Recap of Recorded Sessions

Somos’ President & CEO Gina Perini's official kick-off of the 2020 Toll-Free User Summit!

In a world that is increasingly dependent on trust in businesses, how can you help stay ahead of the curve and ensure that you are delivering both trust AND innovation? With technology that seems like it’s sped up five years in the last six months, it takes a little something extra to keep from being left behind. In his exciting keynote presentation, Scott will unlock the secrets of digital transformation and trust to help you better understand your consumers, technology and how those habits might change.

2020 could easily be described as the year of the unpredictable. As we face sustained uncertainty around the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, we are continuously seeking answers to the unanswerable: When will the outbreak subside and (eventually) end? What does the “new normal” look like? What do businesses need to do in order to adapt to present needs and, on a more future-focused scale, pivot to long-term priorities? When faced with crisis, it’s essential that we look for opportunity – particularly, the opportunity to embrace what’s essential in the present and what’s critical to ensuring long-term success for the future. In this panel, we will examine how organizations can balance caution, courage, conviction and compassion – and come out ahead at the end of it all. Gina Perini, alongside key innovators and decision makers in our industry, will share their open and honest opinions around where we are, where we’re going and where we ultimately need to be. Key areas of consideration include: How have customer needs evolved? How can we better serve these needs? What can organizations do to better assess, expand and deepen these inherent values? As the saying goes, “the pandemic isn’t over because you’re over it.” In keeping with this adage, the panel will identify potential indicators for success and outline their views of the future of telecom.

With the digital economy’s transformation of the future of telecommunications, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is at the forefront of driving initiatives that help improve and secure our industry. From shaping the future of Toll-Free in a STIR/SHAKEN world to how auctions can be further utilized for number allocation, the FCC continues to position itself as a key driver in the future of Toll-Free and Numbering as a whole. Join Somos’ own foremost public policy and number administration authority, Ann Berkowitz, for an exciting Fireside Chat featuring FCC leaders.

Steve Jobs said, “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” As innovators in the fight against Toll-Free telecommunications fraud, Somos is leading the charge to protect the integrity of Toll-Free through partner outreach, solutions delivery, continuous process improvement and more. Joel Bernstein, Somos’ VP, Regulatory & Public Policy and Catherine Palcic, Manager, Strategic Industry Relations & Public Policy, will be joined by a panel of industry Fraud Fighters to discuss hot topics related to fraud mitigation including traffic pumping and non-STIR/SHAKEN mitigation solutions.

In today’s highly competitive landscape, earning and maintaining a consumer’s trust is mission critical. For the public telephone network, this is especially relevant as an increasing number of consumers have lost trust in the PSTN and are no longer confident answering incoming calls. In an effort to regain confidence and restore trust, the FCC has mandated that carriers implement the STIR/SHAKEN framework by June 2021. With consumer loyalty and trust at the forefront, and a myriad of competing, available options not far behind, enterprises are left asking: How do I approach obtaining the greatest benefit from STIR/SHAKEN in a way that promotes meaningful customer connections? In this panel led by David Stewart, Somos’ VP, Business Development, leading industry stakeholders will explore what Responsible Organizations and Service Providers can do to help enterprises maximize the value from STIR/SHAKEN and in turn, better serve and retain their customer base.

As much as 2020 has felt like something out of the Matrix, for the Toll-Free industry, even when hard times come, we persevere and keep moving onward and upward. How do we accomplish this? By concentrating on an exceptional customer experience founded on trust and innovation. Join Ryan Karnas, Somos’ Director of Product Management, as he highlights Somos’ key contributions to this effort as well as exciting advancements from 2020. With a focus on digital brand and telephony asset management, this session will show you how, in today’s unknown climate, Somos’ product offerings are delivering trust, authentication enablement and security to consumers.

1800FLOWERS, 1-800-273-8255, 844.HEY.SOMOS…. There are unquestionably digits out there that transcend simply being phone numbers and have become icons in their own right. This is especially true for Toll-Free Numbers. As some of the most easily identified, recognized and acknowledged numbers, Toll-Free Numbers continue to be prized for the value they provide individuals and businesses alike. In this session, Michelle Larsen, Vice President of Customer Engagement & Product Strategy for Somos, will take a more intimate look at what this value means for enterprises. From campaigning for the benefits of business texting to demonstrating how Toll-free Numbers can do almost everything, you’ll see firsthand how, especially in a world turned upside down, Toll-Free Numbers continue to keep us connected and together, at a distance.