Changes to Tropo Channel Support
January 11th, 2012 by Adam KalseyAs Tropo evolves, we continue to evaluate our product features and make changes to improve the overall experience of using Tropo. Often, this means we add a feature or improve an existing one. Sometimes, this means removing a feature.
Tropo will be deprecating two features at the end of this month.
- Instant Messaging and Twitter – Sending instant messages to your application was a fun idea and we used this a lot internally to test text applications, but shifting network protocols and uncooperative IM services meant we spent a lot of effort on the feature for very little positive result. We will be disabling the ability to add new IM networks shortly, and turning off the IM servers on January 28. Read more about this change here.
- Skype numbers – Providing each application a Skype number allowed developers to test incoming calls to their applications. Unlike all of our other phone numbers and VoIP access, this was one-way: you could not call out with Skype. The Microsoft acquisition of Skype has left even this limited support with an uncertain future. You can continue to test your applications with SIP, phone numbers, or Phono. We’ve even embedded Phono so you can dial your applications with one click. Read more about this change here.
Changing and shaping the future of communications takes a lot of focus, and sometimes requires us to reassess the past. We’ve learned a lot from our Skype and IM support, and will put that knowledge to work in creating more great things in the future.
Deprecating these features is the first step in allowing us to focus on things that our users truly want. Look for a lot of great things coming from Tropo in the coming weeks and months.
Stay tuned!
Related posts:
- Handling regular users vs casual users via the text channel
- Voxeo announces COBOL support for Tropo.com voice app platform
- How to Add Twitter Support to a Tropo.com App – Step by Step
Tags: end of life, features, product management
