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 (TM) , Microsoft Windows Server (TM) 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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