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Telcos must change their OTT strategy in 2014

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Harmeet
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ATLANTA, USA: Telco operators must draw on their own strengths to launch a profitable value-added service (VAS) says Movius Interactive Corp., a global leader in solution enablement for service providers.

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In 2013, Movius successfully enabled telco operators to generate up to 20 percent increased ARPU through its myIdentities solution that leverages existing networking and billing infrastructure and offers personal communications services in a unique OTT like manner.

In recent years telco operators have tried to echo established OTT applications by launching their own VAS applications (Joyn, Tu Me). These services have been unsuccessful owing in part to the large market share already held by apps such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and iMessage.

With reports suggesting that operators will lose $23 billion in SMS revenue by 2018 and with Android also recently enabling users to choose their own default texting app, it is vitally important that service providers find solutions to create new forms of revenue in 2014.

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"Telco operators must now look at using their existing infrastructures to offer end users a unique experience which cannot be offered by OTT players," said Jose Romero, VP of Product Strategy and Marketing, Movius. "Unlike most OTT applications, myIdentities harnesses the use of subscribers' existing address books, giving them a more personal, secure and accessible method of communication and empowering them for the first time to address multiple aspects of their lifestyles on one handset."

Through the use of Movius' myIdentities, carriers can offer consumers multiple or split identities on one device, enabling end users to easily access and manage their personal and business data. This also provides security for businesses by keeping employees' personal and public data separate, protecting company assets. Each identity has separate voice, data and messaging, with the added benefit of split billing.

The split phone line opens up opportunities for mobile service providers to create new revenues by charging a premium for the additional lines without having to subsidize an extra device. myIdentities not only offers security, but through bill shock prevention, it guards end users against unwanted costs when roaming abroad by enabling the provision of a new local number when arriving in a foreign network.

Romero believes that the success of myIdentities during 2013 proves the solution is what telco operators need to boost revenues in 2014: "With myIdentities, carriers can give end users value-added services which match the needs of today's modern consumer, whilst also boosting revenues."

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