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Telstra Selects MetaSolv for OSS Transformation Project to IP and 3G Wireless

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MetaSolv Software, Inc., a global leader in comprehensive operations support system (OSS) solutions for next-generation communications service providers, today announced that Telstra, Australia’s leading media-communications company, has selected MetaSolv for a key role in its Operational Support System transformation. MetaSolv’s Activation 5 will provide multi-service activation for Telstra’s next-generation voice, broadband, IP wireline and 3G wireless networks and services.

“Telstra is transforming its business to deliver a ‘one click, one touch, one button, one screen, one step solutions’ environment for customers and employees. The company’s vision is a simpler IT environment that involves partnering with world-class suppliers using proven off-the-shelf solutions. We are pleased to welcome MetaSolv as one of our partners in the Operations Support Systems (OSS) transformation space,” Mr. John McInerney, Program Director, IT Transformation, Telstra Corporation said.

MetaSolv’s multi-year, multi-million dollar agreement is planned to provide Telstra with a sophisticated, scalable next-generation activation platform that enables multi-service activation across all technology domains, including multi-vendor 3G wireless and IP-based networks. Telstra will use MetaSolv to help consolidate its activation systems, with the aim of reducing operations costs, improving customer service and accelerating time-to-market for new services through rapid service introduction and bundling. [Read more…]

Amdocs Agrees to Acquire Cramer OSS Solutions

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Amdocs (NYSE: DOX), a leading provider of software and services to enable integrated customer management and the intentional customer experience, has announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Cramer Systems Group Ltd. (“Cramer”), a leading provider of operations support systems (OSS) solutions. Under the terms of the agreement, Amdocs will acquire all of Cramer’s shares of capital stock for approximately $375 million in cash, net of cash on hand, subject to post-closing adjustments. Cramer is a growing company with more than 80 customers worldwide.

“With a quality company like Cramer, Amdocs expects to be well positioned to capitalize on the growth opportunity that OSS represents,” said Dov Baharav, chief executive officer of Amdocs Management Limited. “Together, we intend to deliver a complete automated service fulfillment solution across all lines of business — for any service, on any network — linking order management at the customer layer with activation at the network layer.”

With the acquisition, Amdocs plans to expand its service management and OSS offerings and expects to become a leader in OSS, uniquely able to support large-scale OSS transformation projects. The OSS domain is typically defined as network-facing applications supporting key service fulfillment and service assurance business processes. Cramer has a proven and tested OSS product portfolio, which includes leading products in network resource management (NRM), activation and auto discovery. [Read more…]

TelecomIQ Next Generation OSS Integration Summit

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TelecomIQ, a division of IQPC (International Quality & Productivity Center) have recently announced their upcoming Next Generation OSS Integration Summit titled “People, Process and Systems in the Migration to IP-Based Services”, which will be held on September 25-27, 2006 in Boston, Massachusetts.

“Today, an increasing number of IT executives in the telecom OSS space are recognizing the value of process-oriented thinking and a service orientation in dealing with the migration to IP based services. The OSS Summit in September will provide case studies from the Service Providers on dealing with implementing SOA, Web Services, business process management, and Quality of Service initiatives for improving the efficiency, quality and flexibility of the organization’s Operational Support Systems.”

At the summit, you can learn about defining the right approaches and tools for this service orientation using Service Oriented Architecture (SOA). You can also learn about the key factors for successful integration of the SOA into Enterprise Architecture and obtaining organizational buy-in (demonstrating the value and ROI of SOA to management). Other topics include “How OSS business case can aid or hinder production of new services”. [Read more…]

Axiom Systems Partners With TierOne OSS Technologies To Deliver Complete Service Fulfillment Solution

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Axiom Systems, a leader in Service Fulfilment software for communications service providers, has announced a strategic partnership with a leading North American Operations Support System (OSS) consultancy and systems integrator, TierOne OSS Technologies. The partnership will result in the seamless integration of AXIOSS with TierOne™ enSEMBLE, to create the industry’s first integrated Service Fulfillment solution to simultaneously address provisioning and activation requirements across Layer 1 (Optical, Photonic), Layer 2 (Carrier Ethernet, DSL, Broadband) and Layer 3 (VoIP, IPTV) networks.

“Service Providers are under real pressure to address the demands that new converged services are placing on their underlying transport network infrastructure and OSS systems,” said Brad Niven, Axiom System’s Regional Director for the Americas.

AXIOSS is a unique component-based platform that enables Service Provider’s to design, create and deliver next generation services such as IPTV and VoIP over agnostic broadband and IP networks. TierOne™ enSEMBLE is the telecommunications industry’s leading integrated solution suite for comprehensive transport network management supporting last-gen, this-gen and next-generation services. [Read more…]

etisalat’s Network Transformation Begins with Telcordia Network Engineer

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Telcordia (www.telcordia.com) has announced that the UAE’s Emirates Telecommunications orporation- etisalat- is the first to deploy the latest release of Telcordia(R) Network Engineer to drive operational efficiencies and lower total cost of ownership, supporting its goal of aggressively deploying new technologies and services to its customers in the region. This highly sophisticated, award-winning solution is helping etisalat optimize its fibre network in order to quickly roll-out services, such as IPTV, and streamline its operations with Network Engineer’s automated processes.

“etisalat is continually working to offer new and exciting products and services to our customers, and Telcordia has always delivered first-rate, state-of-the-art solutions that help us deal with today’s operational challenges with an eye on tomorrow’s network,” said Nasser Salim, General Manager- Converged Networks, etisalat. “The evolution of Telcordia’s Network Engineer supports our overall OSS transformation plan, optimizing our network and helping us continue to provide leading edge services in the Middle East.”

etisalat, the incumbent service provider in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has been utilizing Telcordia(R) Network Engineer for several years and recognized that with network convergence a reality, now was the critical time to reap the benefits that the enhanced solution provides. Network Engineer, an end-to-end geospatial network planning and engineering solution for the management of telecommunications networks, helps to simplify network operations, increase customer satisfaction and paves the way for the creation and deployment of new revenue generating advanced services. [Read more…]

Coastal Technologies Group Announces WorkFlow Pro Business Automation Tool

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Coastal Technologies Group Inc. (CTGi), a leader in call detail processing, back-office accounting process and OSS support for the telecommunications industry, has introduced its WorkFlow Pro™, a business process automation (BPA) tool that enables carriers to improve order processing and back-office telecom management.

“The CMP and OSS Connect suites have always given telecom carriers and service providers a single source for managing the fixed and variable costs of operating a network,” said Richard Kane, president and CEO for Coastal Technologies Group. “By introducing WorkFlow Pro, and enabling CMP, OSS Connect and WorkFlow Pro to work together seamlessly, we can now give service providers an automatic way of detecting and addressing network anomalies, such as phantom traffic or fraud, in a matter of hours as opposed to weeks or months. We have taken what used to be a difficult manual process, and given service providers a seamless way to reduce their service order error rate, mitigate fraud and capture unaccounted for revenue.”

CTGi has also added enhanced capabilities to its current ASP Call Management Program (CMP) and OSS Connect product lines in order to provide more detailed network snapshots and call management. Ultimately, these new tools and capabilities give service providers a 360-degree view of their network and the costs associated with provisioning, delivering and managing valuable triple play services easier, faster and more cost effectively. [Read more…]

HP Upgrades OpenView OSS – Jernbaneverket in Norway Successfully Trialing Integration

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HP has recently announced numerous upgrades to its OpenView portfolio of OSS solutions for next generation networks (NGN) and services. The upgrades will help service providers reduce opex and improve the customer experience.

“The new enhanced integration between HP OpenView TeMIP and HP OpenView Network Node Manager, which we are now trialing, allows us to manage both our IP and telecom infrastructure from our preferred single console while still having the best in class telecom and IP management tools,” said Gaute Elvenes, chief of the Marienborg network operations center, Jernbaneverket. “This combination will save our operations staff time in localizing and responding to all kinds of problems – critical in our highly reliable network.”

The most notable is the completed integration between HP OpenView TeMIP and HP OpenView Network Node Manager. Together, they increase operations efficiency across heterogeneous networks – and offer service providers proven IP network management as part of the industry’s most broadly deployed OSS platform. [Read more…]

Roadpost Selects CostGuard XG OSS BSS from Info Directions to Support Operations

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Info Directions, a developer of net-centric billing, rating, order management, workflow and selling solutions for the telecommunications industry, is pleased to announce that Toronto-based service provider, Roadpost Inc., has selected its CostGuard(R) XG back office solution to help manage the launch of new services to the company’s international business clients.

“Our six-year partnership with Info Directions has delivered value to our organization and to the customers we serve,” said Roadpost’s Director of IT Louis Chang. “CostGuard XG will give us the flexibility to provide additional products and services to our customers and adapt to the changes taking place in the communications marketplace. We are focused on leveraging our strengths as a service provider to simplify the lives of our clients when they travel abroad and CostGuard XG is a key part of our efforts.”

Launched in 1991, Roadpost provides customized global communications to individuals and corporations, offering subscriptions and short-term rental of cellular, satellite and personal digital assistant communications services. The company’s portfolio includes International Cellular, Global Satellite, International BlackBerry and Worldwide Internet services providing complete global coverage. Roadpost has alliances with industry leaders such as 02(UK)Ltd, Transatel, Swisscom, Telecom Italia Mobile, Vodafone, Bell Mobility, TELUS Mobility, Iridium, France Telecom Mobile Services, iPass, Research in Motion, Motorola and Nokia which allow it to deliver reliable and secure communications. [Read more…]

Amdocs Ranks First in Global OSS Market According to OSS Observer Report

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Amdocs (NYSE: DOX – News), a provider of software and services to enable integrated customer management and the intentional customer experience(TM), has announced that it was named the leading provider of global operations support systems (OSS) in a recent report by OSS Observer titled, Market Share: Global OSS Supplier Market Leadership in 19 Segments.

“Amdocs has established a leading position in billing systems with a combination of software and extensive services,” said Patrick Kelly, founder and senior analyst of OSS Observer. “Through acquisitions and new development, they have expanded to be a leader in customer care and are emerging as a service fulfillment leader as well. As CSPs push toward greater OSS/BSS convergence, Amdocs portfolio is the most comprehensive offering in the market.”

OSS Observer defines the OSS space to include both network-facing systems (OSS) and aspects of customer-facing business support systems (BSS), such as billing and customer relationship management (CRM). Amdocs has three times the market share of the second largest provider, according to the report, which is an annual ranking of 250 global software and equipment vendors. [Read more…]

FROX Communication Joins the OSS through JavaT Initiative OSS/J

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FROX communication has joined the OSS through Java Initiative (OSS/J) to support the implementation of key OSS/J profiles. FROX communication is an independent software house focusing on the fields of service management, voice management, and system integration.

“With our longtime experience in system integration, we recognized the trend to standardization in the whole software industry very early,” says Andres Roethlisberger, Head of Engineering, FROX communication. “And it became clear to us that this will be extremely important especially for telecom companies, which is why FROX decided to be the first company in Switzerland to establish an OSS/J competence center.”

To reverse the growing complexity of OSS systems, service providers are pressing for options to proprietary, vendor-specific software solutions with pseudo de facto “standards” that limit technology choices. For this reason, increasing numbers of service providers have joined forces to support the TeleManagement Forum (TMF) New Generation OSS standard (NGOSS) of which OSS/J APIs and Design Guidelines are the first real-world implementation. OSS/J itself is an open and publicly available standard providing a proven approach which delivers significant benefits for all stakeholders along the value chain. [Read more…]

Intec CEMS Wins Best New Product Award at Billing and OSS World

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Intec Centralized Error Management System (Intec CEMS) was named “Best New Product” by US-based TeleStrategies as part of the Billing & OSS World 2006 Excellence Awards, which recognise the best vendors in the billing and operations support system ( OSS ) segment of the telecommunications industry.

Ed Finegold, Billing World & OSS Today editor-in-chief, said, “There were more than 100 submissions for the Excellence Awards this year. Intec CEMS was chosen to win the award for best new product due to its practicality for all types of carriers and its ability to impact and improve the bottom line, particularly for carriers undergoing significant change and consolidation with their large IT environments.”

This new product from Intec, which is already in volume production at a major US carrier, has also been shortlisted for two awards at the forthcoming World Billing Awards in London , June 8. Using Intec CEMS, service providers can cut revenue losses by dramatically reducing error volumes, lowering the costs of managing errors, and recovering revenue from unbilled usage and service order errors. Intec has also been shortlisted for a third World Billing Award for its mediation solution under “Best Billing Implementation”. [Read more…]

Alcatel Selects Syndesis OSS for Triple Play and Next-Generation Services

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Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) announced today the signing of a global partnership agreement enabling Alcatel to offer Syndesis’ carrier-grade suite as part of its Operation Support Systems (OSS) portfolio. Combined with Alcatel integration services, service providers will be able to rapidly launch revenue generating next-generation services such as Triple/Quad Play, IPTV and VoIP. The integrated offering focuses on the end-to-end service delivery across access, aggregation and core, including subscriber-centric activation and discovery, in multi-vendor networks.

“This partnership with Alcatel is based on a shared strategy, joint vision and proven customer success,” added John Lochow, President and CEO of Syndesis. “Thanks to our complementary competencies, service providers are leveraging a rapidly growing subscriber base and profiting like never before from their network investments. Subscriber-centric activation and first-time-right service delivery, built on product-based software solutions, are paramount to delivering a truly differentiated and unified communications experience. We are thrilled that our partnership with Alcatel enables service providers globally to benefit from these solutions and acknowledge their vote of confidence in our proven, industry-leading service delivery suite.”

Alcatel has embedded Syndesis’ award-winning IP Triple Play service delivery management solutions into its industry-leading suite of next generation network offerings. The solution is proven to dramatically reduce the time and costs associated with the installation of IP networks and the delivery of feature-rich IP-based video, voice and data services. [Read more…]

HP Deepens New Generation OSS Commitment with Support for OSS/J and TMF Standards

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HP today announced its participation in a number of industry initiatives designed to help telecom companies manage voice and data networks more efficiently through New Generation Operations Systems and Software (NGOSS) technologies. The HP Integrated Service Management (ISM) platform is HP’s Operational Support System (OSS) offering. It uses a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) to integrate operations and business support systems to help carriers and operators manage networks and services.

HP is enhancing HP ISM with functionality from the OSS through Java™ initiative (OSS/J). This initiative focuses on the adoption of standards-based Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and design guidelines for the development of component-based OSS systems. OSS/J technologies provide the foundation for unifying legacy systems and new applications quickly and at low cost. [Read more…]

Exstream Software Awarded Most Promising Company Award At Telestrategies Billing & OSS World 2006

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Exstream Software, Inc. announced that it received the ‘Most Promising Company’ award at the sixth annual Billing and OSS World Excellence Awards ceremony held during the Billing & OSS World 2006 conference in Miami, May 3-5. Telecommunications professionals from all over the globe attend this conference to discuss the latest trends and future challenges of the industry.

“There is a clear need in our industry for enterprise solutions that streamline the document management process as well as deliver the capability to more proactively market to customers with personalized statements and invoices,” said Jill Morgan, publisher and editorial director for Billing World and OSS Today. “We continue to be impressed with the way Exstream is taking the telecom industry by storm. In the last few months alone, Exstream has gained huge traction with the largest of the wireless service providers, signing many significant deals. They certainly deserve the award in this category.”

Billing World and OSS Today magazine issues the ‘Most Promising Company’ award to recognize a company that is extremely well positioned for success in the telecom marketplace in the coming year. Receiving over 100 applications from OSS/BSS vendor companies vying for the six Excellence Awards, winners in each category had to demonstrate clear signs of success and growth. The finalists stood out due to their ability to measure, quantify and articulate the specific improvements they had delivered to their customers. [Read more…]

Ecosystem of OSS Through JavaT OSS/J Referenced Components Growing Rapidly

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An ecosystem of OSS through JavaT Initiative (OSS/J) Referenced Components has grown rapidly, it was announced today. The speed at which OSS/J Referenced Components are proliferating attests to the widespread adoption of OSS/J solutions by leading suppliers of telecommunications software solutions. Referenced Components are software components or products that use or implement parts or entire OSS/J APIs. They make it faster and easier to implement end-to-end solutions supporting the delivery of new products. Many OSS/J Referenced Components are expected to evolve to OSS/J Certified Products.

An advanced implementation of the TeleManagement Forum (TMF) New Generation OSS (NGOSS) architectural standard, OSS/J APIs map closely to the TMF’s Enhanced Telecommunications Operations Map (eTOM). The APIs are based on the Core Business Entity (CBE) model, which is aligned with the TMF’s Shared Information Definition (SID), a widely recognized telco data sharing model. OSS/J’s close alignment with TMF – the dominant standards body in the telecommunications OSS area – and OSS/J’s pragmatic approach to implementation – add up to a powerful, implementable OSS standard. [Read more…]

TELMEX Mexican Directory Publisher ADSA Selects Amdocs for Sales Force Automation

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Amdocs (NYSE: DOX), the leading provider of software and services to enable integrated customer management and the intentional customer experience(TM), and Anuncios en Directorios S.A. de C.V. (ADSA), the directory publishing subsidiary of Telefonos de Mexico S.A. de C.V. (TELMEX), today announced that ADSA selected Amdocs for sales force automation (SFA). The Amdocs SFA solution for directory publishers will help ADSA plan and execute sales campaigns cost-effectively and to the highest degree of quality, allowing the publisher to have quicker time to market for its digital and traditional directories. With the selection of the Amdocs SFA solution, which will be integrated into ADSA’s existing Amdocs directory platform, ADSA is moving closer to implementing a cross-organizational integrated customer management (ICM) strategy.

ADSA’s existing Amdocs platform addresses all aspects of the directory publishing process with a central, online infrastructure and provides a unified view of the customer. Integrating Amdocs’ directory SFA with it will enable ADSA to consolidate sales support information across all organizational customer touch-points, addressing the entire customer lifecycle. As a result, ADSA will be able to shorten the sales cycle, improve service and increase customer satisfaction and value.

“Amdocs has been a true partner in our success for the past 14 years, and we are confident in its ability to support our growth and maintain delivery excellence via its local support center in Mexico City,” said Benjamin Podoswa Schwaycer, chief executive officer at ADSA. “As we continue to simplify processes and align them around the customer, integrating the Amdocs SFA solution into our central Amdocs platform marks an additional step towards true ICM, bringing us closer to our commitment to deliver a differentiated and intentional customer experience.”

A scalable, user-friendly sales tool that can also be implemented as a stand-alone system, the Amdocs SFA solution for directory publishers will help ASDA increase revenues by maximizing sales force productivity. Amdocs’ SFA supports a wide range of directory products, including emerging multimedia digital advertising products, and will allow ADSA to quickly introduce traditional and non-traditional yellow pages, white pages and online directory publishing offerings. Through automation, Amdocs’ SFA will also enable ASDA to minimize errors and improve first-call resolution associated with the sales process, driving better customer service. In addition to the SFA solution, ADSA will deploy Amdocs’ dynamic sales presentations generator, a state-of-the-art time-saving tool that helps target customers more effectively. [Read more…]

Telarix to Showcase iXBill Next Generation Billing Solution at Billing and OSS World 2006

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Telarix, Inc., the leading provider of Interconnect Business Optimization (IBO) and settlement solutions for content providers, IP service providers and global fixed and mobile operators, today announced it will be exhibiting its next generation interconnect billing solution as well as presenting with Deutsche Telekom’s ICSS at Billing and OSS World 2006. The conference is being held May 2-5 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

iXBill(TM), one element of Telarix’s comprehensive revenue assurance solution, is a robust and highly flexible interconnect billing system that allows carriers to eliminate revenue leakage by ensuring that every call is captured, rated and invoiced correctly. Unlike many of the billing-only focused interconnect solutions available in the market today, iXBill is integrated with other key carrier business functions including agreement management; route optimization; pricing; and audit and reconciliation. This level of sophistication ensures that all billable activities are accurately captured, rated and billed while allowing service providers to support a variety of agreement types and rating scenarios including the multi-party settlements and sophisticated revenue sharing partnerships common in today’s dynamic voice, data, and IP interconnect market. [Read more…]

ASCOM Joins OSS/J to Help Support the Further Adoption of OSS/J Standards

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Ascom’s business unit Systems and Solutions, with offices in Germany and Switzerland, has joined the OSS through Java™ Initiative to develop real-world case studies and technical deployment white papers related to the OSS/J Trouble Ticket API (JCP 91). Ascom is an international supplier of sophisticated communication solutions. [Read more…]

RateIntegration and Sergel Kredit TeliaSonera Announce 2006 Billing and OSS World Conference Schedule

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RateIntegration, the premier provider of pricing and rating solutions to software and service companies in the telecommunications, retail, and financial services markets, today announced its schedule at the Telestrategies’ Billing & OSS World 2006 Conference to be held May 3rd – 5th, 2006 at the Miami Convention Center in Miami, FL. As a key part of this year’s conference, Dr. Bert Dempsey, Vice President of Solution Architecture at RateIntegration, and Magnus Lindgren, CIO of Sergel Kredit (TeliaSonera), will host a roundtable session on IP Rating, Mediation and Billing. This keynote session will be held on Friday, May 5th from 9:30 AM – 12:15 PM. [Read more…]

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