Amdocs introduced its industry-specific software suite that allows service providers to offer their customers the benefits of access to any service, over any network, at any time and on any device, which is made possible by the move to next- generation networks and the convergence of voice, video, data, content, and entertainment.
The modular Amdocs 7 suite allows telecom carriers, broadband cable and satellite providers to offer next-generation services, enabling them to bundle these services, offer incentive pricing to customers, capture and fulfill complex orders, assure quality and accuracy, and focus on the customer experience. The platform supports traditional and next- generation video, voice and data services -- regardless of the access method, device, payment method, or the network over which the service is delivered, including IP Multi-media Subsystem or IMS.
"Convergence represents an enormous opportunity for service providers," said Michael Matthews, chief marketing officer of Amdocs. "However, to offer these new services, including services developed and delivered by partners, providers must make sizable investments in technology infrastructure. They must also transform the way they do business.
The new Amdocs 7 suite, Amdocs Qpass Digital Commerce Solution and Amdocs Cramer OSS suite make up the Amdocs portfolio. The portfolio includes the customer-facing BSS, such as billing, CRM, self-service, settlements, and digital commerce management, and network-facing OSS, such as customer assurance, service fulfillment and inventory management. The suite includes:
- Amdocs Foundation -- a powerful set of open frameworks for unified information, operation, integration, and application management across the suite, based on service-oriented architecture (SOA) principles and adhering to industry standards such as Enhanced Telecom Operations Map (eTOM) and Shared Information/Data Model (TMF/SID). Among its components, Amdocs Foundation includes a common offer catalog across Amdocs CRM, billing and ordering products, a Customer Information Hub to provide a single view of the customer, and an Integration Framework to facilitate interoperability with third-party applications.
- Amdocs Enterprise Product Catalog -- deployed as part of the Amdocs 7 suite or independently, this innovative new product enables centralized product lifecycle management by employing role-specific user interfaces and by applying Master Data Management (MDM) principles to readily link all enterprise systems involved in the creation of service offerings.
- Centralized management of this critical process lowers costs and speeds time to market for convergent and bundled offerings.
- Amdocs B/OSS Manager -- the core of the Amdocs integrated fulfillment and assurance platform, B/OSS Manager enables end-to-end visibility and process convergence across BSS and OSS. It offers a single integrated platform to manage critical customer-centric processes such as ordering and fulfillment.
- Customer Management Optimized for Convergence -- by creating connectors to third-party business intelligence and marketing automation platforms, Amdocs 7 delivers intelligence that providers can act upon, such as likelihood to churn or customer profitability across all interaction channels. In addition, by giving customers enhanced, multi-channel self-service capabilities, consumer and business customers can manage their own accounts, order new convergent services or content on demand, or request a credit -- via phone, Web, and now even digital Interactive TV.
- Revenue Management for "Any-Play" Services -- convergent real-time service mediation, billing and settlements for mobile and fixed Telecom, and cable and satellite providers, including multi-affiliate and intercontinental providers. This includes support for "any-play" services, any charging method (pre-paid, post-paid and hybrid), any partner type (content, roaming and interconnect) and any customer type (residential, small business and enterprise).
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- In July 2006, Amdocs acquired Cramer Systems, a supplier of operations support systems (OSS) solutions, for approximately $375 million in cash. Cramer will form a new division in Amdocs, which will be the centerpiece of Amdocs' OSS strategy and activities, and will leverage and enhance Amdocs' current assets in BSS and OSS. Cramer's current management will continue to lead the business.
- In April 2006, Amdocs agreed to acquire Qpass, a leading provider of digital commerce software and solutions, for approximately $275 million in cash. Qpass can act as a channel between the content provider and the service provider, helping to determine how to offer, manage, charge, and fulfill for the service. It plays a key role in enabling the value chain and monetizing digital content. Qpass currently has relationships with over 300 content providers and also works with some of the largest carrier groups globally, including Cingular, Sprint, and T-Mobile.
