VoIP software maker Twilio is rolling out an SDK today, starting with iOS support and taking numbers for the Android beta.  Twilio Client for iOS is a core version of its offering that works as a template for developers building apps for the iPhone, iPad and iPod. It’s VoIP technology can be integrated with existing apps or used as the foundation of an entirely new one, though that doesn’t mean it includes only the most basic functionality. Twilio said that, in addition to VoIP capabilities, the Client also features a social aspect that lets users see their contacts’ status.

One of the early case studies is particularly interesting. Big data has evidently pushed through into enterprise telecommunications as well, as evidenced by one of the early apps built on Twilio tech:

With Twilio Client for iOS, RingDNA built an enterprise-ready iPad app that provides companies with actionable marketing and sales data that includes call tracking, intelligent call routing, CRM integration and click-to-call functionality.

Because of Twilio’s rock-solid client for iOS SDK, our developers could focus on RingDNA’s core cloud marketing, sales and service features without bearing the prohibitive cost of creating the telephony API ourselves,” said Howard Brown, CEO of RingDNA.

Twilio’s hopeful that a variety of app developers will be interested in their SDK, with an eye towards mobile gaming, customer service and everything in between.  “We think voice calling should be a feature of every application,” says Twilio’s Thomas Schiavone.  With an end goal not too distant from WiFi’s hopes to blanket the world, Schiavone sees a future where Twilio “bridges all these different networks and lets the user decide how they want to communicate,” he says.

But first they will have to tackle the mobile sector.  It’s an extension of Twilio’s current browser-based VoIP tool, and Schiavone expects to see similar companies incorporating a mobile strategy as well.  And with connectivity improving regularly, Schiavone anticipates good things for Twilio.

“What’s going to happen is the connections will get even better,” he says.  “We’re investing ahead of where we think the market’s going to be.”

The trend for VoIP is already carving a niche in the app world.  Earlier this week was a major update from eVoice, expanding its reach on Android. The app covers several different elements that make it especially handy for mobile workers, such a function that opts out call drops and an automatic voicemail that also provides a transcript to go along with recordings.

Larger vendors are also gunning for enterprise communications. The most prominent example is Microsoft’s acquisition of Skype (now official), and Cisco’s market reaction.  The latter’s core business is all about networking, but it still maintains a line of video- and teleconferencing products. The company is against that the merger, which it claims will undoubtedly impact its own business and create a vendor lock-in situation for users.

Contributors: Maria Deutscher