Latest Technology Trends That Will Impact Businesses in 2020

Technology has been growing at a rapid pace. It has now become an indispensable part of the society and has enabled quicker changes and faster progress, thereby accelerating the rate of change. Businesses are well aware of how important it is to adapt to technology as it evolves. 

In this scenario, it is advisable to stay up-to-date with the current trends. Organizations that do not know these significant technology patterns may be left behind, risking low growth or none at all.

Technology Trends 2020 Statistics and Facts

We will get a better picture of where the technology trends are leading to in the near future and what we can expect from them by backing up the trends with actual facts.

• According to the NY Times, AI services are used by five out of six Americans on a daily basis. This includes streaming services, navigation apps, smartphone assistants, personal home assistants, ride-sharing apps, and smart home devices.
• USA Today claims that automation could reduce 73 million jobs by the year 2030, as well as create jobs at the same rate.
• The global edge computing market is expected to reach a whopping $6.72 billion by the year 2022.
• According to Techcrunch.com, the second-fastest growing category of jobs happens to be blockchain-related. There are 14 job openings per blockchain developer.

Latest Technology Trends That Will Impact Businesses in 2020

1. 5G

The fifth generation of mobile communications is called the 5G technology and is a major cloud telephony trend. It aims at bringing superfast mobile internet in the spotlight along with reducing the costs involved. The world of business is on course of being taken up by the storm due to the steady development of the fifth generation of mobile communications. 

Regardless of the reduction in the prices of mobile data, it has been expensive for quite a few applications. The network competency will be enhanced with the use of 5G due to the fact that it works at a high speed while still maintaining lower latency. 

Despite many advantages, the adoption rate for the 5G technology may be slow because it requires new hardware to function at par with its capacity. 5G is one of the most sophisticated technology trends for 2020.

2. Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence is more than just the latest buzzword in cloud telephony. It is now virtually impossible to go forward without artificial intelligence for many. The efficiency of call centres can also be boosted with the help of AI as it will help the machine analyze and answer the frequently asked questions. This brings down the need for any human intervention. 

Chatbots on websites, too, work in the same manner and improve visitor experience that might lead to conversions. Businesses can also predict customer behavior and get a more in-depth insight on how to increase their profit margin. Business operations can also be streamlined using AI, while enhancing customer experience alongside it as well. Certain providers may be willing to allow businesses to pay for algorithms and resources based on their usage even if the cost of their usage may be on the high side.

3. In-app communication

Unified Communications can help integrate all the communications that are being used by a business. This way, the overall productivity can be maximized, the cost can be reduced, and the efficiency of in-app communications is enhanced. A centralized interface can be used to integrate contact numbers and instant messaging applications with Unified Communications Systems to make them more effective. 

Today, it has become a matter of focus to integrate services such as video and audio communication with desktop apps, real-time video, and cloud. In-app communication will make it an easier task to communicate across distant geographic locations while enhancing the work productivity of all employees.

4. UCaaS

Unified Communications as a Service is often shortened to UCaaS to make it easier to be referenced. Corporate communication earlier prioritized traditional telephony, postal service, and email, rather than cloud telephony. Large enterprises spent excessively on outdated technology to make use of automated attendance and call monitoring features that lacked integrated communications. This typically led to slow responses and brought down corporate growth to a large extent. 

UCaaS outsources communication infrastructure to a cloud phone system, bringing down the overall costs for businesses as they can have a third party to manage their systems. This is a better alternative than paying for an in-house hardware business. Moreover, you can access audio and video communication or any data with the help of a device having an internet connection. Cloud Storage makes it all possible to be accessed at anytime and from any place as long as an internet connection is available.

5. Edge computing

Edge computing aims at diminishing latency by keeping traffic local, as well as circulated. Data wellsprings have now become closely associated with content collection and information processing through the influence of the current technology trend. Edge computing incorporates all the innovations and developments on the IoT or Internet of Things. 

The technology trends 2020 boasts empowered edge to drive an increase in such devices and shape the establishments for a smarter space. It moves services and applications closer to devices, thereby individuals who use them on a routine basis.

6. Mobile Unified Communications

The latest VoIP trends include Mobile Unified Communications, which aims at exploring the heightened functionality of app-based phone numbers in the virtual space. Businesses can use these app-based virtual phone numbers to make business calls, conduct team meetings, and conferences. 

The launch of 5G technology has increased the functionality of mobile applications to a whole new level. This is a major development for businesses and individuals who work in remote locations and will be a gamechanger in overcoming constraints such as location. For advanced support, VoIP providers now also provide an embedded support system for apps.

7. Blockchain Technology

Blockchain technology offers security that is efficient in ways more than one, and this is not just related to cryptocurrencies. In a blockchain, you can only add data and not take or change it, thereby making a chain of data. No entity can control the data that is entered because it is consensus-driven and secured. This eliminates the need for a third-party in order to validate your transactions.

8. Smart VoIP assistants

Artificial Intelligence is playing a major role in automating processes such as answering calls. With the advance in VoIP trends and language processing, virtual assistants can now interpret commands better. This allows better customer interaction by easily handling questions that are already present in the FAQ category. It also increases efficiency as the manual intervention will only be required for complex issues. 

Resolution rates can now be increased while excessive time spent on basic tasks can also be reduced to a minimal state with the use of smarter VoIP assistants. Resolution rates can be increased while any excessive time spent on basic tasks can be reduced to a minimal state with the help of smarter VoIP assistants, .

Latest Technology Trends That Will Impact Businesses in 2020

7 Cyber Security Tips To Help You Work From Home Safely

In the last decade, work-from-home has gained tremendous popularity. With the advent of modern work technologies, companies are finding it easy to maintain and engage a remote workforce.

What has once considered a distant dream is now a reality. In fact, 70% of the global workforce works from home, at least once a week. This clearly depicts how companies are adapting to the concept of remote work.

Well, the one concern that remains super high when you have employees working from home is security. What about the threat of data theft? How to safeguard client privacy? How to prevent online scams and fraudulent activities?

If these questions are troubling you, do not worry – you are not alone. Many employers do not move towards work-from-home options due to these concerns. However, if your company has a robust IT infrastructure and secure servers, you can minimize the major risks by promoting a safe virtual work environment.

Here are seven cybersecurity measures and tips for working from home, that will definitely prove to be useful in tightening security:

1. Strong Passwords

One of the most important cybersecurity tips for all professionals working from home is to ensure strong passwords that comprise upper and lower string characters, numbers, and special characters. 

Keep your passwords unique for different accounts, and also make sure to change them on a regular basis. This is because if you use only one password for all your accounts, in case of a hacking, you will lose access to all your organizational data. You could also choose to use an automated password manager to create, edit, and autofill passwords that are strong for all your business accounts.

2. Promote Encrypted Communication

If you are working from home, then you surely need to communicate with clients, colleagues, and team members. Some of your emails may contain sensitive information; hence, it is a smart idea to use an end-to-end encryption tool for an added layer of safety.

An encryption solution will generate a password that you can send the final recipient of the email, and only through that will the mail be decrypted. It makes sure that no unauthorized personnel can access your mails and keeps your data in safe hands. Most companies that have a large workforce encourage the use of encryption software so that there is no chance of any kind of data theft or loss.

3. Separate Work and Personal Devices

One golden rule that can go a long way in enhancing the security of organizational data is to maintain separate devices for personal and business communication. While it may seem to be a challenging task to switch between two laptops or mobile devices, this will greatly help in restricting access. The more programs and applications that you install, the more vulnerable you will remain to hackers and data miscreants. Hence, make sure to separate your official devices from the personal ones, so that there is less chance of any cybercrime or loss of data.

4. Beware of Phishing Emails

Phishing emails can be voicemails or text emails that are used by cybercriminals to ‘phish’ or extract information. This data is used to hack email accounts, misuse credit card information, and into business applications.

Reference: 7 Cyber Security Tips To Help You Work From Home Safely

Textfree – All about the original Texting App

There’s no denying the fact that we’re more than willing to explore applications that are light on our pockets, especially when it comes to telecommunication apps. 

So, today, I am here to introduce you to something similar – an app that not only fulfills your needs but is also *free*. It is one of the best in the market. 

This refreshing change is Textfree.

Let’s explore Textfree from scratch.

What is Textfree?

Textfree (formerly Pinger) is a free texting and calling app that allows you to text/call over the internet. It runs on Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, and Mac devices. The app gives you a real US phone number, and the best part is that you can text anyone (through Textfree) even if the other person doesn’t have the app. 

Why Textfree?

As per research, people who ditch their expensive communication services save about $1,400 annually.

And, that is a strong reason to leverage Textfree. 

With Textfree, you can send SMS, group messages, MMS (picture message), international texts (and calls), voicemails, and more – all free of cost. 

Usage of Textfree App

• Apart from free texting and calling, Textfree gives you a real US number using which you can communicate with anyone even if they do not have the application. 
• The phone number that they provide is a permanent one.
• All new accounts get a new number and 60 free minutes. 
• Textfree banks on your mobile data or Wi-Fi to establish connections with your friends and family worldwide. 
• The app allows users to call within the US and Canada with free texting in 35 countries. 
• Not only this, but you can also exchange text messages using your computer as Textfree has a web-based version too. 

How does Textfree work?

There’s no complexity involved in the working of Textfree. All it takes is 3 simple steps.

Step 1:

Download the Textfree app. It is available free of cost on iOS, Android, and desktop.

Step 2:

Choose your phone number. Search the area codes to find your desired number. 

Step 3:

That’s all! You can start to call and text. Texts are free while you can earn/buy calling minutes. They’re free to earn and cheap to buy. 

Textfree features you must know about

• Original – Who doesn’t appreciate originality? While the app store is now flooded with copies and copies, Textfree remains the first free texting app in the app store. It has been 11+ years, and over these years, Textfree has enabled communication among millions of users. The users vouch for its speed, reliability, and ease of use. 
• Unlimited Texts and MMS – As already discussed, with Textfree, you get to send unlimited free SMS. Also, now you don’t have to access strange links to send MMS. Textfree is the first app to allow real MMS messaging even if the receiver doesn’t have the app. 
• Real phone number – Textfree serves you with a real local phone number. That means you can call the local services and, of course, connect with your friends and family even if they don’t use a smartphone. 
• Number Selector – Textfree also allows you to custom select a number. You can choose your area code and search remarkable phone numbers like, “(555) 414-SARA,” simple sequences like “(555) 500-2525,” or combinations that are, “JUST4U.”
• Group Messages –  Textfree offers more than a two-way street. It allows you to send a group message to all your contacts. All you need to do is create a group, add the participants, and start a conversation. Yes, that’s all it takes to stay connected. 
• Free Calling – All Textfree to Textfree calls and incoming calls are free of cost. While outbound calls require minutes that are easy to earn and cheap to buy, who won’t love that? 
• No phone? No problem! – You can use Textfree even without a phone. Can it get any better? Textfree turns desktop, tablets, android devices, iPods, and iPads into phones for you to text and makes calls without any hindrance.
• Multiple languages – Textfree is available in the following languages – English, Arabic, Burmese, Cambodian, Chinese (Hong Kong), Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Filipino, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Malay, Norwegian Bokmål, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese.

Reference:Textfree – All about the original Texting App

What is Google Duo and what makes it stand apart

Google has invariably taken precedence when it comes to launching technologies that make a difference. Speaking of Google’s telecommunications products specifically, the company boasts of a diverse portfolio from Google Talk to Google+ Messenger, Google Hangouts, and more. 

Today we’ll be discussing Google Duo and what makes it stand apart.

What is Google Duo?

Google Duo –  announced on May 18, 2016, at Google’s developer office – is a video chat mobile app. It’s worldwide release began on August 16, 2016. And is now available across Android and iOS platforms. You can also access it via Google Chrome on your desktop and laptop computers. 

Duo’s update

After releasing Duo worldwide, on October 5, 2016, Google announced that Google Duo will replace Hangouts within the suite of Google apps. This was sent in an email to Android phone manufacturers asking them to pre-install Duo on all devices thereby making Hangouts an optional app.

Features that matter 

Easy to use – You do not need to go through an exhaustive process of multiple steps to activate your Duo account. All you have to do is – sign up with your phone number and you can then start making calls to people in your contact list. 

There’s absolutely no technicality when it comes to the interface of the app. And the fact that Duo is based on phone numbers alone makes its usage even more safe and easy.

Here’s how it works – 

• Download the app on your iOS or Android device. 
• You’ll be taken to Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, agree to it. 
• Decide if you want Duo to send you notifications or not and allow it to access your microphone and camera. 
• Verify your phone number through a one-time verification code sent to you via SMS.
• You’ll have Duo’s main interface on your screen. 
• Go ahead and start calling! 
• For starting a video call – Simply type the name of the contact in the search bar. Select their name. Tap ‘Video call’ and that’s it.

High-quality video calling – We have known Google Duo to serve us with high-quality video calling. That’s a big reason for the app’s popularity. Streaming at 720p, Duo makes sure to provide uninterrupted calling experiences. It is optimized for low-bandwidth mobile networks wherein your call quality largely depends on your network quality but you can anyway make calls even on low-band networks. The app can also automatically switch between Wi-Fi and cellular networks without dropping the call. 

Knock-Knock – Google says the knock-knock feature is to make calls feel more like an invitation rather than an interruption. What happens here is – through Knock Knock, you get to see a live preview of your caller even before you answer the call. This enhances the overall experience of video calling as even before you pick up the call, you get an idea about why the other person is calling. In case, you do not wish to use this feature – you can easily manage your preferences and disable it under the ‘Settings’ menu within Duo.

 

Security – All your calls on Duo are absolutely secure. They are, by default, secured by end-to-end encryption. That means, no one (not even Google) except the people connected to your call can know what’s going on in the call.  

Voice calls- After succeeding in providing high-quality video calls, Duo launched audio-only calls in an update in April 2017. Just like the video calls, voice calls are of extremely high-quality too. 

Group calls – Calls on Duo are no longer a two-way street. It allows 8 people to connect on a video call (on iOS and Android both). The participants of this group call can join/leave the call anytime in between the conversation. On the Duo’s main interface is a screen split into two – the top half shows what your camera sees and the bottom offers you a search bar with a ‘Create Group’ tab. Also, just like the one-on-one calls, Duo’s group calls too are secured by end-to-end encryption. 

Free to use – That’s the best part, isn’t it? We get to access the benefits of high definition video and voice calls – all for free. All you need is a stable internet connection, and Google Duo won’t fail to impress you. 

Low light mode- Duo’s has recently added a low light mode which makes you more visible to the other people on the call if you are in low-lit surroundings. So, you do not need to change your surroundings and search for the perfectly lit spot for your video calls. The duo will adjust things for you. You can also manage your preferences and disable this feature – if you want – under the Settings option. 

Fast and reliable – Hear what Google has to say about this – “We’ve built Duo to be fast and reliable so that video calls connect quickly and work well even on slower networks.”

So, you know you don’t have to bother about limited bandwidth and slow connections to use Duo. Also, you can continue your calls seamlessly irrespective of your Wi-fi location – Duo can automatically switch from Wi-fi to cellular data. 

• Video messages – There’s another exciting feature in Duo’s portfolio – video and voice messages. If you’re using Google Duo and you don’t have time to call or the person on the other end can’t pick up, you can simply leave a video/voice message to state your reason/your urgency or simply ask them to call back. Not only this, you can personalize your video message with emoticons or texts or even use a brush to draw. 
• Manage preferences – Google Duo serves you with options to personalize your app as per your preferences. You own the ability to disable the knock-knock and low-light mode. With this, you can also limit how much mobile data you use on the app, set vibration mode along with the general mode (Android only), block unwanted contacts, add Google Accounts, unregister your number, and do more. 

What is Google Duo and what makes it stand apart