Communication platforms as a service (cPaaS), sometimes referred to as cloud communication platforms, provide tools for mobile developers to connect their mobile apps to a phone’s SMS, voice, and verification features via APIs. Developers use these products to add communication capabilities such as text notifications, user-to-user chatting, and voice connectivity to their applications. Many cPaaS platforms help developers customize how their products interact with these features via documentation around extensibility.
cPaaS allows developers to implement functionality beyond basic communications, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) via texts and emails. These tools are often associated with VoIP, or voice over internet protocol software, which uses an IP network to transmit phone calls seamlessly without the need to connect to an extra telephone network.
To qualify for inclusion in the Communication Platforms as a Service (cPaaS) category, a product must:
Host APIs allowing developers to integrate communication functionalities in their apps
Provide documentation around API interactions and extensibility