Interesting Amdocs news: includes reference to a $25M R&D budget for their internet product development division. Also apparently they are having a User Group conference this week in New Orleans.
Amdocs Announces Major Expansion of IP Services Solution;
Establishes IP division as part of broad Internet services initiative
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2000 1:47 PM
- BusinessWire
ST. LOUIS, Jan 19, 2000 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Amdocs (NYSE:DOX), a major provider of customer care, billing and order management solutions to the communications industry, today announced the expansion of its Ensemble(tm) platform to support the next generation Internet services environment. The enhancements are currently being implemented for several customers. The enhanced Ensemble platform supports emerging Internet business models and technologies such as usage-sensitive and content-based rating, ecommerce billing and carrier-to-business settlement, quality of service monitoring, WAP and GPRS. With its proven carrier-strength capabilities, Ensemble provides the robust support needed by leading IP service providers. Ensemble also provides the convergent capabilities required by integrated voice-IP service providers in the wireless and wireline arenas.
As part of a two-pronged approach to the IP service providers market, Amdocs is also offering a specialized solution for new ISPs and other emerging IP players. This solution facilitates low-threshold entry and minimum implementation cycles for these providers. The solution enables optimal flexibility for rapid rollout and trials of new IP services. Amdocs'two-pronged approach provides a broad spectrum of solutions to meet the diverse business system needs of the IP service provider market.
Amdocs' IP solution offerings are part of a broad initiative to achieve leadership in the Internet business infrastructure market. Amdocs has established an IP division, under the leadership of Gabby Levy. This division is responsible for corporate-wide business and technological development in the Internet arena. The IP division has an R&D budget for fiscal 2000 exceeding $25 million, oversees the development activities of more than 100 Internet software specialists, and supports customer IP systems projects worth over $10 million. The IP division will also harness specialized system integration, implementation and outsourcing capabilities to provide IP services customers with total solution options.
"With our solutions, knowhow and resources, Amdocs is ideally positioned to achieve leadership in the IP systems market," said Avi Naor, Chief Executive Officer and President of Amdocs Management Limited. "As in all sectors of the communications market in which we operate, we also intend to lead the IP market by offering solutions that meet the continually changing needs of our customers. With the emergence of new IP business models such as content-driven rating, mobile commerce and voice-IP convergence, IP service providers are now looking for a whole new level of sophistication not supported by first generation IP systems. In addition, driven by rapid growth, the leading providers are looking for much more robust, scalable solutions. As they grow, IP service providers are also beginning to demand advanced business management infrastructure, with strong back office functionality, for running large-scale operations. Amdocs is the only company in the communications industry equipped to meet these challenging needs."
Speaking today at the Amdocs User Group conference in New Orleans, Shlomo Baleli, President of the R&D division, said, "We are quickly entering a time where customers expect their "telecom carrier" to provide not just phone and Internet service, but also serve as their primary shopping, information and communications tool. From the carrier's perspective, this represents an extraordinary opportunity to vastly expand their market. Ensemble will provide a smooth transition for both wireline and wireless carriers that are expanding into Internet and ecommerce services. Our ability to offer a proven, convergent voice-IP solution is unique."
Ensemble is a customer care, billing and order management system for communications leaders. Ensemble provides full voice-data-IP convergence capabilities, including a unified customer view, integrated customer care, bundled service packaging, and multi-service rating and billing. Ensemble enhancements to support the new Internet services environment include: IP service management and provisioning, IP mediation, real-time rating, content-based and usage-sensitive rating, ecommerce billing and carrier-to-business settlement, quality of service monitoring, and support for the full range of advanced IP services, such as VPN, VoD, VOIP, applications and video conferencing.
As part of its Internet initiative, Amdocs is committed to industry efforts to establish Internet billing standards. As a charter member of the IPDR (Internet Protocol Data Record)organization, Amdocs is helping drive industry efforts to standardize IP event records. Amdocs is also a member of the WAP Forum, which addresses standardization and interoperability issues in the wireless Internet environment.
About Amdocs Amdocs is a leading provider of product-driven customer care, billing and order management solutions to premier communications companies worldwide. Amdocs has an unparalleled success record in project delivery of its mission-critical products. Human resources of more than 4,600 information systems professionals are exclusively dedicated to the communications industry. Amdocs has an installed base of more than 300 successful projects in more than 75 major communications companies throughout the world. For more
information visit our Web site at www.amdocs.com.
Copyright (C) 2000 Business Wire. All rights reserved.
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CONTACT: Amdocs
Norman Rafalowitz
Senior Vice President
International Marketing
Tel : 314-212-7847
Fax: 314-212-7500
E-Mail: info@amdocs.com
or
Porter Novelli
Dan Ginsburg
Porter Novelli
Tel : 212-601-8020
Fax: 212-601-8101
E-Mail: dginsburg@porternovelli.com
WEB PAGE: businesswire.com
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