Microsoft
Launches Connected Services Framework to Accelerate
Creation and Deployment of Telecommunications Services
[February 14, 2005]
Solution
Allows Service Providers to Reduce Time to Market, Improve
Competitiveness; Leading Operators BT, Bell Canada and
Celcom Malaysia Implementing Connected Services Framework
CANNES, France — Feb. 14, 2005
— Today at 3GSM World Congress 2005, Microsoft
Corp. announced the general availability of the Microsoft®
Connected Services Framework, an integrated software
solution that allows telecommunications operators and
service providers to deliver converged communications
services across multiple networks and a range of device
types. With the Connected Services Framework in place,
wireless and wireline operators can reduce the cost
and time of service deployment, more efficiently utilize
existing infrastructure, and generate additional revenue
through new services.
“Today, everyone talks about convergence,
but telecommunications providers are still struggling
to make this a reality,” said Maria Martinez,
corporate vice president of the Communications Sector
at Microsoft. “They are faced with disparate networks,
services that reside in silos and complex legacy back-office
systems, factors that make it nearly impossible to quickly
and cost-effectively deliver key services to their customers.
The Microsoft Connected Services Framework addresses
this problem by delivering the critical service creation,
deployment and management capabilities that allow operators
to unite systems through a common service-oriented architecture.
In a rapidly evolving market, the Microsoft Connected
Services Framework enables operators to prosper from
change.”
The Microsoft Connected Services Framework
is a server-based solution that works in conjunction
with a suite of proven products from Microsoft, including
Microsoft BizTalk® Server, Microsoft SQL Server™,
Microsoft Windows Server™ and Microsoft Visual
Studio® .NET, and provides a unified platform for
creating, aggregating and managing converged services.
By deploying the Connected Services Framework, operators
can bring together not only Microsoft services such
as Microsoft Solution for Hosted Exchange 2003, the
Microsoft TV platform and Microsoft Office Live Communications
Server, but also operator-developed services and a broad
array of third-party services and content to create
new combinations of services targeting specific customer
segments. Importantly, the Connected Services Framework
provides for smooth integration with a variety of operations
support systems (OSS), business support systems (BSS)
and network service products based on industry standards.
“In today’s competitive
environment, the ability to create and deliver the most
sought-after services will separate the winners from
the losers,” said Lee Doyle, group vice president
for Network Infrastructure at IDC. “Telecommunications
operators need to continually create and deliver the
latest services in order to attract new subscribers
and increase the revenue generated per subscriber. With
the Connected Services Framework, Microsoft takes a
pragmatic approach to simplifying service delivery for
operators. The Connected Services Framework hopes to
unite networks, services and devices, enabling operators
to rapidly offer new services with less complexity and
less cost.”
In related news, Microsoft announced
that leading telecommunications operators BT, Bell Canada
and Celcom Malaysia are deploying the Microsoft Connected
Services Framework to facilitate the delivery of services
to their customers.
“Microsoft’s Connected Services
Framework can remove the complexity involved in delivering
a variety of services,” said Norman Street, program
director for Internet Application and Technology at
BT Retail Internet Operations. “The Connected
Services Framework provides a plug-and-play facility
through which we can rapidly and cost-effectively launch
new Internet-hosted services to businesses throughout
the United Kingdom. Because the Connected Services Framework
can dramatically reduce the six- to nine-month time
it used to take to add new services, we can be much
more agile and creative in what we offer to the market.
In conjunction with third parties, we can quickly and
easily offer new services and find the ones that will
have the most success.”
Availability
The Microsoft Connected Services Framework
is generally available today.
About
Microsoft
Founded
in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the
worldwide leader in software, services and solutions
that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
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