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Home Archives for Telecom Billing and Charging

Argent Networks Launches New Version of InBill Interconnect for Next Generation Networks

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Argent Networks, a provider of BSS and OSS solutions for fixed, mobile and next generation networks, has launched the latest version of its leading in>Bill Interconnect rating, billing and settlement solution.

Larry Barker, Chief Executive Officer for Argent Networks says that the release of the new version 6.0 of in>Bill to the market is exciting for the company. “in>Bill version 6.0 forms an important part of Argent’s suite of products designed to enable its partners and customers to roll out next generation services, as well as handle the complex inter-carrier settlement models being exhibited between carriers, content and media providers,” says Barker.

Argent’s in>Bill version 6.0 supports all network types and settlement billing models from traditional network services through to next generation VoIP, Content, IPTV, and multimedia services on a single platform. [Read more…]

Dittberner Associates Says Telecom Billing, Real-Time Charging and Interconnect Billing Software Market Grow

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According to analysis recently published by Dittberner Associates, the telecom billing industry, previously written off as a “mature market”, is now catching its second wave of growth. Dittberner forecasts the billing sector will grow at a 3.7% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from $4.6 billion in 2005 to $5.5 billion in 2010.

While Dittberner acknowledges that the end of the telecom recession is a key factor in the telecom billing industry’s revival, other significant reasons include the following market trends:
* Real-time Revenue Generation
* Converging Postpaid and Prepaid Billing
* The Rise of Virtual Network Operators
* Wireline Billing Consolidation

More specific information about the telecom industry and their analysis is available to subscribers of Dittberner’s OSS/BSS KnowledgeBase. [Read more…]

telSPACE to Sponsor 2007 MVNO Summit

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The 2007 MVNO Summit is scheduled for January 29, 2007 to January 31, 2007. After the tremendous success of the 2006 MVNO Summit in Las Vegas, telSPACE is stepping up to make sure that the sequel to this conference provides even more benefit for all who attend.

telSPACE has created a billing back office system that allows any company in any industry to add communications to their product line and become an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator). [Read more…]

MTS Completes Acquisition of TelSoft Solutions

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Mer Telemanagement Solutions Ltd. (NASDAQ Capital Market: MTSL), a global provider of business support systems (BSS) for comprehensive telecommunication management and customer care & billing solutions (CC&B), announced today the completion of the acquisition of the telecom expense management and call accounting software assets of TelSoft Solutions, Inc. The acquisition will expand MTS’s TEM (Telecommunications Expense Management) solution. [Read more…]

Norwich Union Insurance Company Selects Intec Convergent Billing

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The UK’s largest insurer, Norwich Union, part of the Aviva group, has contracted Intec to provide the billing technology for its Pay As You Drive Insurance™. Under the terms of the contract, Intec is supplying its Intec Convergent Billing (Singl.eView) software, plus associated professional services, to allow Norwich Union to generate itemised monthly bills.

Iain Napier, Director of Telematics at Norwich Union, said: “We selected Intec Convergent Billing because it is widely regarded as the telecoms industry’s most flexible and configurable billing technology, and because Intec was enthusiastic in working with us to maximise the potential of this brand new system.”

The adoption of Intec Convergent Billing for vehicle insurance underlines the flexibility of Intec’s technology, which is used by many of the world’s most innovative telecoms carriers, including Virgin Mobile and ‘3’. The process of rating and charging for vehicle usage is inherently similar to the billing processes used in telecoms, and it will allow Norwich Union to deliver sophisticated, itemised bills to customers with an accurate record of charges and how they are incurred. [Read more…]

Bharti Telesoft Extends Roamers’ Network Life by 20 Percent for Middle East Operator

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Bharti Telesoft, India’s 2nd fastest growing technology company, has implemented its RoamRetainer solution for a major Middle Eastern operator, to extend inbound roamers’ life on the network. Operators are keen to preserve and grow their roaming revenues, but often lose inbound roamers to competing networks – especially if there are preferred partner agreements in place. With RoamRetainer installed, inbound roamers remain on the operator’s network longer, use roaming services more and helping to increase roaming revenues. [Read more…]

MTS Mer Telemanagement Solutions to Acquire Telecom Expense Management Assets of TelSoft Solutions

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MTS, Mer Telemanagement Solutions Ltd. (NASDAQ Capital Market: MTSL), a provider of business support systems (BSS) for comprehensive telecommunication management and customer care & billing solutions, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the telecom expense management and call accounting software assets of TelSoft Solutions, Inc. of Glendale, California. The acquisition will expand MTS’ TEM (Telecommunications Expense Management) solution.

“This acquisition is in line with our business objectives and delivers on our strategy to improve our market position, accelerate growth and profitability and as a result enhance shareholder value,” said Eytan Bar, President and CEO of MTS.

Under the terms of the agreement, MTS will acquire certain assets of TelSoft and assume certain enumerated liabilities. MTS will pay TelSoft $1.1 million in cash plus earn-out payments based on revenue milestones for the 12 month period following the acquisition. The acquisition is expected to be completed on July 31, 2006. [Read more…]

Gibtelecom Selects Comptel’s Reporting and Provisioning Solutions

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Comptel Corporation, a leading Operational Support System (OSS) software vendor for convergent mediation, charging, provisioning and network inventory, announced today that Gibraltar’s Gibtelecom, an affiliate of Verizon, has now deployed Comptel’s mediation solution, and signed a further agreement to use Comptel’s reporting and provisioning solution. Gibtelecom will be using Comptel’s convergent solutions for its fixed, mobile and Internet services.

Mr. George Gaskin, Gibtelecom’s IT Manager says: “Comptel was selected following a competitive tender for both mediation and provisioning. Obviously, by the time we came to choose a solution for reporting and provisioning, we had already worked with Comptel, so we felt confident that Comptel’s solutions would meet our needs. These solutions will enable us to provide even better services to our customers, while helping combat fraud.”

Gibtelecom chose Comptel EventLink® because it needed a convergent mediation solution that would be able to handle, collect and process usage information across all networks and services, allowing a greater flexibility in billing for these services. Comptel’s mediation solution offered an off-the-shelf integration with Gibtelecom’s billing systems. The solution is now deployed and live, managing Gibtelecom’s services, including GSM, GPRS and MMS. [Read more…]

Intec Billing Agrees to Acquire Outsourced Billing Company EUR Systems

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Intec, a provider of software to the global telecoms industry, is has recently announced that it has agreed to acquire the operating assets of outsourced telecoms billing specialist, EUR Systems (“EUR”) of Pennsylvania, USA, from current owners Saratoga Partners.

“Intec has built a successful and profitable business in billing services and software for US carriers,” said Intec CEO Kevin Adams. “Economies of scale are important in this business, so consolidating a key competitor in the US market is a good move for us. We have already identified a number of immediate cost synergies, and we expect to be able to begin enhancing EUR’s financial performance from day one.”

The consideration, which will be paid in cash, is approximately $13.5 million*, subject to a working capital adjustment. The value of the gross assets being acquired is approximately $6.6 million. The transaction is expected to close in approximately 30 days. On closing, Intec will combine the operations of EUR into its existing North American business, and expects to be able to make the acquisition earnings enhancing in the financial year ending 30 September 2007. [Read more…]

Convergys to Support New German Satellite PAY-TV Service

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Convergys Corporation (NYSE:CVG), a global leader in customer care, human resources, and billing services, announced today a contract with Arena, a subsidiary of the German cable company Unity Media. Convergys will provide a unique set of product offerings, with consulting and professional services, to support Arena’s new German satellite PAY-TV service.

“Working with Unity and Arena enabled us to apply our operational expertise and proven software products to configure and implement a solution that meets their particular billing and customer care requirements and aggressive implementation timeline,” said Convergys’ Jean Herve Jenn, President, International. “With this solution, subscribers will experience a seamless transition from ordering to receiving, while enjoying the quality of service they have come to expect from Unity Media.”

Scheduled to launch in August, Arena holds the broadcast rights to the live matches of the first and second Bundesliga in Germany from Deutsche FuBball Liga (DFL). Unity Media expects Arena to have 3 million PAY-TV soccer subscribers within 3 years. [Read more…]

Intec Billing Founder Mike Frayne Joins Logan Orvis International as Director and Deputy Chairman

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Logan Orviss International, one of EMEA’s largest privately held telecoms consulting organisations, has appointed one of the telecom industry’s most influential figures to its board of directors. Mike Frayne, co-founder and former executive chairman of Intec Telecom Systems, joins Logan Orviss as a director.

“Never has the telco industry faced such challenging times in terms of how the large players will shape their businesses in the future. Faced with imminent pressures of converged charging, local loop unbundling, next generation networks and multi-media converged services to name but a few, these companies will rely increasingly on consultants that bring the knowledge and expertise to counsel them on strategic decisions. Mike’s appointment will strengthen our practice greatly,” said co-founder and chief executive officer of Logan Orviss International, Brendan Logan.

Frayne enjoys an enviable reputation in the telco industry, having catapulted Intec Telecom Systems, a leading provider of billing and mediation solutions for carriers worldwide, into one of the UK’s most successful and largest software companies. Through a bold acquisitive strategy, including a takeover of the retail billing software division of ADC Telecommunication, Frayne transformed Intec’s business into a global OSS company that now employs more than 1,600 people. Frayne was subsequently named Ernst & Young ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ in 2001. [Read more…]

Highdeal Receives Most Innovative Billing Product Award at World Billing Awards 2006

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Highdeal has received the Most Innovative Billing Product award at the World Billing Awards 2006. The award recognises the innovation and functionality of the Highdeal Transactive® convergent pricing, rating and charging solution. Highdeal Transactive enables service providers to gain pricing, rating, and packaging flexibility while ensuring a future proof solution which delivers high performance, low TCO and proven easy integration with networks and business systems.

The World Billing Awards are widely regarded as the highest industry recognition of billing excellence, rewarding billing best practice and raising awareness of the importance of billing to the communications industry, as Hugh Roberts, Chairman of the Awards Judging Panel and Consultant Director for IIR’s BSS/OSS and RM events explains:

“The projects and products we assessed clearly demonstrated the broadening scope of billing and information management within the increasingly complex communications value chain, and the ability of service providers, consultants and ISVs to identify and implement innovative business models and approaches to markets in far-from-traditional telecoms environments.”

The award is the latest in a series of accolades for Highdeal and demonstrates Highdeal’s continued success. [Read more…]

Highdeal Achieves 55 Percent Growth in 2006

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Highdeal, a provider of Pricing and Rating solutions, has announced an unprecedented an “over 55 percent growth in the first half of 2006”. This dramatic growth reflects increasing recognition among the service provider community of the critical role that Pricing & Rating plays in the marketplace.

“This signing is confirmation of Highdeal’s strategic decision to address the market for convergent charging within the context of IMS and aligning ourselves with the 3GPP standards for convergent charging,” said Eric Pillevesse, CEO of Highdeal. “Through our extensive partnerships and alliances with leading network equipment vendors and multi-service operators we are gaining considerable momentum world-wide.”

Highdeal increased its global footprint in 2006 considerably with 15 new customer wins across Europe, the Americas, North Africa and the Middle East. Highdeal now has over 150 customer deployments in over 40 countries world-wide, supporting a wide range of services including Triple-play, VoIP, mobile and on-demand services. [Read more…]

Comverse Asia Pacific Group Honored As Telecom BSS Vendor Of The Year

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Comverse, a subsidiary of Comverse Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: CMVT), and the world’s leading supplier of software and systems enabling network-based multimedia enhanced communication and billing services, has announced that Comverse Asia Pacific has been conferred the 2006 Telecom BSS Vendor of the Year Award by global growth consulting company Frost & Sullivan for its outstanding performance in 2005.

Sin Siew Teyew, head of telecoms research at Frost & Sullivan, said, “Comverse has done extremely well in positioning itself as a trusted vendor amongst service providers in Asia Pacific. The company is playing a key role in enabling the transformation of service providers towards delivering next-generation services. It is a clear leader with the largest customer base in the region and a strong position in high-growth markets.”

The award was one of a series of prestigious titles conferred at the 2006 Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific ICT Awards, held annually to recognize outstanding performance and best practices by companies in the information and communications technology (ICT) industry across Asia Pacific. [Read more…]

Billing Components Acquired by Sobha Renaissance Information Technology SRIT

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Sobha Renaissance Information Technology, providers of outsourced IT business services and software products in HealthCare, Telecoms and the Enterprise space, has acquired Munich-based Billing Components AG. This strengthens SRIT’s offering in the Telecoms Operational and Business domain.

Billing Components AG are the creators of software components for the telecoms market in the areas of customer care, billing & collections, rating, usage collection, provisioning and inter-carrier reconciliation and settlements. The exact value of the acquisition was, however, not revealed. [Read more…]

AsiaInfo to Develop Phase II Prepaid Service Management Platform For Shanghai Netcom

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AsiaInfo Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASIA), a provider of telecom software solutions and security products and services in China, announced today it has entered into a contract with Shanghai Netcom to construct a phase II prepaid service management platform.

”Through AsiaInfo’s enhanced prepaid service management platform, Shanghai Netcom will be able to increase their prepaid service offerings and improve the quality and speed of customer services,” said Steve Zhang, President and Chief Executive Officer of AsiaInfo. ”The platform will also integrate their support functions and increase general operating efficiency.”

The phase II prepaid service management platform will allow Shanghai Netcom to provide a greater variety of prepaid services to customers and improve the management of all prepaid service data. In addition, it will connect the process management system to the integrated accounting system. It will also reduce complicated system interfaces and enhance the real-time performance and accuracy of information transfer. [Read more…]

Telecom Cost Management Survey Finds that Mid-Market Enterprises Average 2 Percent Late Payment Penalties

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As a result of inefficient processes to manage telecom expenses, late payment penalties, carrier billing errors, and inadequate visibility into spend, mid-market enterprises are forfeiting opportunities to reduce telecom expenses by an average of 3% to 10%. AberdeenGroup’s new report, ‘The Challenge in Total Telecom Cost Management’ found that mid-size enterprises must address the following issues:

– Inefficient manual processes with 64% of bills were being received in paper format.
– Late payment penalties that are 2% of telecom spend.
– Complex carrier services, contracts, and legacy billing systems produce invoices with error rates of 7% to 12%.
– Eighty percent of the respondents have no formal program to audit for contract compliance.

Telecom costs are difficult to track because they include tangible assets with decentralized inventory spread over multiple locations and intangible services. Move Add Change, Disconnect service order activity creates a moving target that enterprises must reconcile. [Read more…]

Cerillion Implements Broadband Billing Solution for Bulldog Communications

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Convergent Billing specialist, Cerillion Technologies, has announced the successful implementation of the Cerillion CRM and Billing solution for Bulldog Communications Ltd, a subsidiary of Cable and Wireless in the UK. Cerillion have implemented their Revenue Manager, CRM Plus, Mediator and Information Manager products to support Bulldog’s VoIP and metered broadband services business, and performed the migration of the existing customer base to the new system. [Read more…]

BSG Clearing Solutions Acquires Business Unit From VoiceLog

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BSG Clearing Solutions North America, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Billing Services Group Limited (AIM: BILL), a leading clearing and settlement, payment and financial risk management solutions group, has announced the acquisition of VoiceLog, LLC’s third party verification (TPV) business. VoiceLog is the world’s leading provider of third party verification services. The all-cash deal values VoiceLog at US$15.63M and will be financed from the existing resources and facilities of the Group. The transaction closed on Friday 30th of June. [Read more…]

Magyar Telekom and Allround Win Best Revenue Assurance Project at World Billing Awards

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The joint application of Magyar Telekom’s T-Com business line and Allround has won the World Billing Awards 2006 in the Best Revenue Assurance/Management Project category. The winners have been announced at the Billing and Information Management Systems 2006 Gala Dinner in London, on 8th June 2006.

“We are delighted to acknowledge the T-Com / Magyar Telekom / Allround project as winner in the ‘Best Revenue Assurance / Revenue Management’ category. All of us were impressed by the proactive approach based on stability testing that was adopted, and also by the honesty demonstrated in both relationships and reporting structures that is clearly important for real long term benefits to accrue.” said Hugh Roberts, Chairman of the Awards Judging Panel and Consultant Director for IIR’s BSS/OSS and RM events.

László Harsányi, Director at Billing and CRM Directorate of T-Com Wireline Services of Magyar Telekom stated: “it is an honour that the T-Com / Magyar Telekom / Allround project won the prestigious World Billing Awards. This achievement acknowledges the innovative ideas and the strong co-operation between the two companies to customize and implement this new methodology.” [Read more…]

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