2021 Agenda

Join Somos’ President & CEO Gina Perini for the official kick-off of the 2021 Somos Summit!

If asked five years ago about things we no longer see in an office, it’s likely you’d have multiple answers: USB drives, fax machines, etc. Now, if asked one year ago about things we no longer see in an office, it’s likely that you’d have but a singular answer... PEOPLE. As we prepare for digital life after COVID and, for many, continued remote work, it’s vital that we rethink not only how we connect today, but also how we’ll connect tomorrow and well into the future. Simply stated, we need to discover ways to go beyond connectivity and adopt solutions and technology that help us learn, earn and thrive. Recently named one of Britain’s leading women of the year for 2021 in innovation, meet Futurist and broadcaster Shivvy Jervis for a forward-thinking look at incredible innovations that will tangibly help us flourish, while helping grow our businesses. Expect to hear what “augmented commerce” is, what the next generation of IoT looks like and why software with human perception will be commonplace soon. You’ll gain valuable insight into the ground-breaking advances that need to be on your radar NOW if you want to stay future ready.

Modernizing the telecom industry and protecting the integrity of the telephone numbering system continue to be chief priorities for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Whether it’s taking a hard stand against illegal robocalls or adding valuable new resources such as the Reassigned Numbers Database (RND), the FCC has been working tirelessly to promote a vibrant, efficient and trustworthy ecosystem. Join Somos’ SVP & Chief Administrative Officer – Strategic Public Policy & Number Administration, Ann Berkowitz, for an enlightening discussion on the state of communications.

From Nick Jonas to Paris Hilton to Elon Musk, you probably have at some time read an article about an average citizen who got assigned a celebrity’s former phone number. While different calls and messages might elicit different reactions – from entertaining to annoying to “just plain weird” – one thing that is NOT different about all these calls and texts is that for the current owner of the phone number, they are UNWANTED. Hence the reason the Reassigned Numbers Database – or RND for short – was created. Join a panel of leading industry and regulatory experts for a moderated discussion around how the RND is helping to provide an added layer of protection to consumers while likewise contributing towards improved trust and confidence in phone calls.

With business models and operations increasingly experiencing a redesign (thanks in large part to the pandemic), organizations are being forced to rethink their long-term strategy – especially when it comes to accelerated digitalization. While previously, increasing efficiencies and bolstering the bottom-line were prioritized, as we strive to renew transformation; agility, adaptability and awareness have emerged as essential next gen strategic initiatives. Join Sri Ramachandran, SVP & Chief Technology Officer at Somos, and a panel of experts as they explore the future of digital transformation – digital agility and the “Dynamic Enterprise.” From best practices for adapting to ever-evolving consumer demands to the benefits of a micro-pivot approach to economic shifts, we’ll show you how a dynamic approach, underpinned by innovation, can help ensure that you are ready for what’s happening now, next and beyond.

Join 2021 Somos Summit Keynote Speaker, Shivvy Jervis and Somos Chair of the Board and CEO, Gina Perini for an exclusive conversation on Emotionally Aware Artificial Intelligence. Limited to All-Access Pass Attendees Only.

With the pandemic having compelled people to stay indoors, one conspicuous outcome has been expanded online presences and broader, more widespread digital footprints, which has consequently led to increased opportunities for scammers to make money ripping off consumers and companies. For better or worse, unfortunately, Toll-Free Numbers are not immune to the bad guys and their scams. As a Responsible Organization, how can you safeguard your Toll-Free Numbers from these sorts of illegal activities? First and foremost, you need to Know Your Customer (KYC)! Join us for a panel session where leading industry fraud fighters will explore how KYC can help Resp Orgs, Services Providers and more remain vigilant against telephony fraud to ensure that scammers aren’t using your organization – nor your customer’s business! – to perpetuate scams.

In 2021, it’s safe to say that the Consumer Protection Revolution thrived – significant new ATIS Standards (1000092 and 1000093) were approved, the June 30, 2021 deadline for all voice service providers to file certifications in the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Robocall Mitigation Database (RMD) was met and the industry-wide rollout of STIR/SHAKEN transpired. With all these landmark breakthroughs behind us, you may be wondering, So what comes next? Join Kyle Belcher, Senior Product Manager at Somos, for a moderated panel discussion around what you need to know as it relates to STIR/SHAKEN moving forward. From obtaining toKENs to submitting certifications, leading telecom experts will converge to help you understand STIR/SHAKEN’s impacts and potential aftereffects.

Everything is famously code-integrated today—cars are computers with wheels, appliances have Internet access, smart doors and houses are controlled from mobile phone apps, etc. With all this code around, security is more of a challenge than ever. A central pillar of security is identity access management (IAM): the technology that protects logins and controls access. In fact, this too, is becoming code to work with all the other code. Libraries for developers are essential, including ID controls in mobile and Web applications for initial sign on, single sign-on, federated sign-on, biometric authentication systems, and sensitive data access control. To maintain security across devices, IAM code must be wherever it’s needed, when it’s needed, and automated, just like any other code. And the better we do this, the more safeguarded we all are with our ubiquitous computers. 

The recent past has presented its share of rises and falls – as much as it has been an exciting time for science (RISE!), it has similarly been a period of near global shutdown (FALL!). Perhaps one of the most epic – and understated – rises, however, has been the Herculean increase in business messaging. The hurdles we’ve encountered withstanding hurdles; these obstacles have truly revealed the channel’s significance, efficacy and influence. With a 98% open rate (compared to email’s 20% open rate), as well as a staggering 90% of messages being read within 3 mins, SMS is clearly THE medium where attention and resources should – and MUST – be focused. Join Dave Stewart, SVP & Chief Business Development Officer at Somos, and a panel of experts as they explore the increased global demand for business messaging and in particular, the available service offerings and use case scenarios that show how businesses can – and ARE – incorporating SMS into their customer experience strategy. From global trends to what’s happening with 10DLC and Toll-Free messaging, we’ll share why – and HOW – empowering enterprises with the option to text message their customers provides an Olympic-sized advantage for everyone!

I think that we can all agree that out of the pandemic came a velocity of change that pushed businesses to its limits. Challenges notwithstanding, through an approach rooted in creativity, collaboration and continuous critical thinking, Somos weathered the storm, focused keenly on shifting customer needs and ultimately, architected new and exciting solutions that helped to deliver trust and added value. Join Somos’ Ryan Karnas, Director, Product Management, as he highlights the past year’s exciting advancements, 2021’s key initiatives and what the future holds for the numbering ecosystem. With a focus on future-forward technologies and agility, this session will show you how, in today’s mercurial climate, Somos’ product offerings help deliver confidence, security and value to our customers.

From identifying new ways to rethink what’s next to gaining insight into new ways to redesign your solutions and technology to discovering new ways to renew the future of communication, Gina Perini’s closing message will recap all the day’s exciting moments.

TFN Registry API/UI, TFN Identity, TSS Registry, RealNumber, RouteLink, and XConnect

From faster deployments to more mature data insight, utilizing APIs provides a valuable competitive advantage for next gen software and systems development. With digital transformation a strategic initiative for many, service providers are increasingly looking for new ways to deliver innovative solutions that streamline operations, improve customer experience and provide optimal ROI. For those who want to offer the future of technology today, APIs are the answer! Join Judy Klein, Director, Products and Services at Somos, and fellow industry thought leaders for a roundtable retrospective to reimagine your approach to Toll-Free Number management and administration! Through personal accounts from organizations who have already transitioned to the SMS/800 TFN Registry® APIs, you’ll learn more about how implementing the APIs opened the door to new and endless opportunities for their business, and also provided key benefits for their customers!

When it comes to B2C communications, trust is at a premium, digital transformation is rapidly accelerating and communications channels are facilitating stronger and more personal customer connections. Knowing this, it’s more critical than ever that the phone numbers calling customers are secure, reliable and legitimate as well as validated by trusted sources such as Responsible Organizations (Resp Orgs). One of the best ways to ensure that all these things happen is to leverage THE centralized repository for Toll-Free Caller ID information, TFN Identity®! Join Kathy Stuart, Senior Product Manager at Somos, for a future-thinking look at TFN Identity’s capabilities, benefits and use cases. As the only solution with Toll-Free Number data confirmed against the authoritative SMS/800 TFN Registry®, you’ll see how TFN Identity helps promote customer engagement, brand recognition and more.

With a database of over 628M effective numbers (and growing!), RealNumber’s Do Not Originate (DNO) feature is helping bring back trust in telephony – one number at a time. By working directly with the Resp Org or SPID Holder of Record to identify numbers that do not originate calls, RealNumber DNO helps to prevent fraudulent callers from spoofing legitimate numbers and support a business’ integrity and reputation. Join Kyle Belcher, Senior Product Manager at Somos, and a panel of RealNumber DNO Users as they discuss the platform’s key benefits, features and performance. From examples of real-world implementations to simplifying the non-originating Toll-Free Number identification process, you’ll see firsthand how RealNumber DNO helps ensure that calls from fraudulent numbers are not passed on to valuable enterprise customers.

When it comes to reducing potential Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) liability, one of the best tools available is the new Reassigned Numbers Database (RND). At a time when consumer trust, advocacy and protection are mission critical, the RND can help prevent unwanted calls (or texts!) intended for someone who previously held a given phone number. This is especially helpful for contact centers, who can use the database to ensure that they aren’t inadvertently reaching out to someone who hasn’t consented to receiving the communication. Join Beth Sprague, Director, Reassigned Numbers Database at Somos, for an overview of the RND’s user interface as well as a discussion of how the database benefits consumers, enterprises and service providers alike. From understanding how RND queries work to the database’s future – including industry GA! – you’ll see firsthand how the RND can support consent management process improvement under the TCPA.