Vonage has officially launched its Nexmo Connect Partner Program (Nexmo Connect) with a group of partners including Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Facebook and others.

Vonage acquired Nexmo in 2016; Nexmo now is Vonage’s API platform, providing chat, SMS and voice APIs that allow enterprises and applications to connect with their customers. Nexmo Connect includes an extensive support system of Nexmo partners and experts that are ready to collaborate on building, selling and marketing.

Nexmo’s Mark Summerson

Mark Summerson, director of the global partner program at Nexmo, tells Channel Partners this is an extension of the program announced in March, and introduces several initiatives that “add value to the ecosystem.”

“From that foundation, we’ve built a social and collaborative platform designed to foster communication between Nexmo and the partners — which is particularly important now that the community is over 110 strong,” he said. “These new initiatives include the Partner Showcase, the Nexmo Stars rewards program for co-marketing and co-selling, and the use of Workplace by Facebook + Bots to facilitate social collaboration.”

Through this program, partners can access Vonage’s suite of APIs to build messaging and voice experiences for their customers within their own applications, integration projects or complementary platforms, Summerson said.

“The partner program works directly with application, integration and technology partners that use Nexmo APIs or a combination of APIs and consultative services to help deliver better business outcomes to customers by building and marketing applications, workflow platforms and bots through enhanced messaging and voice capabilities,” he said. “Access to this community allows partners to truly collaborate and build innovative new solutions to add even more value to their customers.”

Partners also gain access to Vonage’s programmable communications platform, which now includes video, Summerson said.

“APIs are key building blocks of modern, digital organizations,” he said. “With this program, Vonage enables its partners to more quickly develop the products they take to market and explore new opportunities with the power APIs offer. With Nexmo Connect, partners have the ability to hit the ground running and begin to generate business on day one.”

The programmable-communications market is expected to exceed $18 billion in revenue during the next three years, Summerson said. However, implementing cloud communications platforms, such as programmable communications, can be a challenge, he said.

“tPoint Solutions help(s) optimize and connect the customer interactions for businesses that include some of the largest logistics companies in EMEA,” said Andy Griffin, its founder and CEO. “Nexmo APIs have enabled us to build voice bots into our offerings that are increasing customer satisfaction and improving efficiencies for our customers.”

In June, Vonage unveiled new contact center capabilities through Nexmo.