"The problem [with wizards] is that I think people expect magic. " Peter Dart. Isn't this so true? If you call any of your OSS tools "wizards" instead of just tools, users have a much higher expectation of what the tools can actually do? Call it a wizard and users expect to click one button to design a network, fix all data integrity problems, activate a…
Read More »Telstra Health to acquire client & resource management solution business, EOS Technologies. Telstra Health has entered into an agreement to acquire Silver Chain Groups’ technology arm EOS Technologies, developers of the award winning community care management system, ComCare. Since its inception in 2010, EOS Technologies has evolved into a recognised leader in the provision of client and resource management solutions for health, aged and community care…
Read More »"The only things we spend time and money on are things that we believe are worth more than they cost... If people aren't buying your product, it's not because the price is too high. It's because we don't believe you enough, don't love it enough, don't care enough." Seth Godin on his blog here. Another quote from Seth Godin. Another fascinating insight (for me at least)…
Read More »"Ericsson has added the new Wi-Fi calling for multi-device functionality to the existing Ericsson Wi-Fi calling solution. The Ericsson offering comprises product support in Evolved Packet Core (EPC), IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), User Data Management (UDM) and OSS/BSS, as well as system integration services. The functionality is verified and tested end-to-end towards device brands that support this service." Ericsson press release. The evolving capabilities of Wi-Fi-based…
Read More »"Analyst predicts emergence of more shared networks, sees operators separating infrastructure from retail businesses. Major telecoms operators will in future make the decision to separate their network operations from the retail side of the business." Mary Lennighan quoting John Strand here. Not exactly ground-breaking news, but certainly an interesting concept nonetheless. As noted here almost a year ago, some major telcos are already planning the cleaving…
Read More »Last week here on PAOSS, we presented the double ecosystem OSS model, as shown via the two bands (red and blue) in the diagram below. The outer pairing (red) shows an OSS ecosystem that is provided by the CSP but enhanced by the CSP's customers and used to run the customers's e-businesses. Long-time readers will have noticed how this ties into the Above-the-Line / Below-the-Line (ATL…
Read More »Jibe Mobile has been acquired by Google. Jibe Mobile has been acquired by Google. This is an exciting day for the entire Jibe community as we embark on this new chapter. We’d especially like to thank our Carrier customers, investors, partners, and most importantly, the end users of our messaging service, for their passion and engagement. “We’re very excited to announce that the Jibe Mobile team…
Read More »Etisalat UAE, NEC and NetCracker Complete Highly Successful Virtual CPE Trial. NEC Corporation and NetCracker Technology have announced that Etisalat UAE, one of the world’s largest mobile communications service providers, has successfully completed a series of comprehensive virtual customer-premises equipment (vCPE) trials. The vCPE solution was provided through NEC’s and NetCracker’s joint business brand, NEC/NetCracker SDN/NFV Solutions, and demonstrated new ways to optimize customer experience through…
Read More »Aspect Software Powers Derby Over Recovery Process Automation for du Telecom. Aspect Software, provider of fully-integrated consumer engagement, workforce optimization, and back-office solutions, announced solution partnership with Derby Group for the recovery automation process. UAE-based Derby Group, sought an outbound solution provider to deliver solution in debt recovery processes and automate processes for key client, du Telecom. "We at Derby had very specific requirements from our…
Read More »In recent weeks, we've followed a theme across many blogs here on PAOSS. We've looked at a new mode of design, delivery and approach for taking OSS to a much broader market base. The following diagrams demonstrate this new approach visually. Figure 1. above shows the current model, where an OSS vendor sells their tools to CSPs as their customers. There are three layers but negligible ecosystem…
Read More »"Digital platforms are worthless without content. They're shiny sacks with bells and whistles, but without content, they're empty sacks. It is not about pixels versus print. It is not about how you're reading. It is about what you're reading." Maureen Dowd In a recent post, we talked about the merits of vertical vs horizontal code branching. We've also recently discussed ecosystems as being a possible future…
Read More »"Essentially, RFPs [Request for Proposal] by their very nature are already flawed. You have described the situation you are in today and you are trying to fit the new technology to that situation. Assuming you are trying to transform your business, this is a dead end before you even start." Paul Vedam in his article on Telco Professionals called "RFP technology selection: the good, the bad…
Read More »"The engineering bias blinds people to this simple fact. The conventional thinking is that great products sell themselves; if you have great product, it will inevitably reach consumers. But nothing is further from the truth." Peter Thiel (actually a notes essay from Peter Thiel’s CS183: Startup - Class 9 lecture). Distribution is one of an OSS vendor's biggest challenges with current OSS customer-base thinking. Customers are…
Read More »"Ask your friends what business Google is in and the answer you’ll most likely get is “search.” And they would be wrong. Google is, first and foremost, an advertising company. A full 97 percent of its revenue comes from advertising on its various properties, including YouTube, plus partner sites through its AdSense product. Sure, Google has Android and Chrome OS and everything else, but it doesn’t…
Read More »MTN group selects Ericsson Order to Cash Suite. MTN, a leading telecommunications company with presence in 22 countries in Africa and the Middle East, signed a multi-year agreement with Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) to implement, support and manage Ericsson's Order to Cash suite. This solution enables MTN to standardize the customer experience of its products and services in all the markets it is operational. As part of…
Read More »Sterlite Technologies announces acquisition of global telecom software company Elitecore Technologies. Sterlite Technologies Limited (“Sterlite”) has entered into a definitive agreement for the acquisition of Elitecore Technologies Private Limited (“Elitecore”), a global telecom software product company. Elitecore is a leading provider of Operations Support Services / Business Support Services and is majority owned by First Carlyle Ventures Mauritius, whose affiliate is advised by The Carlyle Group.…
Read More »Another set of quotes from Peter Thiel below (actually a notes essay from Peter Thiel’s CS183: Startup - Class 4 lecture): "For a company to own its market, it must have some combination of brand, scale cost advantages, network effects, or proprietary technology" "Brand is a tricky concept for investors to understand and identify in advance. But what’s understood is that if you manage to build…
Read More »ZTEsoft partners with KPN to realize OSS transformation. KPN and ZTEsoft (a subsidiary of ZTE Corporation) announced they have signed an IT framework agreement that extends their strategic partnership into the operational support systems (OSS) domain for KPN’s operations in the Netherlands. KPN and ZTE have been jointly preparing for this transformative programme with the goal to simplify KPN’s OSS processes and IT landscape, ultimately speeding…
Read More »M1 Transforms its Billing and Customer Care System in Collaboration with Accenture. M1 Limited (M1), in collaboration with Accenture (NYSE:ACN), has completed a major upgrade of its billing and customer care system. The upgraded system enables M1 to meet the current and future needs of its growing customer base, and provides M1 with a comprehensive, unified view of all customers across its business lines. “Accenture helped…
Read More »"The PayPal network, as it’s been called, is a set of friendships built over the course of a decade. It has become a sort of franchise. But this isn’t unique; that kind of dynamic arguably characterizes all great tech companies, i.e. last mover monopolies. Last movers build non-commoditized businesses. They are relationship-driven. They create value. They last. And they make money." Peter Thiel (actually a notes…
Read More »"I think the data modeling associated with NFV is absolutely critical for its success. Sadly, few of the players involved in NFV say much about their approach to the models..." Tom Nolle in another great blog called, "Comparing the NFV Data-Model Strategies of Key Vendors." Tom's blog above articulates something that I've always found slightly amusing. New networking technologies always seem to focus on the parts…
Read More »