Siemens to launch latest billing solutions

Rahul Gupta

NEW DELHI: Siemens Information Systems Ltd. (SISL) is all set to launch its

latest billing solutions. These new solutions are pre- paid solution for GSM and

wireline services 'SMARTNode', post- paid solution for Wireline Services 'WIBS'

and the new version of its existing convergent mediation device 'cFulcrum'. The

company will launch these products globally in January next year.

SISL Telecom chief manager, projects, PK Pant, said, " We already had

range of billing solutions and most of the telecom operators are using them

worldwide, but these new solutions will definitely take us a step further as

these are the most advanced billing solutions available right now."

The company will launch these solutions in Brazil, Latin America and South

Africa in the first phase. It has not yet disclosed the rates of these products

but the company itself will do implementation of these software.

SMARTNode is a pre- paid solution that can be implemented with little change in

the existing network of the service provider. Besides the regular features of a

pre-paid solution, it offers the advantage of real time call monitoring which

makes exposure virtually impossible. It will be available in two variants that

include Account based solution and Card based solution.

An Account based pre- paid system subscriber can buy a SIM card and start making
calls instantly. The system keeps track of the reducing account balance. To

recharge the account, the subscriber vouchers over an Interactive Voice Response

System or Customer Care. A subscriber can register multiple vouchers if he so

wishes while a Card based pre- paid system subscriber buys a pre- paid card and

calls a common access number for validation. On successful validation, the

system prompts the subscriber to enter the destination number to which the call

has to be made. Once the amount on the card gets expired the card becomes non-

functional.

WIBS works in a multi-switch environment with quick and efficient billing
systems. It allows for web- based customer registration, inquiries and

complaints tracking. It also manages information about laid- off network,

switches, exchanges, number inventory, tariffs and rates, traffic types,

discounts, payment terms and conditions, specific tax - structures, state law,

currencies and countries.

The company is also launching the version of its mediation device Fulcrum, named
Fulcrum 3.0 or cFulcrum. This convergent mediation software solution mediates

data from the network devices to the IT systems of the operator. It has a

capability to interface with the process data from a variety of network

elements. The software has a user-definable workflow, where the user can define

the network elements, processing functions and output billing formats that the

mediation flow shall use. The software's 'Flexible Report Generator' provides

customized reports. It also contains in- built standard sets of MIS reports.

The company has already deployed its billing solutions software worldwide.
Prominent among them are GSM administration and billing system 'GABS', pre- paid

solution for mobile services 'SMARTPay', existing mediation software 'Fulcrum',

convergent solution for call centers ' CallConnect' and a call handling system 'Telemaster'.

In India some of major telecom operators are using its software, which include

Reliance, Bharti etc.