• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Comverse Partners With IBM to Deliver Value-Added Services and Billing Solutions for Telecommunications Providers Worldwide

Posted on: Tuesday, 22 July 2008, 09:00 CDT

Comverse, the leading supplier of software and systems enabling network-based, multimedia enhanced communication and billing services, is partnering with IBM (NYSE: IBM) to help telecommunications service providers worldwide reduce operational costs, increase efficiencies and drive growth.

Through a recently-signed technology and services agreement, Comverse and IBM will offer customers solutions based on IBM's software products and service delivery platform solutions, together with Comverse's value-added services and billing and active customer management solutions.

"Telecommunications service providers are looking to grow and generate revenue in new ways," said Mike Hill, General Manager, Telecommunications Industry, IBM. "At the same time, they are under competitive pressures to improve the consumer experience and differentiate themselves in the marketplace. We are excited about working together with Comverse to offer value-added services such as the Converged Messaging solutions that keep pace with our clients' 'always on' world."

"We look forward to working more closely with IBM," said Andre Dahan, President and CEO, Comverse. "Our wide range of software-based solutions in value-added services, customer care, self-service and billing complements the professional services, outsourcing and technology strengths of IBM. The deeper collaboration of our two companies should open up many new opportunities to better serve telecom providers worldwide."

As part of this expanded relationship, Comverse will include IBM WebSphere Presence Server and WebSphere XML Document Management Server (XDMS) as core components of the Comverse Instant SMS product. Instant SMS helps service providers to enhance existing mobile messaging services (SMS, MMS) with the richness and real-time user experience of Instant Messaging. IBM's WebSphere Telecom Web Services Server software has been combined with Comverse value-added messaging products to help extend their value to telecommunications service providers and their subscribers.

A key example of this is Comverse Messaging Gateway and SMSC/MMSC's for value-added messaging solutions which provide support of various types of messaging-based applications such as TV show 'voting.' In addition, when combined with Comverse Converged Messaging, the WebSphere Telecom Web Services Server can provide a unified messaging experience and enhanced processing for all types of messaging. This suite of products and technologies is also included as part of the IBM service delivery platform solution to provide fast and efficient development and deployment of applications based on operators' messaging infrastructure.

Comverse will also utilize IBM BladeCenter technology for its value-added services offerings and IBM Power Systems technology running the AIX 5.3 operating system for its new flagship Comverse(R) ONE(TM) Billing and Active Customer Management(TM) solution.

For more information about IBM's telecommunications offerings, visit www.ibm.com/telecom.

About Comverse

Comverse is the world's leading provider of software and systems enabling network-based messaging and content value-added services, prepaid, postpaid and converged billing and IP communications. Comverse solutions generate revenues, strengthen customer loyalty and improve operational efficiency for over 500 communication service providers in more than 130 countries. The company's Total Communication(SM) portfolio facilitates personalized lifestyles in an evolving connected world and is based on the InSight(TM) Open Services Environment. Comverse's solutions support flexible deployment models, including in-network, hosted and managed services, and can run on circuit-switched, VoIP, IMS and converged network environments. Comverse is a subsidiary of Comverse Technology, Inc. (CMVT.PK). For more information, visit www.comverse.com.

All product and company names mentioned herein may be registered trademarks or trademarks of Comverse or the respective referenced company(s).

This release contains "forward-looking statements" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurances that any forward-looking statements will be achieved, and actual results could differ materially from forecasts and estimates. Important factors that could affect Comverse include: the results of the investigation of the Special Committee, of the Board of Directors concluded on January 28, 2008, of matters relating to Comverse's stock option grant practices and other accounting matters; the impact of any restatement of financial statements of Comverse or other actions that may be taken or required as a result of such investigation or as result of Comverse's VSOE evaluation; Comverse's inability to file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission; the effects of the delisting of Comverse's Common Stock from NASDAQ and the quotation of Comverse's Common Stock in the "Pink Sheets," including any adverse effects relating to the trading of the stock due to, among other things, the absence of market makers; risks relating to Comverse's ability to relist its Common Stock on NASDAQ; risks relating to alleged defaults under Comverse's ZYPS indentures, including acceleration of repayment; risks of litigation (including the pending securities class action and derivative lawsuits and any potential civil injunctive action by the Securities and Exchange Commission) and of governmental investigations or proceedings arising out of or related to Comverse's stock option practices or any other accounting irregularities or any restatement of the financial statements of Comverse, including the direct and indirect costs of such investigations and restatement; changes in the demand for Comverse's products; changes in capital spending among Comverse's current and prospective customers; the risks associated with the sale of large, complex, high capacity systems and with new product introductions as well as the uncertainty of customer acceptance of these new or enhanced products from either Comverse or its competition; risks associated with rapidly changing technology and the ability of Comverse to introduce new products on a timely and cost-effective basis; aggressive competition may force Comverse to reduce prices; a failure to compensate any decrease in the sale of Comverse's traditional products with a corresponding increase in sales of new products; risks associated with changes in the competitive or regulatory environment in which Comverse operates; risks associated with prosecuting or defending allegations or claims of infringement of intellectual property rights; risks associated with significant foreign operations and international sales and investment activities, including fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, investments in auction rate securities, interest rates, and valuations of public and private equity; the volatility of macroeconomic and industry conditions and the international marketplace; the risk of declines in information technology spending; risks associated with Comverse's ability to retain existing personnel and recruit and retain qualified personnel. Comverse undertakes no commitment to update or revise forward-looking statements except as required by law.

Source: Business Wire

More News in this Category