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Info Directions Completes SAS 70 Type II Report

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American Institute of Certified Public Accountants standard offers service providers a superior environment for outsourcing their back office operations

VICTOR, N.Y. (Nov. 15, 2005)—Info Directions, leading provider of hosted back-office operational support systems and billing software for the telecommunications industry, is pleased to announce that it has received its Statement on Auditing Standard (SAS) 70 Type II Report after an extensive external audit of the procedures and controls for its CostGuard.NET/XG Application Service Provider (ASP) operations. The audit was completed by accounting firm The Bonadio Group, Pittsford, N.Y.

Established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), SAS 70 is used by service organizations as a way to demonstrate to clients that they have adequate controls and safeguards in place when hosting or processing data. SAS 70 is also closely related to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, making it a critical requirement for any company engaging a third-party to provide software applications and a technology environment to process financial or operational transactions.

SAS 70 is divided into two areas: Type I and Type II. The Type I Report reflects the auditor’s opinion on the fairness of the presentation of the service organization’s description of controls placed in operation and the suitability of the design of the controls to achieve the specified objectives. A Type II Report includes the information contained in a Type I Report, as well as the service auditor’s opinion on whether the specified controls were operating effectively during the period under review. Info Directions obtained its Type I Report in February of this year. Each quarter, repeat audits will be performed to verify that Info Directions’ ASP continues to meet AICPA’s standards.

“Achieving our SAS 70 Type II Report was a significant undertaking and we are pleased to be able to offer our clients what they need to secure greater accountability from their billing and operations activities and meet the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,” said Patrick Talty, Vice President of Operations at Info Directions. “The SAS 70 audit process is extensive, and serves to ensure that Info Directions has implemented best practices that are measurable and repeatable. This provides the accountability needed at every level to maintain reliability in the network and protect client data. We are happy to provide this added level of assurance to our clients now and on an ongoing basis.”

About Info Directions, Inc.:
Info Directions is a software engineering company that designs, hosts and installs net-centric operational support, billing, rating, order management, workflow and selling solutions for the integrated communications service providers. Info Directions’ benchmark CostGuard® line of installed and ASP OSS/BSS products deliver convergent, web-enabled solutions to ICPs, wireless operators, ASPs, CLECs and ISPs offering local, long distance, wireless, VoIP, broadband, content, data, IP, ASP usage, utility, frame relay and xDSL services. The company also provides the Lexys Point of Sale™ product to wireless retailers throughout the U.S. and around the world. Info Directions is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, member of the GSM Association and a member of the MSDN ISV Program. To learn more about Info Directions, please call 1.888.924.4110 or visit www.infodirections.com.

Intec Telecom Systems recognised as Top 3 UK job creator and one of Europe’s fastest growing companies

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The benefits of the Singl.eView acquisition, combined with the global success of its market-leading software solutions, have been recognised in a number of awards for Intec Telecom Systems, a leading OSS/BSS software vendor for fixed, mobile and next-generation networks.

Intec has been listed 13th amongst the fastest growing European companies included in the 2005 Europe’s 500, a pan-European ranking endorsed by Microsoft and KPMG. Intec ranks third of the 25 British-based companies included in the top 100 job creators. www.europes500.com The listing recognises the exceptional performance, sustained growth, success and financial strength demonstrated by Intec over the past 3 financial years, according to the organisers. The Europe’s 500 job creation listing was introduced in 1996 to highlight entrepreneurial-driven companies that grow fast, the ‘gazelles’ or champions of growth that create employment.

“Companies that qualify for the Europe’s 500 manifest entrepreneurial leadership, innovation, job creation, vision and market expertise, essential qualities that support the European Council’s strategy for sustainable growth,” commented Martin Schoeller, President of the association Europe’s 500 Entrepreneurs for Growth.

Intec has also been included in the Software 500, a revenue-based listing of the world’s foremost software and service suppliers maintained by Software Magazine. www.softwaremag.com The company has risen to number 188 based on its 2004 revenue performance. 2005 revenues will show further substantial growth over 2004 when full year figures are released in December.

“We are pleased to once again feature in the Europe’s 500 and Global Software 500,” said Intec CEO, Kevin Adams. “These awards are solid evidence of the sustained strength of our business model, and the commitment of Intec’s people to successful delivery of Intec technology to customers around the world.”

Convergys to Webcast Executive Presentations at its Financial Analysts Conference

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(Cincinnati; November 10, 2005) – Convergys Corporation (NYSE: CVG), a global leader in providing customer care, human resources, and billing services announced today it will webcast presentations made by its senior executives at Convergys’ Seventh Annual Financial Analysts Conference on November 17, 2005.

Presentations will begin at 8:30 AM, EST, and will conclude with a question and answer session ending at 12:15 PM.

Convergys Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jim Orr, will make the opening presentation followed by other members of Convergys’ executive management team.

Anyone wishing to hear these presentations may go to the Convergys web site at http://www.convergys.com and click on the tab marked “Invest in Convergys.”

SYNDESIS AND PARTNERS WITH ALCATEL TO DEMONSTRATE ITS TRIPLE PLAY BSS/OSS SOLUTION

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Convergent Service Delivery Management Accelerates Service Fulfillment, Creates Dynamic Customer Experience

TELEMANAGEMENT WORLD – Dallas, TX, November 9, 2005 – Syndesis provides a critical component of Alcatel’s (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) revolutionary Triple Play management solution, which is being demonstrated today in a specially hosted “by-invitation-only” event for attendees of TeleManagement World 2005.

This live demonstration, which showcases the IPTV application of Alcatel’s full Triple Play BSS/OSS solution, will be permanently hosted at Alcatel’s Plano-based Operational Support Systems Integration Laboratory – the world’s largest lab dedicated to Triple Play and IPTV.

Alcatel has integrated Syndesis’ award-winning NetProvision service delivery management solution, including automated provisioning and activation, into Alcatel’s new Triple Play BSS/OSS solution. These solutions enable communications service providers worldwide to immediately transform their networks, successfully launch services in real-time and deliver a truly dynamic customer experience.

“Today’s enlightened customers expect fast and accurate service delivery, uncompromising quality and the ability to manage their own services,” said Chris Swan, SVP Sales, Marketing and Alliances for Syndesis. “Backed by the power of partners like Syndesis, the Alcatel Triple Play BSS/OSS solution makes this a reality.”

The BSS/OSS applications that are the cornerstone of Alcatel’s Triple Play solution will enable service providers to quickly deploy Triple Play services, grow their revenues, monitor service quality and compete more effectively.

TeleManagement World takes place November 7 – 10 at the Adam’s Mark Hotel and Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. Syndesis is exhibiting at booth 326. Additional information is available from the TeleManagement World website at: http://www.tmforum.com/browse.asp?catID=2398.

About Syndesis (www.syndesis.com)
Syndesis is the leader in Convergent Service Delivery Management, empowering the world’s leading Communications Service Providers to deliver new network experiences for their customers. Renowned for customer success, in-depth network expertise and off-the-shelf support for more technologies and equipment than any other OSS software developer, Syndesis is the vendor of choice in deployments at more than 20 major service providers worldwide including Bell Canada, Cingular, MCI, Qwest, SBC, Sprint, Swisscom, Telecom Italia, Telefonica Empresas, TELUS and Verizon Wireless. Billions of dollars in service provider revenues from millions of new data services are processed through Syndesis platforms annually. A privately held company, Syndesis is profitable and is the recipient of numerous awards and widespread industry recognition for innovative technology, highly responsive customer service and groundbreaking solutions.

About Alcatel
Alcatel provides communications solutions to telecommunication carriers, Internet service providers and enterprises for delivery of voice, data and video applications to their customers or employees. Alcatel brings its leading position in fixed and mobile broadband networks; applications and services, to help its partners and customers build a user-centric broadband world. With sales of EURO 12.3 billion and 56,000 employees in 2004, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on the Internet: http://www.alcatel.com.

Consumer VoIP Automated Provisioning Demonstration at the TeleManagement World Conference

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PLANO, TEXAS, November 8, 2005 – MetaSolv Software, Inc., a global leader in comprehensive operational support system solutions for next-generation communications service providers, today announced that November’s TeleManagement World Conference in Dallas will showcase the Catalyst work project being supported by BellSouth, EMBRATEL, BEA Systems, MetaSolv Software, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Pantero, Juniper Networks, and Sun Microsystems.
[Read more…]

Convergys Expands Relationship with Time Warner Cable

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— Convergys agreement with Time Warner Cable is expanded to include Infinys software and Convergys professional services —

(Cincinnati; November 8, 2005) – – Convergys Corporation (NYSE: CVG), a global leader in providing customer care, human resources, and billing services, announced today an expanded software licensing agreement with Time Warner Cable. Under terms of the agreement, Time Warner Cable is expanding its billing software agreement to include a license for Infinys[tm], Convergys’ modular, convergent business support system software. Additionally, Convergys will provide professional services including implementation, integration, and systems migration work, in support of Time Warner Cable’s existing billing software.

Time Warner Cable is the second largest cable operator in the United States serving 10.9 million customers. Convergys currently supports 20 of Time Warner Cable’s 31 divisions with its fully convergent ICOMS software that provides customer management and billing support for the company’s cable television, broadband Internet access, and cable telephony services. Convergys also provides professional services to Time Warner Cable including data center and disaster recovery consulting.

“Convergys’ future product roadmap for Infinys, and its professional consulting services, will provide Time Warner Cable with the ability to expand our bundled service offerings like cable telephony more efficiently and effectively,” said Frank Boncimino, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Time Warner Cable.

“Convergys values our longstanding relationship with Time Warner Cable and will continue to provide the superior functionality and flexibility Time Warner Cable requires as it continues to deliver advanced products and services to the market,” said George Vonderhaar, President of Convergys’ Mobile and Cable Solutions Group.

Convergys will provide Time Warner Cable with the ability to offer additional and more flexible products and services to its customers and speed its time to market for those services. In addition, the advanced capabilities of Infinys will provide Time Warner Cable with the opportunity to broaden its multi-service bundling, product offerings, pricing, and billing to better support the company’s voice, video, and data residential and business customers.

With its Infinys software and its broad portfolio of professional and consulting services, Convergys leads the communications industry in the deployment of real-time convergent billing — including the Quadruple Play [tm] of video, voice, data and wireless — for cable, wireless, satellite, and wireline service providers around the world. ICOMS can be integrated with Infinys to further expand the convergent capabilities of cable broadband operators to include wireless and content settlement services in a low-risk and cost-effective manner.

With more than 20 years of experience in billing and customer care, Convergys combines its broad portfolio of professional and consulting services, deep technical and operational expertise, and award-winning Infinys software to solve its clients’ complex BSS and CRM business problems. Convergys is outthinking and outdoing [tm] on behalf of its clients every day.

About Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable owns and manages cable systems serving subscribers in 27 states, which include some of the most technologically advanced, best-clustered cable systems in the country with more than 75 percent of the Company’s customers in systems of 300,000 subscribers or more. Utilizing a fully upgraded advanced cable network and a steadfast commitment to providing consumers with choice, value, and quality customer care, Time Warner Cable is an industry leader in delivering advanced products and services such as video on demand, high definition television, digital video recorders, high-speed data, wireless home networking, and Digital Phone. Time Warner Cable is a subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX).

About Convergys
Convergys Corporation (NYSE: CVG) is a global leader in providing customer care, human resources, and billing services. Convergys combines specialized knowledge and expertise with solid execution to deliver outsourced solutions, consulting services, and software support. Clients in more than 60 countries speaking nearly 30 languages depend on Convergys to manage the increasing complexity and cost of caring for customers and employees. Convergys serves the world’s leading companies in many industries including communications, financial services, technology, and consumer products.

Convergys is a member of the S&P 500 and a Fortune Most Admired Company.

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Convergys has more than 62,000 employees in 68 customer contact centers, three data centers, and other facilities in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. For more information visit www.convergys.com

(Outthinking, Outdoing and Infinys are trademarks and Convergys and the Convergys logo are registered trademarks of Convergys Corporation.)

Singapore’s SingTel Deploys Micromuse’s Netcool® Solutions for Assurance of Fixed Line and Mobile Service Delivery Infrastructure

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Singapore’s SingTel Deploys Micromuse’s Netcool® Solutions for Assurance of Fixed Line and Mobile Service Delivery Infrastructure

Netcool® Solutions Deliver End-to-End Service Visibility via Executive-Level Realtime Dashboards

SAN FRANCISCO – Micromuse Inc. (Nasdaq: MUSE), the leading provider of ultra-scalable, realtime business and service assurance software, today announced that Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel), has implemented the Netcool solution to deliver enhanced service assurance, visibility and service level metrics for its fixed line and mobile voice and data networks. SingTel has significant operations in Singapore and Australia as well as a further presence in 35 cities across 17 countries.

“SingTel continues to invest in our extensive communications infrastructure to ensure the delivery of consistent, reliable and quality service uptime to our customers,” said Mr. Hoh Wing Chee, SingTel’s Vice President of Network Operations. “The Netcool solution, which we are implementing for our new Integrated Network Operations Support System in Singapore, will enable us to view, assess and proactively manage our fixed and mobile network infrastructure as well as services from a single point of control. It will help improve our efficiency as we consolidate and automate our functions.”

Micromuse’s Netcool solutions provide an end-to-end service assurance, service quality management, and consolidated operations management platform across SingTel’s fixed line and mobile networks. Utilizing the Netcool solutions, SingTel’s operations staff can gain a centralized, realtime, web-enabled service level view of consumer and corporate services. This helps staff to monitor and manage the performance, availability and status of its service-delivery infrastructure and to quickly identify and prioritize infrastructure faults before they impact customer service or breach service level agreements.

NCS Communications Engineering Pte. Ltd. (NCSCE), the system integrator, and Fastwire, a Micromuse channel partner, delivered the design and implementation of SingTel’s network and systems management infrastructure to ensure the rapid implementation of the Netcool solutions and to deliver a management solution that provides SingTel with a scalable service assurance platform and earlier return on investment.

“Micromuse is pleased to be delivering strategic service assurance solutions to SingTel,” said Matthew Wee, South East Asia Regional Director for Micromuse. “Micromuse’s Netcool solutions enable timely, accurate and integrated service level views for large, complex IT infrastructures, helping the world’s largest service providers to provide enhanced customer care, product innovation and service quality.”

About SingTel
SingTel is Asia’s leading communications group with operations and investments around the world. Serving both the corporate and consumer markets, it is committed to bringing the best of global communications to customers in the Asia Pacific and beyond.

With significant operations in Singapore and Australia (through wholly-owned subsidiary SingTel Optus), the Group provides a comprehensive portfolio of services that include voice and data services over fixed, wireless and Internet platforms.

The Group also has major investments in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand. Together with its regional partners, SingTel is Asia’s largest multi-market mobile operator, serving more than 71 million customers in seven markets.

SingTel employs more than 19,000 people worldwide and had a turnover of S$12.62 billion (US$7.65 billion) and net profit after tax of S$3.27 billion (US$1.98 billion) for the year ended 31 March 2005. More information can be found at www.singtel.com and www.optus.com.au.

About Fastwire

Fastwire is the solution architect of choice for Asia’s leading service providers. We are a systems integrator providing advanced technology solutions, specializing in the design, implementation and support of turnkey OSS and network solutions.

Fastwire’s consultants have attained the highest level certification in key technology areas. Whatever stage your business is at, Fastwire can help. Fastwire maximizes value to our customers through a unique consulting process which delivers a tailor made package to meet your specific requirements. From this Fastwire produces a turnkey solution that you know works.

Fastwire was established in 1998, with offices in Sydney (HQ), Melbourne, Canberra, New Zealand and Singapore. The website is www.fastwire.com.sg.

About Micromuse

Micromuse Inc. (Nasdaq: MUSE) is the leading provider of ultra-scalable, realtime business and service assurance software solutions. The Netcool® software suite provides organizations with the assurance that their IT systems are supporting and driving profits 24 hours a day. Unlike traditional infrastructure management systems, Netcool solutions provide realtime end-to-end visibility and accurate troubleshooting from a business perspective. Such business intelligence allows organizations to respond to problems quickly, streamline workflow processes and improve business uptime. Micromuse customers include BT, Cable & Wireless, Deutsche Telekom, EarthLink, ITC^DeltaCom, JPMorgan Chase, MCI, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Headquarters are located at 650 Townsend Street, San Francisco, Calif. 94103; (415) 568-9800. The Web site is at www.micromuse.com.

TTI Telecom Demonstrates Its Latest Security and Mediation Solutions at TeleManagement World 2005

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TTI Team Telecom International Ltd. (NASDAQ: TTIL) (‘the Company’), a global supplier of Operations Support Systems (OSS) and Business Support Systems (BSS) to communications service providers, announced its attendance at this year’s TMW (Nov. 8-10) in the Adams Mark Convention Center, Dallas TX. Visitors to booth #226 will learn how TTI Telecom helps its clients strengthen security, accelerate response times and reduce operational costs.

TTI Telecom will be answering questions regarding their latest line of innovative telecom OSS solutions and showing their industry proven fault and performance solutions. The TTI Telecom team will also discuss ways to leverage the power of convergent networks, and present live demonstrations of its modular Security, Provisioning and Mediation products.

TTI Telecom’s team will be on hand to discuss service providers’ challenges in protecting today’s network from internal and external security threats. TTI Telecom will also be highlighting the role of OSS in the prevention of both malicious and accidental damage to the network.

TTI Telecom is also participating in the TeleManagement World Catalyst Showcase MTOSI Triple Play demo. This Multi-Technology Operations Systems Interface catalyst demonstrates a solution for service providers looking to integrate selected OSS products from multiple vendors in a timely, vendor-independent manner. TTI will be showing a live demo of its MTOSI standard based API’s.

TTI Telecom’s live demonstrations of its Security, Activation and Mediation products will illustrate how these products improve activation success rates and service provisioning speeds, allow for proactive service assurance, and enable service providers to effectively manage both the network layer and the service layer in multi-domain networks. The TTI Telecom Team will be focusing on showing the following products:

SecureAccess
Manages, Inspects, Controls and Analyzes all users with direct network element access via a centralized secured AAA (Authentication, Authorization & Audit) solution providing complete control over anyone who deals with your network.

Activate
Automates network activation commands enabling zero touch provisioning with online monitoring and problems resolution. Real multi technology cross-domain support enabling immediate revenue generation and rapid ROI.

Mediation Studio
Simplify your network connectivity utilizing TTI’s flexible bi-directional mediation platform. Enabling libraries lifecycle management supporting a variety of protocols connecting to network elements and OS/EMS systems. Easy to use administration GUI and version management enables quicker and uncomplicated integration.

Business Intelligence Maximizes Profitability By Giving Telecom Carriers Full View Of Financial And Operational Data

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Business intelligence derived from telecom network and operational data gives carrier executives a better understanding of customer behavior, which in turn reduces costs and maximizes profitability, Jim Hayden, vice president of Business Intelligence for Vibrant Solutions, told Billing World & OSS Today in its October 2005 issue.

In an article entitled, “Using Business Intelligence to Improve Profit Margins,” Hayden said that carriers “should get to a point where they can pull important data into a central location for one view of what’s going on as their baseline. By considering all the pertinent data from all of their silos, carriers can derive one view – separated by customer, by product or by region.”

But, he noted, to attain this vital information, carriers must go “beyond an audit report dumped on a desk. Rather carriers have to focus on attaining partners who help them recover the assets hidden in the pages of those reports.”

Vibrant Solutions assists carriers in mining these valuable, profit-maximizing gems from the raw data provided by billing and OSS systems, as well as other databases. Vibrant Solutions combines its industry expertise, innovative data mining techniques, tera-scale processing technology with unmatched speed and scale, and expert project management to deliver unprecedented business insight into the data produced by carriers’ network and systems.

Intec participates in TeleManagement World IPTV demonstration

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Intec Telecom Systems, a leading OSS/BSS software vendor for fixed, mobile and next-generation services, joins a leading group of vendors in demonstrating the interoperability of their products under the TeleManagement Forum’s (TMF) NGOSS programme.

The “Managing IPTV Services with NGOSS” catalyst, featured in the TeleManagement World Catalyst Showcase in Dallas, 08-10 November, addresses the challenge of real-time provisioning and service billing for advanced video over IP (IPTV) services. It focuses on automated, user-based service enablement for voice, video and data (triple play) over IP with residential access via DSL technologies.

Service providers face major challenges in on-demand activation, rating and charging when deploying advanced IP services. In today’s highly competitive markets pricing is always under pressure, so the costs associated with acquiring and keeping customers must stay as low as possible. The problem is that the more advanced the service – such as IPTV – the more complex it is to manage.

Intec, renowned for supporting carriers’ telephony operations, is already working on a number of IPTV initiatives with carriers around the globe. Intec solutions enable service providers to manage the business of interactive television by transforming user requests into revenue opportunities, such as content, advertising, viewer polling, a la carte programming, and online purchase fees.

Visitors to the TMW Showcase will be able to view a demonstration of a subscriber-based IPTV scenario, which begins with a subscriber logging into a service provider web portal to order IPTV service. The request is verified and authorized, the service is activated, and the service policy package is displayed to the subscriber via the web portal. The subscriber then orders a video on demand, such as a movie, and the request flows through to the activation and billing systems. When the order is placed, the inventory system is queried for resource availability and the appropriate resources are provisioned as needed. The subscriber then views the video item and the web portal displays the real-time billing information.

Intec IPTV, only a portion of which is featured in the demonstration, includes functionality for:

Charging for events in real time;
Activating services;
Managing content partners;
Active mediation and session management;
Interactive self-care.
Intec along with telco software and system providers Broadhop, Cisco Systems, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Digital Fairway, Fujitsu, Spirent Communications and Telcordia are participating in the demonstration of provisioning and activating IPTV services. The IPNM Catalyst project is sponsored by BT and IPDR.org.

Vibrant Solutions Delivers Enhanced Power To Telecom Carriers With New Release Of Viewlogic 7 Software

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Vibrant Solutions today announced key upgrades to ViewLogic 7, its third-generation cost management and analytics system. ViewLogic Release 7.2 delivers improved workflow performance, better auditing visibility, additional system security and upgraded industry-standard technology platforms. Two Tier 1 North American carriers are currently implementing ViewLogic 7.2.

“Vibrant Solutions introduced ViewLogic 7 on May 1, 2004, and at the same time announced Verizon Services Organization as one of its first customers. Since then nine carriers have purchased our cost management solutions,” said Simon Krieger, Vibrant Solutions’ Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “We developed this new release in collaboration with our customers.”

Enhancements to ViewLogic in Release 7.2 include:

Better audit visibility – Network circuit and feature auditing details are now visible to the analyst in a simpler way; thus allowing the analyst to make dispute decisions in an easier, faster manner.

Automated database management and improved system performance – supported by Oracle® 10g.

Improved reporting, tracking and analytics – delivered through a sophisticated, user-friendly, web interface, incorporating Business ObjectsTM 6.5 Web Intelligence.

Expanded security – In addition to row-level security and encryption features in the ViewLogic platform, carrier security administrators are now afforded additional password management options and improved transaction logging. These improvements will help carriers meet stringent control requirements, such as those suggested by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

Intec Lanches IPTV Solution

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Intec Telecom Systems, a leading OSS/BSS software vendor for fixed, mobile and next-generation networks, has launched its new, pre-integrated IPTV solution, Intec IPTV. Intec IPTV addresses key service provider challenges surrounding customer interaction and the management and charging of IPTV services. These include rating, charging and balance management for different payment models; real-time service activation and provisioning; interactive customer self-care; and content partner management for revenue sharing and settlement. Intec IPTV, which is available immediately, is already undergoing deployment at a major carrier in Asia Pacific, a region that is leading the world in the rollout of IPTV services, according to industry analyst Informa.

Unlike the traditional unidirectional model of broadcast TV, IPTV creates new revenue opportunities for service providers such as customised advertising, on-demand programming, on-line purchasing, viewer polling, and content downloads. This interactive, real-time, personalised capability entails a huge impact on an IPTV carrier’s existing OSS and BSS. The Intec IPTV solution builds on the company’s global expertise in OSS/BSS to create a comprehensive, pre-integrated solution that supports the business model for this new television experience. Critically, Intec IPTV can be installed alongside, and integrate with, existing systems to minimize disruption and time-to-market.

“IPTV is the next stage in the evolution of communications – one provider for all services, from voice to the most sophisticated interactive entertainment offerings,” said Rick Woods, Intec vice president of product management. “Intec solutions have always been at the heart of our customers’ business and operational support systems. Intec IPTV helps create the business model our customers will need to allow them to compete in a new era of communications and to ensure they are realising maximum revenue from their network resources and the new opportunities that IPTV brings.”

Critical to the adoption of IPTV by consumers is the ability of the service provider to differentiate its IPTV offering from traditional television services and providers. Viewer interaction and service customiaation are seen as the keys to driving widespread consumer adoption. Intec IPTV enables both viewer management and package management directly through the TV interface, allowing consumers to interactively change their profiles and services, as well as enabling such capabilities as real-time voting.

On-demand services, more advanced than those currently offered by traditional television service providers, are also critical elements of a successful IPTV offering. The proven, real-time capabilities of Intec IPTV support the management and delivery of all types of on-demand digital services as well as complementary offerings such as payment wallets, gift certificates, and TV voting. The popularity and attractiveness of these latter offerings will stimulate customer spend and demand for additional products and product bundles, thus driving the proliferation of the IPTV service model.

The personalisation and interactivity of the IPTV experience is expected also to trigger a new generation of targeted digital advertising. Through Intec IPTV, viewing statistics can be collected as part of the IPTV customer record, generating a wealth of market intelligence that can be offered to advertisers as an incentive and value-add service. Accurate user data helps increase advertising placement through tailored campaigns and subsequently the success of that advertising by allowing the advertiser to target viewer interests. Combined with new content partnership models supported by Intec IPTV, the solution allows service providers to take a complete, targeted offering to potential advertisers.

Intec IPTV includes functionality for:
Charging for events in real time;
Activating services;
Managing content partners;
Active mediation and session management;
Interactive self-care

PrairieWave Communications Deploys Martin Group’s BSS/OSS Solution

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Martin Group, a leading software, business services, and engineering provider for the telecommunications industry, today announced that PrairieWave Communications deployed Martin Group’s Business Support System (BSS), OMNIAâ„¢, and Operations Support System (OSS), OASIS, to support all lines of business and all customers with a pre-integrated, end-to-end solution. OMNIA and OASIS allow PrairieWave to go to market with competitive offerings that will be supported throughout total operations. PrairieWave is now able to automate provisioning for services (previously done manually) integrated with billing, customer care, and plant management. [Read more…]

Three Telcos Choose OMNIAâ„¢ in Order to Quickly Go to Market with New Products and Services

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Martin Group, the nationwide leader of Software, Business Services, and Engineering for communications providers, today announced that Cap Rock Telephone Cooperative Inc., Interstate Telecommunications Cooperative, and Star Telephone Membership Corp. have selected Martin Group’s next generation customer care and billing software solution, OMNIAâ„¢. OMNIA provides each telephone company with the capability to quickly go to market with new products and services that all communications providers need in order to successfully compete with encroaching Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), cable, and wireless providers. [Read more…]

Chicago-based, Fast Growing Service Provider Globalcom Leverages Martin Group Expertise for Carrier Access Billing (CABS) Revenue Optimization

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Martin Group, the nationwide leader of Software, Business Services, and Engineering for communications providers, today announced that Globalcom, Inc., a large Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) based in Chicago, IL, will leverage Martin Group expertise in order to maximize carrier access revenue. Established in 1993, Globalcom quickly became one of the nation’s fastest growing privately held telephone companies, serving thousands of customers and competing with telecom industry giants in the Chicago metropolitan area. [Read more…]

Chicago-based, Fast Growing Service Provider Globalcom Leverages Martin Group Expertise for Carrier Access Billing (CABS) Revenue Optimization

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Martin Group, the nationwide leader of Software, Business Services, and Engineering for communications providers, today announced that Globalcom, Inc., a large Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) based in Chicago, IL, will leverage Martin Group expertise in order to maximize carrier access revenue. Established in 1993, Globalcom quickly became one of the nation’s fastest growing privately held telephone companies, serving thousands of customers and competing with telecom industry giants in the Chicago metropolitan area. [Read more…]

Angerhofer Promoted to Martin Group’s Vice President of TCE

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Martin Group, the nationwide leader of Software, Business Services, and Engineering for Communications providers, today announced the promotion of Mr. Steven H. Angerhofer to Vice President of Telecommunications Consulting & Engineering (TCE). He assumes this position immediately and will continue to report to Peter Rasmusson, President of TCE. [Read more…]

SunTec successfully implements Interconnect billing solutions for HFCL Infotel Ltd

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SunTec Business Solutions, the Trivandrum- based customer care and billing solution provider has successfully implemented the Interconnect billing solutions for HFCL Infotel Ltd. (HITL), the networking arm of the Himachal Futuristic Communication Ltd. (HFCL) a leading telecom operator in Punjab. SunTec’s Retail Billing solution, Transaction Business Management System (TBMS) was installed at HITL eighteen months back. [Read more…]

New SoundStation Premier Polycom 550D is the industry’s first full-duplex voice conferencing phone

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Polycom®, Inc. (NASDAQ: PLCM), a worldwide leader in the convergence of interactive voice, video and data communications, today announced the newest members of its industry-leading SoundStation® voice communications family, the SoundStation Premier® 500D and the SoundStation Premier Polycom 550d. Both products have a licensed Time Compression Multiplexing (TCM) interface enabling direct-wall connectivity to any Meridian 1 PBX from Nortel Networks, providing customers with simple digital connectivity for full-duplex, two-way communications, as well as connectivity for multipoint voiceconferencing capability through the Meridian 1.  [Read more…]