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SPOTLIGHT: OSS/PROVISIONING
At a time when cable operators are also part Internet provider and part phone company, finding transaction systems that fill the bill is becoming increasingly complex.
While some are still sticking to separate systems for each service, others are delving into unified systems that offer bundled billing and greater marketing coordination.
That's the trend billing provider Convergys Corp. is seeing these days as it shops around its converged "Integrated Communications Operations Management System" (ICOMS). The former Cincinnati Bell subsidiary does business with seven of the top 10 MSOs.
"Each has their own strategy on how they are putting together an OSS [operations support system] that can support these next generation or emerging services," said Curt Champion, senior director for Convergys's cable and broadband market. "Some have decided to do a wholesale changeout to a convergent offering like ICOMS. Others have decided to bring in new billers for the new offerings, so not a single biller. And others are working with their current billers to try to extend to their cable offerings to support other types of products and services."
On the one hand, some customers are working...