XCv2 Entry #1

Broadsoft posted up the second developer contest, which has now entered the judging stage. Here is the first application that I submitted. One note regarding the video, Click To Call works with any phone, mobile, land line, VoIP, etc. Additionally, the Xtended Account app, can include more services other than the two in the video, this is just a teaser for those interested.


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mailFone & SimpleSignal Phone - Ribbit KillerApp Challenge

To start off with I must say that Ribbit has come a long way. I joined the beta program back in Nov 2007 and started messing around with the framework. After doing little with the framework for about a year or so I started re-learning the API and then updating some code examples I had built to be compatible with their 2.5 release. There were alot of great enhancements to the API with the 2.5 release. At the same time they released the version update they also announced a contest for developers.

I decided I was going to enter into the contest and see how it went. I made it into the 3rd checkpoint, but fell short of placing in the top 5. Further motivated, I created another application (SimpleSignal Phone) along with the my first application (mailFone) -- video after the jump. I enhanced my mailFone to include incoming screens as well as outgoing, and integrated Plaxo photos for a visual identification of incoming calls or outgoing calls.

So here are my two entries:

mailFone:
http://www.joedeveloper.net/ribbit/emailfone.html

SimpleSignal Phone:
http://www.joedeveloper.net/ribbit/simplesignal/JoeDeveloperSimpleSignal.html

It was really fun working with the Ribbit API and I know that I will use it more frequently and hopefully sell some apps.

Ribbit Ribbit!

Joe


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Xtended Contest entry "Walkthrough of QuickSet"

Last entry I made was all about this new thing that I had been working on for the Xtended Contest. Now I will reveal what that application is and provide you with a walkthrough of how it works and where you can download it.

The name of the application is QuickSet. It's an Adobe Air application that allows you to dial out from it and configure several services. The true beauty of the application is it's ability to be run on both Windows, MAC and Linux operating systems. It crosses the divide of compatibility to allow almost every user out there to configure their Broadsoft services without ever having to leave their desktop.

Here is some instructions that I put together to help you get started with it

To get started you would need to go to  
http://www.joedeveloper.net/quickset/  and click on the Install Now button.




Does the following window should pop up?


If so please press Open.
If that window doesn’t pop open you may see:



This is the Adobe Air platform that QuickSet runs on. Please press yes.
After this point if you are having any more problems it would be a good time to make sure you have the latest Flash Player and Adobe air.

Flash Player 9.0.115 or higher. (you can get that here:
http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer)
Adobe Air 1.1 or higher. (you can get that here:
http://get.adobe.com/air/)

After you press open, or press install the adobe air platform the next screen should be:



Please click on “Install”
If this is your first time installing the application you may also see the following screen:


This is an agreement for the Adobe Air platform installation. Please click “I Agree”.
The next screen will ask you about how you would like the application to install. It’s completely optional to put an icon on your desktop. Please click continue to start the installation.



After it finishes installing it should launch the application automatically. If it doesn’t, you can go to your programs or desktop and launch if from there as well.
Once you launch QuickSet for the first time you should see the “Configure your settings” box:


This box needs to have some information filled in: Server, Username and Password. Once that is filled in and you click save it will attempt to connect to the server. Currently the easiest way to test out the application is by having an account on the Broadsoft Xtended Platform by going to
http://developer.broadsoft.com , signing up and getting a sandbox account. For instance the server address would be “xsp.xdp.broadsoft.com” excluding the “http://” from the beginning.

The next thing that should happen is the app will load in your services:
To find out how the different services and application work, please continue reading through the guide by going to
http://www.joedeveloper.net/quickset/QuickSet_QuickGuide.pdf.

Hope you enjoy the application! Leave some comments and let me know.


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Broadsoft Xtended contest announced

Let me just start out by saying that today is a great day because of this contest. The reason for this cannot be better illustrated then by going to one of my first blogs on the site here. If you don't have time to read that I'll give you a quick rundown:

 Broadsoft didn't used to have an easy way for any third-party developer to work with their platform.
 No longer is this the case which is why I'm very happy.

I had already said that I think it makes complete sense to allow third-party developers to build against your platform. Granted we haven't seen the greatest success with sites like Facebook or MySpace and their third party developer network. However, before I get attacked for the blasphemy that I just spoke, things ARE getting better. Don't get me wrong there are plenty of good applications on Facebook and MySpace. However, by opening up your platform you do have to watch for the bad applications.

There surely are obstacles to launching an open platform, from the logistics to the legal to the implementation. However, regardless of all of these things Broadsoft has done it and done it well. Their platform is open to any developer who registers and requests a sandbox account. Additionally, there is now added incentive for the developer.

Here's the thing making applications is fun once you finish them, even fun while you are developing them. I'm definitely going to enter a few applications into the contest. I mean who doesn't want cash for what they do. Not only, do you get cash though, you get to be at Broadsoft's annual event called Connections. I've never been to it, but from what I have heard it's a blast. Additionally, it's a great way to network and show you product to potential buyers (carriers, customers etc).

In the short period that I've used Broadsoft Xtended I have been approached by several large service providers. Don't forget that Broadsoft's platform is in places like Cox, Verizon, Sprint; or as they put it:

"BroadSoft provides VoIP applications to 7 of the top 10 and 13 of the top 25 largest carriers worldwide, as measured by recent annual revenue, including Korea Telecom, KPN, SingTel, Sprint, Telefonica de Espana, Telstra, T-Systems, and Verizon"

Additionally, you (developers) don't have to know VoIP or telephony to benefit from this opportunity. Now granted, knowing some terms and how things work is important, but don't worry all of that information is accessible here.

You have until September 2nd, so get to it. Additionally, if you need any help post a question to forums on developer.broadsoft.com. The forums are very active and there are alot of knowledgeable Broadsoft engineers and developers on them answering questions real quick. I'm always interested in a cool web app, so I am looking forward to see what comes of this.


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