EHPT enhances IP billing mediation capability

EHPT enhances IP billing mediation capability EHPT (Ericsson Hewlett-Packard Telecommunications) has teamed up with Belle Systems to enhance the IP billing capability of EHPT's multi-services billing solution - EHPT PROGRESSOR. EHPT PROGRESSOR@, a billing and customer care solution, is capable of billing for services such as fixed, mobile and IP, and is already being used in this way by several operators around the world. Belle Systems' experience and Internet Management System (IMS) product will further develop EHPT's multi- services, mediation solution, by introducing additional flexibility to rapidly introduce and activate new IP services, and capture usage data for existing, and future IP services. The IP billing mediation and IP-service activation solution, IMS, enables telecom operators and ISPs to introduce a number of IP services such as dial- up IP access, Voice over IP, IP/VPN, VPDN, Intranet/Internet and permanent IP access. By combining Belle Systems' IP-service activation product with EHPT PROGRESSOR's@ service activation interface, operators will be able to automatically start up different services over mobile, fixed or IP networks. Belle Systems' product, IMS, collects Internet Detail Records (IDRs) and forwards them to EHPT PROGRESSOR@. EHPT PROGRESSOR then uses the IDRs and Call Detail Records (CDRs), also collected from the network, to produce a single bill regardless of network used and based on the customer's exact usage. For the operator, this means that they can have a single view of the customer, irrespective of the different services subscribed to - allowing them to discount across the customer's total usage. For customers it means accurate, easy to understand bills. They receive only one bill for all services according to exactly how much information is transferred - whether it is using the telephone or downloading information over the Internet. Lars Wahlström, business line manager of EHPT's business support systems division, comments, "Both new start-up and incumbent operators realise that to stay in front in such a competitive market, they need to be offering a number of different services. There is a tidal wave of demand at present for IP services. If an operator is to successfully implement these new services and quickly modify tariffs, it will need to be able to accurately bill its customers for these services." Wahlström continues, "We are pioneers of the true multi-service concept and our aim is to help operators to expand services to encompass fixed, mobile, and data services, including IP. We have had operators using our systems to do this since early 1997. IP billing capability is an inherent function of our billing products. By combining this with Belle Systems' experience and their IMS product, we believe that we can offer operators the most advanced IP solution available." Niels Ralund, Belle Systems sales director, adds, "We have been involved in the telecommunications business since 1984. Our focus today is on offering operators the best solution to enable them to bill and manage Internet based services. Customers are now looking for solutions which can offer them convergent billing capabilities. EHPT is a major player in this market. We believe that this partnership is an ideal match." Belle Systems A/S is a leading Danish software producer specialising in advanced billing and management systems designed for larger Internet providers. Belle Systems has been providing solutions for the on-line market since 1984, and through a number of years has completed at a number of large European banks and telecommunications companies. Belle Systems Internet Management Service product is based on platforms provided by the leading hardware and database suppliers. Ericsson Hewlett-Packard Telecommunications (EHPT) is an independent, world- class provider of application software and services to telecom operators and has installed 510 operations support and business support systems in 75 countries. Its success is based on a thorough understanding of the convergence of telecom and computer networks. Founded in 1993 as a joint-venture owned 60% by Ericsson and 40% by Hewlett-Packard, it combines and enhances the strengths of these world-leaders to provide leading edge solutions. EHPT has a global presence, with its headquarters based in Stockholm, Sweden, and employs 1,000 people worldwide. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT Ann-Louise Öhrn EHPT Phone: +46 31 746 2907 E-mail:ann-louise.ohrn@ehpt.com ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1998/11/18/19981118BIT00320/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1998/11/18/19981118BIT00320/bit0002.pdf