Communication Services
Azure Communication Services (ACS) is a cloud-based platform offered by Microsoft Azure that enables developers to integrate communication features into their applications. These features include voice calling, video calling, chat messaging, SMS, and email. ACS leverages the same secure infrastructure as Microsoft Teams, ensuring reliable and scalable communication capabilities.
Key Features of Azure Communication Services
- Voice and Video Calling
ACS supports one-on-one and group voice and video calls, providing high-quality and low-latency communication. It also includes capabilities for recording calls and supporting real-time communication in applications. It costs 1 cent per 2.5 minutes, while recording costs an additional 1 cent per 5 minutes (audio) or 1 cent per 1 minute (audio and video)
- Chat Messaging
Developers can integrate text chat features into applications, allowing for real-time messaging between users. The service supports rich text formatting, message threading, and the ability to store conversation history. Messaging costs 1 cent per 12 messages.
- SMS and WhatsApp
ACS enables sending and receiving SMS messages globally, which can be used for notifications, alerts, or two-factor authentication (2FA). Sending 12 SMS messages cost 1 cent while WhatsApp costs 1 cent for 2 messages.
Integration with email services allows applications to send transactional and marketing emails, offering a complete communication suite. Sending 40 emails costs 1 cent.
Integration and Customization
Azure Communication Services offers APIs and SDKs for easy integration with various platforms, including web, mobile, and desktop applications. For our purposes, we want them integrated on background services and for the Portal (to allow users to have direct contact with devices).
Use Cases
Telehealth: ACS can be deployed on Portal to build secure video/audio calling solutions for virtual healthcare consultations.
Customer Support: Integrating voice, video, and chat into customer support systems enhances user experience and efficiency.
Remote Collaboration: Teams can leverage ACS for remote meetings and collaboration for nurses/security personnel, supporting voice and video calls, as well as chat.
Notification Systems: Use SMS and email features for sending alerts, reminders, and other notifications.
Azure Communication Services provides a comprehensive set of communication tools that can be easily integrated into applications, enhancing the user experience and operational efficiency. Its secure and scalable architecture makes it a reliable choice for businesses looking to implement communication features such as voice, video, chat, SMS, and email.