Visionmobile: telecom operator innovation Toolbox (9) Chapter 7 ecosystem is a new release channel

Chapter 7 ecosystem is a new release channel

The ecosystem is a new release channel, similar to Value-Added Reseller. For telecom operators, ecosystem partners are the reseller that boosts operator businesses, new users, new use models, and new small markets.

For a small part of services based on reliability and scalability, the operator's direct sales network operates well. Selective and flexible competition requires us to address the needs of thousands of users in all aspects of our lives. In addition, user expectations continue to grow, making individual companies unable to predict and meet the wide range of user needs in reality.

In the past 20 years, mobile phone users have expected four basic "Applications": Voice, messaging, contacts, and cameras. Today, they expect hundreds of thousands of applications. Companies such as Google, Netflix, Facebook, Amazon, and even FedEx are aware that the only way to compete in options and flexibility is to build an ecosystem of tens of thousands of partners around core products.

For example, Netflix was initially a leasing company that directly mailed DVDs and expanded into the video stream service. To compete in availability and flexibility, Netflix has established a device partner and developer ecosystem around its video stream service. The ecosystem allows Netflix to serve more than 800 devices, and adds value through 80 thousand developers who use Netflix open APIs to try new methods and scenarios.

In terms of effectiveness, the ecosystem is a new release channel, similar to Value-Added Reseller. For telecom operators, ecosystem partners are the reseller that boosts Telecom businesses, new users, new use models, and new small markets. The key advantage of the new release channel is its ability to customize solutions for many small users and try to discover new needs and opportunities.

The establishment of an ecosystem means that a large amount of entrepreneurial costs and risks will be removed from Value-Added Reseller. In this way, the value growth of the overall ecosystem will far exceed what operators can do. In essence, external partners may be developers or service providers who begin to invest in the ecosystem to subsidize the expansion of operators' business.

Carrier API is a key technology for implementing new release channels. The purpose of carrier API is to allow developers to bring their business to new niche scenarios and build a scale of hundreds of partners. Some of these new use cases have become complementary sources of operator income, while some Promote the use of operator services, while others subsidize the cost of Ecosystem Establishment.

If operators directly compete for APIS as native platforms or Internet companies, global users will always be at a disadvantage. However, if the operator permits and encourages developers to create local differences for their users, the disadvantage will be converted to local advantages.

The carrier API should provide developers with flexibility to try new application scenarios and discover and satisfy users' needs. The essence of the attempt is that many developers fail, but those who succeed will be differentiated and drive the operator's business.

It is important to note that the ecosystem of carrier APIs and application developers can also be used by other types of partners and business providers, such as mobile virtual network operators (MVNO) and IOT (M2M) initiatives. MVNO can establish an ecosystem around the publishing business layer, and application developers can establish an ecosystem around the service business layer. Iot companies can establish an ecosystem around the connection service layer.

When evaluating innovation investment, operators need to ask the following key questions::

• Do you develop an API strategy to convert developers into Value-Added Reseller?

• How Much Do you attach to developers trying to discover new user scenarios?

• Is Your API flexible enough to attract a wide range of partners, including mobile and web developers, MVNO and M2M solution providers?

 

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