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Heavy Reading Brings Out Opening the Door to Web Developers ReportDec 17, 2012 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- Application programming interfaces (APIs) can provide telcos numerous opportunities and generate billions of dollars, but unsuccessful or slow-to-market telcos risk being utterly outgunned in terms of capability, according to the latest report released by Heavy Reading Service Provider IT Insider, a paid research service of Heavy Reading. According to a release, Opening the Door to Web Developers: How APIs Can Generate Billions for Operators looks at the opportunity for telecom operators to generate new income streams by using APIs to offer access to their network assets. It considers the services that can be introduced, reviews the infrastructure requirements and offers a detailed case study of an operator that has an aggressive API monetization strategy. It also analyses the products and services that third-party API solution providers can bring to the market, comparing vendors in terms of market positioning. "Telecom operators are continually hunting for new sources of revenue and new ways to gain a competitive edge," says Simon Sherrington, Senior Analyst at Heavy Reading and author of the report. "APIs offer telecom operators a quite literally golden opportunity to open up new markets, to generate extra revenues from the customers and assets they already have in place, and to deliver customized services that add more value for their customers and that will make their services more sticky." However, the group said operators not embracing this opportunity as the market potential suggests they should because they have to expose complex, core assets to third parties, Sherrington said. "Fixed network operators and cable operators must not make the mistake of assuming this is a mobile market," he continues. "The power in APIs is in providing access to national or even global bases of end users. The biggest opportunities will emerge where API federation is supported." Key findings of Opening the Door to Web Developers: How APIs Can Generate Billions for Operators, as described by the group, include: -Exposure of APIs has the potential to generate billions of dollars for telecom operators around the world. -While mobile operators have made the early running with location-based services, there are opportunities for fixed and cable operators. -APIs offer an opportunity to deliver services more closely tailored to customers' requirements, and to bring in new revenues. -Operators are still learning their API craft, but are evolving strategies. -Operators must overcome operational, cultural and reputational hurdles to win in this market. -Those that are successful will be able to harness developer communities. The Light Reading Communications Network combines telecom research brands with online communities. Heavy Reading is an independent research organization. More information: www.lrcn.com ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) |