who want to deliver those messages. Caught in the crosshairs of the FCC, multiple carriers, myriad regulations, and fraudsters who-knows-where, it’s hard to keep up and it just keeps evolving.

That’s why we’re pleased to provide you with this cybersecurity and compliance eBook, covering both calling and messaging. We’ll tell you what you can and can’t do to get content approved quickly and keep it flowing (and what to do if your calls come up as “Spam” anyway, or your messaging campaigns are rejected). How to protect your business and your communications. And because things keep changing, how to pick an expert provider and where to find some great resources.

Last but not least, we strongly recommend that you assign a compliance officer within your company (in addition to your chief information security officer or similar). This doesn’t need to be a full-time person, depending on company size, but someone who stays current on the latest requirements and is a stickler for detail, who will review all your communications before they go out.

We won’t sugarcoat security and compliance in the cloud. It’s complicated. If you do it right, though, it’s worth the effort. So here’s to happy (and compliant) calling and messaging!

Get your copy of Commio's eBook which contains more than a dozen resources, tips, and how-tos:
http://www.commio.com/compliance-ebook

Learn more about Commio at commio.com.

No Fake 10DLC Brands Please | The Campaign Registry Authentication+ For Public Companies

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 13:00:00 -0500

The Campaign Registry Adds New Step to Authenticating Brands;
Also, CV Tokens are Expiring for Political Texting Campaigns

Wherever there’s money to be made, there’s a fraudster finding a way around the rules—and long code (10DLC) messaging campaigns are no exception. The purpose of The Campaign Registry (TCR) is to stop these fraudsters in their tracks and protect consumers.

To help prevent brand impersonation (e.g., “spoofing”), TCR has added a new feature called Authentication+ as part of the brand registration process. Additionally, they’ve noted that the original Campaign Verify tokens are set to expire soon. Read on for more information on both.

Listen to today's episode of the CommioCast to go in-depth and learn more.

Learn more about Commio at commio.com.