Yankee Group Lists the B/OSS Vendors Most Likely to Deliver a 4G Experience

Back-office software for the future focuses on delivering personalization, self-management, retailing, intelligence?and revenue.

Chicago, Ill, 4G World 2010 Oct 20, 2010 - A Yankee Group survey of communications service providers reaffirms reducing opex is a top priority, both today and for the foreseeable future. But as operators continue to roll out the latest and greatest 4G networks, their key to reducing opex?the B/OSS software that runs their business?tends to get short shrift.

In "4G B/OSS: Oxymoron or Mandate?," a new report released at 4G World 2010, Yankee Group not only lists the functions necessary to provide the next-generation experiences customers demand, but it also points the way to the vendors best positioned to help. Just a few of the many key back-office software capabilities and top vendors examined in the report include:

  • Policy-driven experiences: These range from granular parental controls to one-time fees for bandwidth boosts. Key vendors include Openet, Volubill, Comptel, Telcordia, Tekelec, Bridgewater Systems and Comverse.
  • Cross-channel interactions: Customers demand consistent messaging whether they use e-mail, phone, Web chat or social media, or visit a Web site, retail store, kiosk or contact center. Key vendors include Oracle Siebel, Amdocs and IBM/Sterling Commerce.
  • Order orchestration: Nearly 40 percent of orders still fail due to input errors, offer eligibility rule violations, etc. 4G order systems require a centralized catalog that can build, change, post and track orders in real time. Key vendors include: Oracle, ConceptWave and NetCracker.
  • Real-time analytics: Recognizing patterns, predicting actions and acting on new data in real time help drive personalized, next-generation customer experiences. Key vendors include SAS and IBM/SPSS.
  • Lights-out M2M: As machine-to-machine applications take off, operators need to fully automate the provisioning, activation and simultaneous monitoring thousands of sensors. Key vendors include Enfora, Sierra Wireless, Jasper Wireless and nPhase.


"4G networks won't run themselves," said Susan McNeice, VP of research at Yankee Group and author of the report. "A complex mesh of people, process and technology is required to fulfill the operations mission. Even before operators deploy true 4G networks, customers are voting with their purchases that they want a next-generation relationship with their provider. That means a 4G experience from B/OSS is not an oxymoron; it's mandatory."

About 4G World
4G World is the first industry conference and expo covering the entire ecosystem for next-generation networks supporting high-speed broadband and full mobility, anywhere Internet access, and mobile content, applications and transactions. 4G World showcases the first 4G mobile broadband networks and applications being launched in 2010 throughout the world. The event Web site is http://www.4gworld.com

 

About Yankee Group
Yankee Group is the preeminent research and advisory firm equipping enterprises to profit in a mobile world. The core of our content is proprietary research and analytics on the attitudes, behaviors and usage patterns of mobile users. Based on this research, we provide a range of actionable data, insights and advices to marketing, strategy and product executives driving the mobility revolution in leading companies worldwide.

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