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In the news
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Enabling the world of tomorrow, today
There is a need and desire to restore confidence in voice communications and there are many players helping make that happen – from service providers, to analytic engines, to regulators. Within that realm, iconectiv is squarely positioned as a neutral, trusted partner to help resolve this growing (and expensive) problem.
Jun 18, 2020
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Practical advice for combating robocalling
Robocall scams have exploded worldwide during the past several years. Communications service providers (CSPs) and their partners are implementing several technical approaches to identify and block robocalls, such as identifying known robocalling origination points, recognizing compromised number ranges or detecting floods of calls to certain number ranges from a small number of origination points. In this article, analyst Ed Finegold with TM Forum takes a closer look at expert advice for combating the growing robocall problem, including iconectiv’s CTO Chris Drake.
May 19, 2020
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Is digital ID brokerage a business opportunity for CSPs?
In many forms of digital-era fraud, thieves steal digital identities to pose as legitimate customers and commit crimes like bank account takeover and mobile subscription fraud. Zenkey, a joint communications service provider (CSP) effort providing an alternative to digital identity brokerages, effectively tokenizes the subscriber information operators already hold to protect customers from digital identity theft. In this article from TMForum, Ed Finegold takes a closer look at the potential opportunity for CSPs as digital identity brokers, including an expert perspective from iconectiv’s CTO Chris Drake.
May 19, 2020
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Executive Webinar: Trusted Communications
The future of messaging frameworks and protocols, beginning with SMS, MMS, and now RCS, lies in the hands of industry collaboration within the solution provider ecosystem. Our CTO Chris Drake joins Keith Lampron, Associate Director of Core Messaging Product Management at Verizon Wireless and Chris Nicoll, Principal Analyst at ACG Research on this executive webinar to share what to expect from RCS for enterprises, consumers and operators.
May 12, 2020
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Black Swan Solution Guide: SHAKEN / STIR Calling Number Verification & Fraud Alerting
With increases in illegal robocalls, mobile operators have been challenged with maintaining consumer trust as they stop answering calls from unknown numbers. SHAKEN/STIR is the telecom industry’s first step toward reviving trust in telephony and sets the vital framework for how telecoms can deliver identity verification information for enterprises from originating to terminating provider. This briefing on SHAKEN/STIR is available featuring the analysis of two technology leaders at iconectiv, Chris Drake and Gary Richenaker.
May 12, 2020
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State AGs’ Plea to Help Fight Robocalls During Pandemic
Fraudsters and scammers have been preying on the coronavirus pandemic since March, often asking for money, personal information and claiming to provide health information related to the pandemic. iconectiv, the policy administrator for the FCC-backed initiative SHAKEN aimed at mitigating illegal robocalls, has warned that fraudulent calls may increase in the coming weeks as more government stimulus checks hit the bank accounts of tens of millions of Americans.
May 8, 2020
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What can Telcos do to restore consumer trust in phone calls and texts?
In this video interview, Chief Technology Officer, Chris Drake and Jeremy Cowan of VanillaPlus tackle the tricky subject of trust. With people fatigued by spam calls and text messages and businesses trying unsuccessfully to legitimately communicate with the consumer, how can Telcos restore confidence in communications?
Apr 30, 2020
Press Releases
Media Contact:
Sharon Oddy
Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications
+1 732 699-5130
soddy@iconectiv.com
Sharon Oddy
Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications
+1 732 699-5130
soddy@iconectiv.com
press release
With New Mandated OTS Switching Process on the Horizon, UK Communications Providers Have Viable Managed Access Provider Option
The United Kingdom’s One Touch Switch (OTS) deadline is 12 September 2024, requiring communications providers (CPs) to comply with specific OTS requirements. As a registered Managed Access Provider with TOTSCo, iconectiv UK Limited offers the necessary flexibility for providers to meet today's residential broadband market demands.
Jun 12, 2024
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iconectiv Chief Technology Officer Elected to SIP Forum Board of Directors
Steve Tang, Chief Technology Officer at iconectiv, has joined the Board of Directors of the SIP Forum, showcasing his expertise in trusted communications and iconectiv's dedication to advancing communication services, supporting emerging technologies and combating the misuse of communication networks.
May 16, 2024
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Cross Border Call Authentication for Fighting Fraudulent Calls Takes the Stage at CABASE Internet Day
iconectiv's Angelica Ford and Bob Grant will dive into Common Language and Cross Border Call Authentication at CABASE Internet Day, emphasizing the importance of establishing a common language in network interconnection and resolving international calling challenges to uphold trust in Argentina's communications.
May 16, 2024
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Today’s Digital Age Calls for Increased Protection of the Phone Number, says iconectiv
In the digital age, phone numbers have become essential components of identity verification. In their new market brief, iconectiv emphasizes the critical need to safeguard phone numbers, offering a digital identity portfolio that helps businesses strengthen security measures and streamline customer verification processes.
May 2, 2024
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The Path to 5G Profitability for Data Centers, Towers and Real Estate Companies
A new iconectiv white paper explores how data center operators and commercial real estate companies can use Common Language to build awareness of their fiber, interconnection and tower/site portfolios. iconectiv will showcase Common Language during Connect(X) 2024 in Atlanta on May 14.
Apr 30, 2024
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Upcoming Live Webinar Shines Light on Best Practices to Secure the Digital Identity
iconectiv’s Michael O’Brien will discuss the vital role of phone numbers in digital identity verification during the "Securing the Digital Frontier” webinar on April 23, 2024, at 10 a.m. ET. He will cover fraud prevention, regulatory compliance and ensuring trustworthy digital identity signals, highlighting the need for global collaboration.
Apr 23, 2024
press release
How Financial Service Companies Are Using Phone Number Data to Mitigate Fraud
iconectiv's recent case study demonstrates how financial institutions leverage numbering data to enhance security and combat fraud. By identifying recently ported phone numbers through iconectiv's data exchanges, companies can verify phone number accuracy, crucial for identification amidst rising mobile-focused fraud threats.
Apr 22, 2024
Speaking Engagements
Matthew Lear
Senior Director of Product Management
Matthew Lear, Senior Director of Product Management at iconectiv, is responsible for overseeing the Trusted Communications portfolio, focused on bringing increased trust in B2C communications in voice, messaging and data.
With more than 25 years of technology and business leadership in the telecommunications industry, Lear has created product strategies and delivered enterprise and consumer products and solutions to market. Prior to iconectiv, Lear served as Director of Product Management at ZOS Communications, where he developed product strategies and delivered cloud and mobile device solutions focused on location-based services and contextual geo-fencing.
Lear graduated from Stevens Institute of Technology with a Master of Science degree in computer science and received his Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from Rutgers University.
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MEF Leadership Forum + MEET UP
Hosted by MEF and the Canadian Telecommunications Association, the MEF Leadership Forum is being held on July 18 in Toronto, Canada. Matt Lear, iconectiv’s Senior Director of Product Management, joins as a panelist, discussing "One Medium, Many Paths: Differentiating Shortcode, Toll Free + 10 DLC."
Chris Drake
Chief Technology Officer
Chris Drake, Senior Vice President - Corporate and Business Development, at iconectiv, is responsible for internal and external technology initiatives including emerging opportunities in trusted communications, cybersecurity, mobile content, mobile identity, virtualization and M2M/IoT.
Drake began his career at Bell Northern Research and has over 25 years in the telecommunications industry. Prior to iconectiv, Chris held executive positions at Neustar, Sonus Networks, Telcordia Technologies as well as other companies. Drake is also an executive advisor to technology startups and had worked with the Canadian Consulate Tech Accelerator @ NYC for many years. Drake contributes to various GSMA efforts including the Fraud and Security Group, The Networks Group, and the Industry Specification Approving Group. Drake is on the board and executive committee of the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS), chair of the ATIS Technology and Operations Council. Drake is a longstanding member of the CTIA cybersecurity working group, the Cybersecurity Advisory Board for the Pace University Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems, and has served on the Industrial Advisory Board for the Security and Software Engineering Research Center (S2ERC) for Georgetown and Ball State Universities through the National Science Foundation. Drake also serves on the FCC federal advisory committee, the North American Numbering Council.
speaking engagement
Are We Ready for a Universal Registry of Known Telephone Numbers?
Join iconectiv’s Chris Drake, Senior Vice President - Corporate and Business Development, on June 12 when he moderates the “Are We Ready for a Universal Registry of Known Telephone Numbers?” webinar panel at KYC Summit 2023.
Alberto Apablaza
Account Director, LATAM at iconectiv
Alberto Apablaza, Account Director, LATAM at iconectiv, is responsible for the operations and implementation of the Number Portability in Chile and Argentina including managing new initiatives in the region. As a trusted business leader, Apablaza has demonstrated history of working in the Telecommunications Industry from the beginning of his career in Chile and then in South America. He has been involved in the Chile Number Portability from its conception where he led the project program in one of the most prominent carriers in Chile. Apablaza is a Computer Science Engineer with a Master Degree in Management in Technological Entrepreneurships.
speaking engagement
NUMBER PORTABILITY, TELEPHONY: Update and Challenges
Join iconectiv’s Alberto Apablaza, LATAM Account Director, on May 17 as he hosts the NUMBER PORTABILITY, TELEPHONY: Update and Challenges session at Internet Day 2023 in Argentina.
John Hayes
Senior Director, iconectiv
John Hayes, Head of Solutions Engineering at iconectiv, is responsible for leading the company’s activities that enable carriers to economically meet their rollout objectives and cost effectively support their service portfolio.
With more than 30 years of experience in telecommunications, Hayes has led engagements to improve network operations for global carriers centered around optimizing new investments, utilization embedded capabilities and leveraging carrier interworking.
He has also advocated the need for carriers to focus on establishing a robust data infrastructure that is consistently used across the business to obtain reliable insights that permit effective operational and capital efficiencies to be realized.
speaking engagement
The 5G playbook – What Do you Need to Deploy 5G?
5G may already be available in most of the U.S., but there are still many small operators that are in the beginning of their 5G transitions. This panel discussion will talk about the spectrum, regulatory challenges, infrastructure needs and investment requirements to build a 5G network. In addition, it will discuss some of the unknowns that we are still learning about 5G, such as why operators have failed to fully monetize 5G at this point.
Bob Grant
Principal Product Manager at iconectiv
Bob Grant, Principal Product Manager at iconectiv, is responsible for setting the strategy, roadmap and feature definition for TruOps TRA and TruReach Certify. His role entails working collaboratively across all functions within the organization to ensure strategic and tactical alignment of goals and resources.
Grant has more than 20 years of experience managing products in the telecommunications industry. Before joining iconectiv, Grant served as Channel Operations Director for Avaya.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in computer science from Montclair State University and a Master of Business Administration in international business from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
speaking engagement
Superheroes Unite: Protecting and Defending the Communications Ecosystem
In the ever-expanding telecom universe, there are villains trying to corrupt the communications ecosystem. Fortunately, a legion of Trusted Communication Superheroes—each wielding unique special powers—are laser-focused on keeping people connected, businesses running and commerce flowing by identifying and verifying legitimate callers so that their voice traffic receives the proper authentication and is not inaccurately categorized as potentially suspicious or illegal. Get ready to take your place among the legion of Trusted Communication Superheroes who are mitigating suspicious activity and protecting businesses, communication providers and consumers every day.
Bob Grant
Principal Product Manager at iconectiv
Bob Grant, Principal Product Manager at iconectiv, is responsible for setting the strategy, roadmap and feature definition for TruOps TRA and TruReach Certify. His role entails working collaboratively across all functions within the organization to ensure strategic and tactical alignment of goals and resources.
Grant has more than 20 years of experience managing products in the telecommunications industry. Before joining iconectiv, Grant served as Channel Operations Director for Avaya.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in computer science from Montclair State University and a Master of Business Administration in international business from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
speaking engagement
Cloud Comms Summit US
The Cloud Comms Summit is the leading and largest vendor-agnostic event for service providers focused on the Cloud Communications industry. Established by Cavell, the summit offers key findings from the latest Cloud Comms Market and Enterprise Insight Research Reports to help you understand the market.
speaking engagement
Not All Numbers Are Created Equal: Finding the Right Messaging Solution for Your Business
The business messaging landscape is constantly changing as new entrants disrupt the ecosystem. Nearly 70% of consumer brand interactions shifted to messaging during the pandemic, and this trend is expected to continue as nearly 65% of the global population send and receive SMS messages.