A Big Thank You to our sponsors LHS and Egain for their help in bringing you VanillaPlus Bites.
LHS, part of the Ericsson Group, is a leading independent software vendor (ISV) of billing and customer care systems in the telecom industry. LHS’ award-winning solution (BSCS) is used by the world’s leading network and virtual operators. BSCS offers convergence on various levels, supporting the complete range of business models including fixed and mobile services plus prepaid and postpaid services.
LHS’ systems enable customers to introduce new services fast, helping to increase revenues whilst keeping operational costs to a minimum.
LHS is based in Frankfurt with main offices in Brazil, France, Malaysia and the UAE. www.lhsgroup.com
eGain is the leading provider of multichannel customer service and knowledge management software solutions for in-house or on-demand deployment. Ranked highly in 2009 by leading analysts, Gartner Group and Forrester Research, eGain has become the preferred solution for many global and regional telecommunications companies. The eGain proposition assists your organisation to: • Improve the customer experience and increase their choice of interaction channels. • Increase call deflection rates through effective 24×7 self service. • Reduce contact centre and supply chain operating costs. • Fully utilise your valuable knowledge assets across channels. • Harness the power of social networking to reach, support and influence your customers. www.egain.com
Free LIVE Webinars
Veronika Olsson Director Strategic Marketing & Research, LHS.
LHS to host on Wednesday 3 March, 2010 14:00 London, 15:00 Paris, 10:00 New York, 18:00 Dubai
Moderated by VanillaPlus, LHS will be hosting the next in our series of live, ‘Thought Leadership’ Webinars on Wednesday 3 March at 14:00 GMT (15.00 CET).
TOPIC: Integrated Billing and BI – Enabling the Next Generation Communications Experience
SPEAKERS: Veronika Olsson, Director Strategic Marketing & Research supported by Chris Yeadon, Director Product Marketing, LHS.
MODERATOR: Jeremy Cowan, Editorial Director, VanillaPlus.
Ian Jones Head of global strategic solutions, eGain
eGain to host on Wednesday 24 March, 2010 14:00 London, 15:00 Paris, 10:00 New York, 18:00 Dubai
Moderated by VanillaPlus, eGain will be hosting the next in our series of live, ‘Thought Leadership’ Webinars on Wednesday 24 March at 14:00 GMT (15.00 CET).
TOPIC: Web Self-Service – The Challenges and Benefits of getting it right
SPEAKER: Ian Jones, Head of global strategic solutions, eGain.
INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS: Alun Lewis.
MODERATOR: Jeremy Cowan, Editorial Director, VanillaPlus.
Acquisition extends IBM’s portfolio of data centre controls IBM has acquired Intelliden, a provider of networking software, to build IBM’s position in automating the broadest range of business and IT assets increasingly controlled by the data centre.
Intelliden helps networks and enterprises configure thousands of devices like hubs and routers that are managed manually today. Analysts estimate that more than 60% of network outages are caused by manual configuration errors. Intelliden’s solutions help organisations deliver network services quicker and more reliably. These network services provide the communication backbone for business-critical applications – traditional and cloud-based.
Intelliden’s network automation is an important addition to the IBM portfolio that controls the ever-expanding data centre. Having the ability to manage and secure the proliferation of devices and access points to the data centre with company information in a traditional data centre or cloud environment is a competitive differentiator and an important driver of growth for IBM. www.ibm.com
Company News: Ericsson buys SinglePoint’s operator and aggregation contract assets
Deal makes Ericsson a Tier 1 aggregator in the United States Ericsson, a leading provider of technology and services to telecom operators has agreed with SinglePoint for the purchase of the company’s strategic operator and aggregation contract assets. As part of the agreement, Ericsson will gain ownership of SinglePoint’s operator connection agreements to bolster its premium and standard rate messaging reach in the US. This has been a successful business for SinglePoint and is a strategic move for Ericsson’s Multimedia Brokering business in the United States.
This asset purchase will take Ericsson to CSCA (Common Short Code Administration) Tier 1 aggregator status in the US, as well as strengthen the company’s position as a global connection provider. SinglePoint, based in Bellevue, Washington, enables brands, agencies and publishers to connect with more than 270 million North American wireless subscribers. Its suite of products and services enables publishers to monetise their mobile messaging traffic, and advertisers to access premium inventory and rapidly launch mobile advertising campaigns. www.ericsson.com
Company News: Agilent Technologies agrees to sell JDSU its Network Solutions business for US$165m in cash
Sale enables company to focus on communications network test Agilent Technologies Inc. has agreed to sell its network solutions business to JDSU for $165 million in cash. Subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approval, the transaction is expected to be finalised in the second quarter this year. The business includes Agilent’s network assurance systems, network protocol test and drive test products. The business achieved annual revenues of $162 million in its fiscal year ending 31 October, 2009. Talking to insiders the sale clearly was as much of a surprise to staff within Agilent’s Network Solutions business as it was to outsiders, but initial reactions were said to be positive.
Agilent is an industry leader in network assurance and in next generation network test systems. Its customer base includes leading service providers and network equipment manufacturers from around the world. The company reports that it is selling its network solutions business because it “believes the business and its customers will be better served by a company that is focused exclusively on communications network test”. The business employs about 700 people in Colorado, USA, the UK, Singapore and China. www.agilent.com
Company News: Oracle® buys Convergin
Bhaskar Gorti, Snr VP and GM Communications Global Business Unit, Oracle
Accelerates deployment of next generation prepaid and value added services Oracle is to acquire Convergin, a leading provider of real-time service brokering solutions. Convergin’s 2EE-based Service Broker platform enables communications service providers (CSPs) to manage services for a wide range of networks and application platforms, including prepaid charging. The solution allows CSPs to focus on launching innovative services while modernising to next-generation networks.
Convergin products are said to complement Oracle Communications’ integrated product suite, including Oracle Communications Billing and Revenue Management, Oracle Communications Converged Application Server and Oracle Communications Service Fulfillment applications. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2010. Financial details were not disclosed.
“As communications service providers transition from legacy telephony networks to next-generation networks, the combination of Oracle and Convergin will accelerate new service innovation while reducing network complexity and cost,” said Bhaskar Gorti, SVP and general manager, Oracle Communications. www.oracle.com
Contract News: Ukraine’s Kyivstar selects Comverse HUB Mobile Advertising platform to deliver promotions to subscribers’ handsets
Marketing campaigns to leverage Kyivstar’s existing SMS & prepaid billing systems from Comverse Comverse, a provider of software and systems enabling value-added services for voice, messaging, mobile internet and mobile advertising, converged billing , active customer management and IP communications, has been selected by Kyivstar, Ukraine’s largest mobile operator with over 22 million users, to deploy a multi-channel mobile advertising platform in its network. This will enable Kyivstar to launch targeted promotional campaigns to subscribers.
Kyivstar will use the Comverse HUB Mobile Advertising platform with advanced targeting and analytics capabilities to promote its own products and services to subscribers via multiple channels, such as text messaging (SMS). Replies will be generated by self-service options made possible by Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD). Advanced metrics will make it possible for Kyivstar to precisely track and fine tune the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. In addition, because the billing system is always on, Kyivstar will know that results are accurate and not skewed by system downtimes. www.kyivstar.ua/en/
Contract News: Genasys and GyPSii agree to offer location-based social media solution to Telefonica’s Latin American mobile subscribers
Genasys to leverage GyPSii OpenExperience™ API for mobile social app GyPSii, the mobile lifestyle application, geo-mobility, and social media platform, has been selected by Genasys, a leading provider of mobile location services, as its exclusive, mobile social network partner. In partnership with Telefonica, they will launch a consumer-focused application to subscribers across Latin America. The application built on GyPSii’s OpenExperience™ API is expected to launch in Mexico branded as Movistar “Powered by GyPSii” in March 2010, and will be available on Blackberry, Android, Java, Symbian S60, Windows Mobile and WAP-enabled devices.
“We are delighted to have established this relationship with GyPSii, a top player in the mobile lifestyle arena,” said Alberto Nicoletti, President, Genasys Location Services. “We are convinced that this alliance will strongly contribute to Genasys’ growth in VAS in Latin America.”
Dan Harple, Founder and Executive Chairman of GyPSii, said, “Genasys’ use of our API as a social media platform to build killer apps for location-based social media, search and ad delivery, and the joint partnership with Telefonica, extends the rapidly growing GyPSii emerging market reach into Latin America.” www.genasys.com
Contract News: Tunisiana frees subscribers from inflexible payment schemes
Nokia Siemens Networks’ combined pre- and postpay solution brings greater choice and flexibility Tunisiana, the first private telecom operator in Tunisia, will soon offer its subscribers an increased range of mobile services along with the choice of combining pre- or postpaid payment methods. The operator has upgraded to Nokia Siemens Networks’ unified charging and billing solution, giving subscribers the flexibility to opt for more than one payment scheme within a single subscription.
To help Tunisiana make this shift, Nokia Siemens Networks is deploying its modular and scalable charge@once unified charging and billing system, providing a risk-free and smooth migration towards a convergent charging and billing environment that can serve any kind of network. The system provides Tunisiana with a ‘360° online view’ of the customer and its layered architecture allows operators to offer the same services to all types of customers, whether prepaid, postpaid or hybrid. www.tunisiana.com
Contract News: Three new customer wins for Cerillion
Total Convergence Architecture reflects operator need to upgrade BSS and OSS infrastructure Next generation customer management systems provider, Cerillion Technologies, has been selected by three new clients for major CRM and billing projects in a successful first fiscal quarter of 2010. These projects include a billing system implementation for an established MVNO in the UK; deploying Cerillion Express for a large prepaid operator in West Africa; and an end-to-end CRM and Billing solution for a multi-country cable operator offering a full suite of TV, voice and data services.
“Operators are recognising the need to upgrade their BSS and OSS infrastructure as they seek to gain a competitive edge in their respective markets. And our pre-integrated product suite is proving once again to provide the time-to-market advantage and is helping to create new opportunities for revenue growth,” commented Louis Hall, CEO, Cerillion Technologies. www.cerillion.com
Contract News: Swisscom consolidates mediation systems with help from DigitalRoute
DigitalRoute fights off competition from nine other vendors Swisscom, Switzerland’s leading telecoms provider has completed its mission to consolidate all online and offline mediation systems within the company. Three years ago Swisscom started to transform its Billing Mediation landscape and established the Active Mediation System (AMS) implementation programme. The aim was to significantly lower operational costs by consolidating all existing mediation systems for mobile, fixed line, data and content services into one.
The new system had to be capable of dealing with all existing and future technologies, and providing best performance while reducing operational costs. DigitalRoute’s MediationZone® was selected to replace the existing systems after an evaluation process in head-on competition with nine other vendors.
The programme, completed in December, has reportedly led to a cost reduction of several million Swiss Francs per year, according to Swisscom’s calculations. MediationZone is now catering for all Swisscom’s mediation requirements via two geographically redundant sites utilising a low cost Linux/X86 platform. www.digitalroute.com and www.swisscom.com
People News: Ogilvy’s EMEA CEO joins mobile marketing and advertising technology provider, Velti
Mike Walsh to take up VP of Business Development UK role
Velti, a global provider of mobile marketing and advertising systems, has appointed Mike Walsh as Vice President of Business Development in the UK. Velti enables brands, ad agencies, and mobile operators to communicate with and engage customers via their mobile devices.
Mike Walsh will be based in Velti’s London office, leading the company’s interaction with agencies, brands and enterprises. He has 33 years experience with a brand portfolio including Ford, Nestle, GSK, American Express and Heinz. His former positions include Director of the Worldwide Board and Group CEO for EMEA at Ogilvy and Mather, where he was responsible for operations in 66 countries. He will be focused on educating traditional agencies and brands on the mobile channel and how integrated, multi-channel campaign opportunities can be delivered, and will report to Velti’s CEO, Alex Moukas.
Mike Walsh was a trustee and former Vice-Chairman of the British Red Cross, was a World Trustee of WWF (World Wildlife Fund) and is currently Chairman of the UK Disasters Emergency Committee, representing 13 of the UK’s largest international charities. www.velti.com
People News: MACH appoints new CTO to build its mobile exchange solutions
Chris Burke, formerly of RIM and Vodafone UK
Appointment signals a new phase of service development and provision MACH, the leading provider of hub-based mobile communications exchange solutions, has announced the appointment of Chris Burke to the new position of Chief Technology Officer (CTO). This appointment signals the beginning of a new phase of service development and provision as this data and financial clearing specialist company responds to the increasing pace of change in mobile telecoms.
Chris Burke brings international wireless and IT expertise, having held both technical and general management positions as MD EMEA for Research In Motion, CTO/CIO for Vodafone UK Ltd, CTO/CIO of Fixed Line Service Provider, Energis, and Director R&D, Bell Northern Research (formerly Nortel R&D), in a career spanning Europe and North America. In addition to his responsibilities as CTO of MACH, Chris will continue to supplement his industry experience – as a board member, industry advisor and private investor. www.mach.com
Product News: Comarch introduces a machine-to-machine platform for mobile operators
Platform designed to help mobile operators entering the M2M market Comarch, a global supplier of key industry standard compliant software solutions and services for communications service providers has launched a platform to support operators with the most important features in the areas of business and operations support services (BSS & OSS). The platform includes a self-service portal for M2M partners, provisioning of services, data mediation, rating of events, inventory, mass SIM cards management, business process management and more. The integrated B2B Gateway exposes certain features of the platform and network directly to partners, allowing them to self-manage and provision their M2M subscriptions.
Comarch also has the M2M Transaction Gateway in its product suite for companies that use M2M communications in their services for end customers. M2MPlatform.comarch.com
Product News: Broadband Forum launches first ever certification programme
Programme aims to smooth global broadband convergence The Broadband Forum has announced its first ever certification programme, as a crucial component in its drive to develop the full potential of broadband and support the smooth broadband architecture convergence around the world.
The Broadband Forum Certification Program is designed to verify adherence to critical IP/MPLS, broadband and digital home/business specifications. These technical specifications address areas of vital importance to the networking industry. These newly released as well as future certifications offered through the Broadband Forum Certification Program are driven by market requirements.
Overall the Broadband Forum Certification Program provides:
Assurance to service providers that different vendor products conform to the Broadband Forum’s globally recognised and adopted technology standards
Cost savings to both equipment vendors and service providers by offering a single industry-approved test and certification process that significantly reduces testing time and resources
The vehicle to expedite multi-vendor interoperability
Product News: Fiberlink® introduces MaaS360™ Visibility Service for Handhelds
New offering enables unified management of Blackberry® devices Fiberlink® , the creator and developer of cloud-based Mobility as a Service (MaaS) solutions has introduced MaaS360™ Visibility Service for Handhelds, a subscription-based service that gives businesses unprecedented knowledge and reporting about enterprise BlackBerry® devices. This new service will extend the company’s MaaS360 platform to include handheld mobile devices, in addition to existing desktop, laptop, Macintosh, USB and netbook reporting.
MaaS360 Visibility Service for Handhelds adds BlackBerry hardware and software inventory to the MaaS360 Management Center to provide a single business intelligence reporting platform for enterprises, medium and small businesses. With this cost-effective new service, IT executives have a unified, detailed view into all their mobile devices, enabling better device management and improved end user services. MaaS360 Visibility for Handhelds can be integrated into any existing BlackBerry Enterprise Server without additional hardware. View short videos and additional information at www.maas360.com/handhelds. www.fiberlink.com
Product News: Camiant and Blueslice interoperate on policy control and subscriber management
Collaboration aims to provide best possible end user experience Blueslice Networks, creator of ‘evolved Subscriber Data Management’, and Camiant, Inc., a provider of policy control and application assurance technology, have announced the interoperability of Camiant’s PCRF (Policy & Charging Rules Function) with Blueslice’s Subscriber Data Management systems.
The continued growth of mobile data fuelled by the availability of faster access networks and the increasing number of innovative mobile applications underscores service providers’ needs for an evolved, centralised architecture of subscriber intelligence and resources control. The Camiant and Blueslice integration ensures optimal use of service provider network resources and delivery of the best possible end user experience.
Service providers such as mobile operators, cable and fixed line operators, multiplay and VoIP providers, IMS and FMC players will benefit from significant cost savings while improving RoI on new and existing data services by optimally using network resources. www.blueslice.com
Integrated Billing and BI – Enabling the Next Generation Communications Experience 3 March, 2010 – 14:00 London, 15:00 Paris, 10:00 New York, 18:00 Dubai Hosted by LHS, moderated by VanillaPlus Free to attend online To register click here www.vanillaplus.com
Web Self Service – The Challenges and Benefits of getting it right 24 March, 2010 – 14:00 London, 15:00 Paris, 10:00 New York, 18:00 Dubai Hosted by eGain, moderated by VanillaPlus Free to attend online To register click here www.vanillaplus.com
Telecom World Congress 2010 20-22 April, 2010 Okura Hotel, Amsterdam, The Netherlands www.terrapinn.com/2010/twc
VanillaPlus Magazine next issue: Out 30 April, 2010
The April/May issue of VanillaPlus is the Management World Show issue, with bonus distribution at the annual event in Nice. Alongside the magazine we will be publishing a Special Show Supplement for Management World.
Editorial Features in April/May include:
Subscriber Data Management: Can you skip across new service obstacles?
Is your Data Roaming service all it’s cracked up to be?
Network sharing brings challenges for the Back Office
Correct pricing and profit margins have never been more critical — can your BI tools cope?
Can you really raise Network Security levels and cut costs?
How better Inventory Management can improve service roll-out
Service Level Management: A growing challenge for carriers
Network Discovery & Reconciliation: Pressure to automate
Personalisation is the key to profitable Location Based Services
Cost-effective service delivery for Unified Communications
Cutting revenue leakage puts multiple pressures on CSPs
Publication: 30 April, 2010 To secure your copy of VanillaPlus Magazine subscribe (Free in Europe, Middle East and Africa*) at www.vanillaplus.com *Terms & Conditions apply
Samsung Electronics and O2 Telefónica announced on Thursday that the companies launched their first virtualised RAN (vRAN) and Open RAN commercial site in Germany. It is the first time that
Global connectivity provider Telxius is opening its latest submarine cable route with the extension of SAm-1 between Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico. The route is in
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