News for LHSG reported -
biz.yahoo.com
Wednesday November 4, 4:31 pm Eastern Time
Company Press Release
Andersen Consulting And LHS Provide Seamless Global
Billing And Customer Care System For Iridium
Global Wireless Phone Network "Speaks" Multiple Languages and Bills in
Over 100 Currencies
ATLANTA/CHICAGO/FRANKFURT--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 4, 1998-- Iridium LLC
(Nasdaq:IRIDF - news), LHS Group INC. (Nasdaq:LHSG - news; Neuer Markt:LHI), and
Andersen Consulting today announced the co-development and co-deployment of an
advanced business support system for customer service, billing and financial management
for Iridium's global mobile telephony service launched November 1, 1998.
The system can process call rates and billing in all of the world's major currencies and has
been designed to operate in seven languages. It will provide first-of-its kind services to
Iridium customers in more than 250 countries, allowing subscribers to roam seamlessly
among cellular systems worldwide. The system, LHS's proprietary Business Support and
Control System (BSCS), also calculates and applies the appropriate taxes based on call
origination.
''Most wireless industry followers know that Iridium will provide a reliable service anywhere
on earth, but few are aware of the challenges and complexity of billing customers in their
familiar currency and offering customer service in their native tongue,'' said Albert M. Krall
partner, Andersen Consulting. ''As Andersen Consulting addresses the needs of our global
client base, the BSCS system's vital financial management component enables companies
such as Iridium to deliver a strong competitive advantage in wireless business systems.''
This project couples the process design and systems integration skills of Andersen
Consulting, the world's largest management and technology consultancy with the product
development and industry expertise of LHS, the leading provider of business solutions
applications for the communications market.
The BSCS model designed for Iridium posed several unique challenges for LHS, Andersen
Consulting and Iridium. In order to meet these challenges, functionality had to be developed
in multiple areas.
A pioneer for the industry, LHS' BSCS was enhanced to operate in multiple languages,
including double-byte character sets for Chinese, Korean and Japanese, so that each
gateway, or conduit, can choose its preferred business language. More than 600,000 words
were translated in this effort. To add to this flexibility, subscribers can choose a preferred
billing currency. The system can process call rates and billing in more than 100 currencies
around the world.
''The complexity of the customization needed to support Iridium was an exciting task for LHS.
We are very proud in having met the requirements to provide billing software that handles
multiple currencies, taxes and languages, ushering in a new era in global communications;
the Iridium System,'' said Erik Froberg, LHS Executive Vice President/CDO.
Worldwide commercial service was launched November 1, 1998, when the network of
low-earth orbiting satellites become operational. The Iridium System provides worldwide
telephone, paging, facsimile, and data services via satellites to registered subscribers using
hand-held telephones and pagers. Iridium will also allow customers, using a single mobile
telephone number, to gain access to worldwide cellular networks with the benefit of receiving
a single bill.
''It has been a tremendous challenge to prepare for the simultaneous commercial launch of
15 gateway companies located around the world. Our strategy is to provide each gateway with
the operational support system enabling consistently superior service. The BSCS product,
along with the support and dedication of Andersen Consulting, LHS and Iridium personnel
has helped Iridium to succeed with this most challenging project,'' commented Randy
Brouckman, Vice President Software Systems, Iridium.
Iridium provides personal communication for the world. Combining the worldwide coverage
of 66 low orbit satellites with land-based cellular networks, the Iridium system will provide
subscribers the ability to send and receive calls from virtually anywhere on Earth - using one
hand-held phone, one phone number and receiving one consolidated monthly bill. The
Iridium system is designed to simplify communications for traveling business professionals,
industries that operate in remote areas, people who live in areas lacking terrestrial phone
systems, disaster relief and development agencies, and anyone else who needs the
convenience of a wireless, hand-held phone with worldwide reach. Iridium gateways include
Iridium China, Iridium Eurasia, Iridium Central America and Mexico, Iridium Korea, Iridium
Middle East, Iridium North America, Iridium India, Iridium SudAmerica, Iridium
Communications Germany, Iridium Italia, Nippon Iridium, Pacific Iridium Telecom Co.,
Iridium South Pacific, Iridium Southeast Asia, and Iridium Africa. Its home page address is
www.iridium.com.
LHS is a leading global provider of convergent client/server modular customer care and
billing software and services for the telecommunications industry. Its over 130 systems are
installed in more than 60 countries, operating in 13 languages. In addition to its Atlanta
headquarters, LHS has major offices in Frankfurt, Germany; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Miami,
USA and Zurich, Switzerland. LHS is listed with NASDAQ (LHSG) and on the Frankfurt Neuer
Markt Exchange (LHI). For more information, visit LHS' web site at www.lhsgroup.com.
Andersen Consulting's Communications Industry Segment serves most of the world's major
communications companies. With more than 6,500 industry professionals globally, Andersen
Consulting's Communications Industry Segment integrates practical strategic planning,
efficient business process, and outstanding human performance with proven technology
solutions. The segment's expertise is in such areas as service activation and assurance,
billing and customer care, network deployment and development, electronic commerce, and
financial management.
Andersen Consulting is a $6.6 billion global management and technology consulting
organization whose mission is to help its clients change to be more successful. The
organization works with clients from a wide range of industries to link their people, processes
and technologies to their strategies. Andersen Consulting has more than 59,000 people in 46
countries. Its home page address is ac.com.
Contact:
LHS Group Inc.
Klaus Kleber, +1-770-280-3461 (USA)
kkleber@us.lhsgroup.com
or
LHS Europe
Andrea Pollak, +49 (0)6103-482-777 (Europe)
apollak@de.lhsgroup.com
or
Andersen Consulting
Cam Granstra, (312) 693-7460
cam.granstra@ac.com |
