[Infonetics]: Convergent Charging Market to Reach $3.2B by 2015

    

Infonetics Research says that "The global convergent charging market, including software and services, is on track to surge 42% in 2011 over 2010 to $1.26 billion .. forecasts the convergent charging market to grow to $3.2 billion by 2015 .. Top 5 convergent charging vendors by 2010 global revenue: Telcordia [acquired by Ericsson], Comverse, Huawei, Ericsson, Amdocs".

Shira Levine, directing analyst for next gen OSS and policy at Infonetics Research, adds that "Smaller software suppliers such as Comptel, Volubill, and Orga Systems have gained traction in emerging markets with their integrated solutions that include charging policy and subscriber management functionality"

Nevertheless, Infonetics remain consistent with its previous statements on the need for integrated control-plane solutions (for example for the policy management market - here) - "However, these vendors face intensified competition from larger IT and billing players like HP, SAP, Oracle, CSG, Amdocs, and Convergys that are taking a more converged approach to charging by incorporating adjacent functionality".

See "Convergent charging passes the billion-dollar mark in 2011, up 42%" - here.

Austria: Voluntary (?) Code of Practice for Bill Shock Prevention (w/ Openet, Convergys)

  

Voluntary code becomes popular - two in one day. In addition to UK ISPs (here), TELECOMPAPER reports that "Austrian mobile network operators A1 Telekom Austria, T-Mobile Austria, Orange Austria and Hutchison 3G Austria have signed a voluntary code of practice to provide customers with improved measures for controlling mobile internet data usage"

See "Austrian mobile operators sign mobile data voluntary code" - here.

"The core of this code will see the operators allow customers to view what data they have consumed through a web interface. They have also pledged to inform customers via text when they have reached 70-80 percent of their inclusive data allowance, plus another text when they have used all of this allowance. As an alternative, operators have also agreed to send warning texts to customers when they reach a specific value for mobile data usage"

While this is said to be voluntary, the operators are more or less following the EU "bill shock prevention" regulations (here).

Vendors involved?

• Openet - "Openet Enables mobilkom austria to Meet EU Data Roaming Regulations" - here 
• Convergys - "Orange Austria Meets EU Mandate and Goes Live with Convergys Smart BSS Solutions " - here.