Sigma Systems announced that it is committed to helping Communications Service Providers evolve into Next-Generation Operators (NGOs), so they can succeed in today’s rapidly changing communications marketplace.  According to Sigma Systems, the communications industry is rapidly changing, forcing traditional voice telecommunications service providers to reinvent themselves to remain competitive. Evolution means transformation, and it's something CSPs really need to evaluate in order to move forward.

Amdocs was at the show, operating from what we can only deem its “Mobile Command Center” (a two story trailered meeting site parked outside of the Acropolis Convention Center). There, they presented findings from a recent study, stating that almost all (91 percent) of service providers surveyed view modernization as a key component of OSS outsourcing engagements. Additionally, benefits such as increased service profitability and improved time to market ranked nearly as high as operational cost savings, demonstrating the expanded business value of OSS outsourcing. More than two thirds (67 percent) would prefer to outsource business support systems (BSS) with OSS. In addition, Amdocs announced that it was releasing what it was calling “the industry's first single catalog offering to support both business and operational systems (BSS/OSS).”

Tekelec was at the event talking about the latest in their IAS (Integrated Applications Solution) offerings.  They conveyed that by keeping a close watch over a wide variety of KPIs and using common applications for QoS, Tekelec can help maintain solid quality across a large number of network types.

NetCracker was highly visible at the event, and was touting its OSS solutions as “award-winning” even before winning another award, handed out by the TM Forum.  Sanjay Mewada, NetCracker’s VP of Strategy, was also on hand for panels on fixed/mobile and mobile commerce. 

With companies like O2 Gemany, T-Mobile, DigiCel, Bell Mobility, and Mobilkom Austria, there seems to be a good deal of resonance for their model.

Tektronix told us they will keep AranTech as a separate brand in the short term as they evaluate their integration strategy going forward.   However, the two are “operating seamlessly now in parallel tracks,” demonstrating how AranTech’s Customer Experience Management solution works in tandem with Tektronix’s Network Intelligence Strategy.

Comverse was alive and well at Management World promoting Comverse ONE as “the first true converged BSS solution in the market.”   VP & GM for Comverse’s Billing & Active Customer Management, Gabriel Matsliach, explained that converged charging alone is not enough.  By combining billing with active customer management Comverse has seen their customers experience 40% increase in ARPU.  Mobile advertising was also a focus for Comverse in Nice, with what they described as a unique offering that allows CSPs to analyze and control touch points with consumers and incorporate billing info and then offer usage-based promotions and reward programs to strengthen customer loyalty and build brand.  And, if that’s not enough, the solution also lays claim to enabling revenue acceleration, shortening time to market, and providing immediate results for CSPs.