The TeleManagement Forum (TM Forum) has announced the launch of the “TM Forum Excellence Awards,” aimed at recognizing operators, system integrators and software companies that have made outstanding contributions towards 21st century telecom business transformation through noteworthy operational and service delivery initiatives. Mick Reeves, former Group Technology Officer of UK telecoms giant BT, will head up the judging panel.

The submissions are being accepted through January 31, 2007 and winners will be announced at a formal awards ceremony and gala dinner attended by an international audience of industry leaders and senior executives from the OSS and BSS world, to be held at the Palais de la Méditerranée, Nice, France on 21 May 2007.

“We’ve established this awards program to recognize companies who are making great contributions in the field of delivering service excellence” said Keith Willetts, Chairman and Founder, TeleManagement Forum. “This program will showcase the outstanding work done by our members in furthering TM Forum initiatives, such as Prosspero, as they shape the future of the industry.”

Following a 36-year career with BT, Mick Reeves brings to the judging panel unparalleled levels of experience and expertise in the telecoms sector. Mick’s final role at the company was as the Chief Architect of its visionary 21st Century Network (21CN), an all-IP next generation network, including ensuring its alignment with global standards. Mick retired from BT earlier this year and now works as a consultant to the telecoms industry.

TeleManagement Forum Excellence Awards will be given in the following categories:

— Best New OSS/BSS Product

— Most Innovative Supplier

— Prosspero Award for TM Forum Standards Adoption

1. Service Provider

2. Supplier or SI

— Best Practices Award

1. Service Provider

2. Supplier or SI

— Best Catalyst Project TMW Nice

— Best Trade Show Marketing Campaign

For further information please visit: http://www.tmforum.org/browse.aspx?catID=3991

For information on submissions, please contact Leslie Firlie at: [email protected]

About the TeleManagement Forum
The TeleManagement Forum provides leadership, strategic guidance and practical solutions to improve the management and operation of communications, media and entertainment services. Through its “Lean Operator” and Prosspero initiatives, the TM Forum brings together communications, media and web companies to enable online services to be created, delivered and paid for across complex industry value chains. Focussing on improving business processes and software systems, the TM Forum creates collaboratively developed, industry standard solutions. These solutions, delivered through a set of guidelines and specifications, define the direction and specific roadmap to achieve business efficiency and operational flexibility – the hallmarks of the Lean Operator.

The TM Forum has over 550 members in 63 countries, including incumbent and new-entrant service providers, equipment suppliers, software solution suppliers and systems integrators. For further information regarding the TM Forum, related programs and TeleManagement World, please visit www.tmforum.org.