UshaComm, a global software technology innovator today announced it has developed and packaged a suite of solutions – UshaComm Business Support Systems – to address two audiences: the Subscriber and the Partner.

To aid and support subscriber billing, charging and management; and partner billing, charging, and management – UshaComm Business Support Systems was built on the premise that with the availability of 2.5 and 3G technologies and global interoperability the communications market is not just about managing and retaining the subscriber but also having to manage multiples of content, portal, interconnect and roaming agreements with other service providers.

UshaComm’s end-to-end business portfolio of solutions includes:

Subscriber Billing and Charging: Unicorn Billing, Real-time rating, Real-time convergent charging, Pegasus Mediation

Subscriber Management: Customer Care, Activation, Analyst, SLA Manager, Web Self-care

Partner Billing and Charging: e-merchant, Interconnect Billing System, Roaming

Partner Management: Partner management, Dealer management

Services: Professional Services and Managed Services
Communications service providers can selectively invest in UshaComm’s modular solutions to drive their business today, and select when necessary as their business grows tomorrow.

UshaComm has built its product suite across the same common architecture with convergent capabilities that is configured rather than customised to enable expansion, while keeping operational overheads to a minimum.

“UshaComm Business Support Systems have been designed with the ultimate flexibility so the product solutions can be quickly changed to match market trends and movements, to increase and protect communications service provider’s revenue flow and customer base,” commented Bharat Thakker, Managing Director UshaComm.

“Today’s market is about maintaining long-term relationships by delivering an accurate and efficient service to both the subscriber and partners. Our portfolio has been compiled to enhance subscriber satisfaction and utilise mutually beneficial service agreements with partners”.

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The Carphone Warehouse selects music2mobile for in-store content proposition

Chrysalis Mobile has launched the music2mobile range of branded content for delivery to mobile phones. music2mobile content will be promoted through both online channels and also through physical retail outlets. The Carphone Warehouse will be the first major retailer to launch and offer music2mobile products through its UK stores.

music2mobile content will be available through Web and mobile WAP sites but will principally comprise a range of branded physical products promoted directly through point-of-sale positions in major high street retail partners.

The market for mobile ring tones for 2005 is variously forecast at over $2 billion in Western Europe. However, the market is rapidly shifting from monophonic and polyphonic ringtones towards ‘real tones’ – actual elements of songs requiring master rights access, a core area of expertise for Chrysalis. In parallel, the means of marketing mobile music content to consumers has started to shift towards clearer, higher-quality propositions coupled with endorsement by major brands.

While short-code texting and Internet portals have historically been the main channels for requesting mobile content, the opportunity to reach the consumer more directly through retail presence is a logical extension, particularly given the increasing desire of many retail brands to raise their association with music.

music2mobile content is programmed on a weekly basis by Chrysalis Mobile’s creative team. The team has historically worked as the creative liaison between record labels and the various Chrysalis radio brands (eg Heart, Galaxy) and music2mobile products will leverage this expertise to ensure content evolves to meet current consumer tastes across target audiences.

The music2mobile launch offering consists of three products:

” Playlist – full physical catalogue of tunes across seven genres. Content can be requested directly by texting to short-codes, accessing via a music2mobile-powered WAP portal or over-the-counter instore using pin-code activation.
” Genre Cards – seven individual cards updated monthly, containing ten leading songs within a specific music category; these cards are paid for over-the-counter and the consumer can then select multiple content items from the card list.
” Monthly Theme Cards – individual cards promoting official content (including real tones and wallpapers) from a specific artist and negotiated directly with labels; the consumer purchases the card over-the-counter and selects their favourite content for download.
” Monthly Tone Chart – a Top 20, instore ring tone chart updated fortnightly. Content can be requested directly by texting to short-codes, accessing via a music2mobile-powered WAP portal.

The content offered through music2mobile products will cover all format types, including Ring Tones (Monophonic / Polyphonic tones), Real Instrumentals (high quality, full-music content), Real Tones (official artist content) and Images. Full song downloads will also be added as delivery technology and device penetration allow.

Vodafone has announced its extensive range of 10 new generation 3G handsets planned for the Christmas period, following the launch of the Vodafone Mobile Connect 3G datacard and the successful introduction of Vodafone live! with 3G.

Vodafone is working with some of the world’s leading handset manufacturers including Sharp, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, NEC, Nokia and Samsung to provide customers with a wide choice of 3G handsets at a range of prices. These handsets will be available with a broader array of services across Europe and Japan.

The new range of Vodafone 3G handsets, all featuring Vodafone’s multi-media consumer service, Vodafone live!, has been designed in close collaboration with manufacturers to allow consumers to experience the benefits of enhanced Vodafone live! with 3G services. The handset range, which includes models and designs exclusive to Vodafone, will enable significant improvements in imaging, music, entertainment and information. Highlights include Europe’s first 2 mega pixel camera phone, equipped with auto focus, optical zoom and high resolution displays; handsets that offer CD music quality, stereo speakers and MP3 players; access to 3D gaming; video and audio streaming and video calling.

Customers can use Vodafone’s new generation of 3G handsets in both Europe and Japan as services will be delivered seamlessly by Vodafone’s global W-CDMA networks. Vodafone plans to launch 10 new 3G handsets. The portfolio includes the Sharp 802, Sharp 902, Motorola E1000, Motorola V980, Motorola C980, NEC’s Vodafone 802N, Sony Ericsson V800, Nokia 6630, Samsung Z110V and Samsung Z107V.

“The planned launch of our new 3G handset portfolio represents a major breakthrough in terms of handset choice”, said Peter Bamford, Chief Marketing Officer, Vodafone. “It will also give consumers the opportunity to experience the enhanced range of Vodafone live! with 3G services, opening up a whole new world of communication and entertainment via the mobile phone.”

Full details of the services and handset availability will follow in November.

New SMS bill payment service opens door to faster cash collection

Upaid, a leading provider of mobile payment technology and services, has announced the launch of Text cheque – a new service that enables merchants to collect bill payments faster and more economically using mobile phones.

The new mobile payment application, which uses Short Message Service (SMS), is an ideal way for merchants to provide a simple, instant and cost-effective payment solution to the millions of consumers that will never sign-up for direct debit. It is a mobile alternative to the traditional cheque in the post.

With Text cheque, consumers experience the convenience of direct debit while retaining control over when and how much they pay. The service can be used for collection of any type of bill payment, whether for utilities, telecoms, store or credit cards, and has been designed to be truly simple for users. The customer’s bill arrives by mail as usual with the balance to be paid or minimum payment where appropriate.

The customer then receives a payment request text before the due date and replies by SMS with a short password, confirming or even stipulating the amount to be paid, if users have the option of paying a variable amount (as is the case with some credit cards). The merchant or entity collecting the bill payments then collects the cash from the customer’s registered payment source (bank account or credit/debit card).

“Text cheque is an exciting application because it provides a range of benefits for both merchants and customers. Consumers enjoy greater flexibility and freedom about when and how they pay their bills, while merchants can significantly reduce the cost of processing cheque payments and accelerate cash-flow by collecting cash sooner,” said Ashley Ward, CEO of Upaid.

“Although direct debit is an easy and straightforward way to pay, millions of people don’t use it because they lose control over their money. This is why Text cheque is so compelling. It provides merchants – whether they are retailers or utilities – a much easier way of collecting bill payments, while consumers retain complete control over when and how much they pay. This is technology designed to make our lives easier – not complicate them,” Ward continued.

The service is operated by IBM and is built on the same payment processing platform that is already being used by Visa International CEMEA to enable the recently launched Visa Mobile Recharge Service (VMRS) for mobile payments.

Alcatel has announced today that its “intelligent GGSN” solution has been selected by Tele2, a Swedish mobile operator and one of the most successful alternative operators in Europe, in order to facilitate flexible billing of 2G & 3G data traffic.

Alcatel’s  intelligent GGSN (GPRS Gateway Support Node) is a very strategic core element for the deployment of mobile data services as it allows operators to charge their subscribers differently according to the type of content subscribers wish to access or the way they prefer to access this content. 

For example, a user will have the possibility to pay different prices for  sending an MMS or enjoying a music video clip via video streaming, for different  prices for instantaneous access versus delayed access to the results of a sports event. Furthermore, in order to secure deployment, Alcatel’s intelligent GGSN  offers open interfaces based on telecom standards.

Marc Rouanne, chief operating officer of Alcatel’s mobile communications activities declared: “The personalization of Tele2’s mobile services made possible by Alcatel’s intelligent solution is an integral element of Alcatel’s  user-centric broadband strategy. We are glad to have been selected as Tele2’s partner.”

Building upon the acquisition of WaterCove’s GGSN technology earlier this year, Alcatel’s intelligent GGSN solution technology is one of the most powerful GGSN solutions available on the market today. Alcatel’s intelligent GGSN allows traditional operators as well as MVNOs to offer new personalized  services to their subscribers and to develop new business opportunities.

Industry association, The UMTS Forum, has confirmed that worldwide 3G/UMTS customer numbers have reached 10 million.

Speaking at the AMTA Congress in Sydney, UMTS Forum Chairman Jean-Pierre Bienaimé indicated that the milestone was reached this month as growth for 3G/UMTS networks and services continues to grow.

“With 10 million people already using 3G/UMTS networks and devices to access a wide range of services, it’s clear that all the factors required to drive mass market take-up are now falling into place. By the end of this year we can expect to see as many as 70 networks operating commercially, and this will mean a further acceleration in adoption rates globally.”

While addressing the congress, Bienaimé also highlighted Australia’s diversified and up-to-date mobile telecommunications market.

“Outside Europe, Australia had one of the first GSM markets in the world, but now it is one of the few markets that has chosen to adopt both CDMA and GSM/UMTS standards. 

“This adoption coupled with Australia’s geographical position in the Pacific Rim should see Australia benefit immensely from the information and experiences that have been collated in the rollout of 3G/UMTS in Europe and Asia,” he said.

Growth in demand for 3G/UMTS networks and services has strengthened recently with the availability of more terminal devices and a continued increase in the number of networks launched commercially.

Bienaimé said there’s been an upturn in 3G/UMTS subscriber numbers since the early months of this year which coincides with a surge in network launch announcements during Q1 and Q2, plus a wider choice of attractively priced handsets from Asian, European and US manufacturers that compete head-to-head with the best available 2G models.

Industry-Leading Wireless Access Product Will Lower Operator Costs, Increase Network Capacity

Nortel Networks has unveiled a new high-capacity, high-density GSM/UMTS wireless base station that will enable wireless operators to lower operational costs and offer advanced third generation (3G) services to businesses and consumers.

Nortel Networks GSM-UMTS Base Transceiver Station (BTS) 18000 is designed to support both GSM and UMTS wireless technology standards, and to address the increasing number of voice and data subscribers. It will allow operators to drive reduced operating costs by handling up to 50 percent more voice and data subscribers per base station compared to other commercial dual mode base stations currently available.

“Nortel Networks is committed to helping wireless operators maximize their network resources while transforming their networks to deliver advanced data services that enhance the end-user experience,” said Alan Pritchard, vice president, global marketing, GSM/GPRS/EDGE, Nortel Networks. “BTS 18000 will be a catalyst for operator success and evolution to 3G services. It will be the highest capacity dual mode GSM/UMTS base station on the market today.”

Nortel Networks BTS 18000 will provide a common radio platform for GSM and UMTS that will be scalable and spectrally efficient, and will improve network capacity while limiting the need for the costly cell splitting often used to increase wireless network capacity.

In addition, the BTS 18000 will be more compact because it will allow wireless operators to support both GSM and UMTS without needing a separate cabinet for UMTS. This will help position wireless operators to reduce the need for leased base station sites by reducing the amount of equipment required.
This is expected to be attractive to operators looking to expand their service in large metropolitan areas, where availability of cell site locations is limited and leasing fees are costly.

“Our goal is to deliver a great mobile experience to our customers, and we must do so while managing operational costs,” said Tim Wong, executive vice president and chief technology officer, T-Mobile USA. “BTS 18000 will enable us to keep our operational costs in check while dramatically increasing network capacity, so we can manage a larger volume of voice calls and swiftly roll-out advanced data services that our customers desire.”

BTS 18000 is scheduled for commercial availability in the first quarter of 2005. BTS 18000 is designed for use with existing Nortel Networks GSM sites to expand GSM capacity and add UMTS services. Wireless service providers will be able to enhance BTS 18000 to support high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) technology without hardware upgrades. HSDPA technology is designed to increase wireless data access speeds, enhancing file transfer and multimedia video and audio capabilities.

World’s smallest megapixel 3G phone enables faster and smarter mobile working

Nokia has announced that Vodafone Group has selected the Nokia 6630 phone as the latest addition to its 3G WCDMA phone portfolio. Fully customized for Vodafone, the Nokia 6630 delivers the high-speed benefits of 3G to consumers in a compact package together with a megapixel camera and advanced smartphone features.

The Nokia 6630 offers always-connected email, the possibility to download and view email attachments while on the move, mobile broadband access to multimedia content, live video streaming and video conferencing.

“Vodafone’s choice of the Nokia 6630 means that consumers will be able to enjoy the benefits of 3G in a customized and compact package with high-quality performance and leading operating times,” said Anssi Vanjoki, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Multimedia, Nokia. “We have been working closely with Vodafone to ensure their customers can use the Nokia 6630 to take full advantage of the high-speed 3G networks.”
 
The Nokia 6630 will be available through Vodafone stores, including Japan. The Nokia 6630 is based on Symbian OS. It is a tri-band phone for GSM 900/1800/1900, EDGE and WCDMA networks. Weighing 127 grams and measuring 110 x 60 x 20.6 mm, it is the world’s smallest megapixel phone for GSM and WCDMA networks.

Qpass, the proven provider of mobile commerce software, has announced it will launch Simpay-compliant payment components in its Services Management software.

Qpass will be available to assist operators with Simpay market trials and testing. Qpass will also serve as a resource to Simpay for insight into the US market, where Qpass is the dominant provider of mobile commerce software, serving seven of the leading mobile operators, including Cingular Wireless, AT&T Wireless and Nextel.

Simpay is a mobile payment scheme founded by Orange, Telefónica Móviles, T-Mobile and Vodafone to facilitate payment for mobile commerce transactions through the development of an open and interoperable mobile payment solution. The solution provides payment and settlement services, and allows subscribers to make purchases through their mobile operator-managed accounts.

“We welcome the support of Qpass for the Simpay scheme,” said Tim Jones, Simpay CEO. “Simpay is a global initiative, and we are delighted by the addition of Qpass to the community of vendors seeking to offer Simpay-compliant software to mobile operators.”

To facilitate both the testing and launch of the Simpay service, Qpass will support the following Simpay-defined functionality in its Services Management software:

• Mobile Payment Issuer (MPI) interface, which enables consumers to make micro-payments to all participating merchants using their pre- or post-paid mobile account as the source of funds;

• Mobile Merchant Acquirer (MMA) interface, which links participating merchants to the payment scheme.

“Qpass believes that mobile commerce and service delivery platforms must support every possible payment method, so adding Simpay functionality to our software is a natural for us,” said Qpass CEO, Chase Franklin. “Our customers will be able to enable their entire premium services business, both on- and off-portal, with one comprehensive platform solution.”

Qpass Services Management software provides leading mobile operators a highly flexible solution to optimize revenue from premium services and applications. The software is the fundamental driver of premium data and service delivery programs, enabling product offerings such as ringtones, games, and premium messaging.

Mobile 365 Takes Helm of Mobile Industry with Global Reach, Superior Infrastructure, Extensive Messaging Experience, Outstanding Quality of Service, and Financial Strength

Mobileway-InphoMatch has announced that it completed an extensive rebranding effort and has re-launched the united company as Mobile 365. The two companies merged in August, becoming the global leader in the delivery, billing, and settlement of mobile messaging services.

“We’re the first mover in a new market—the globalising mobile messaging space,” said Neville Street, president and CEO of Mobile 365. “Mobile 365 leverages the best assets of both InphoMatch and Mobileway to provide the worldwide delivery, billing, and settlement capabilities necessary for our customers to succeed in the mobile messaging market. Our new name reflects both the company’s leadership in this emerging mobile space, and our industry-leading quality of service—24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.”
 
Mobile 365 reliably delivers messages, premium content, and value-added services for mobile operators, content providers, corporate brands, and media companies worldwide.