FOUR STEPS TO BUSINESS MODEL INNOVATION

Gene Reznik, global managing director for the communications industry for Accenture, gave his thoughts on how telcos should remake how they do business:

1. More actively plug business/alliance development into consumer electronics/Web portal partners.

   “It's no longer sufficient to sit in a corporate office and try to come up with the next-generation service.”

2. Better understand customer segmentation, bundles and value propositions.

   “Carriers need to invest even more in marketing and product management and how to put together various service packages.”

3. Place greater emphasis on both differentiating yet consolidating call centers, Web sites and retail channels.

   “Retail is becoming increasingly important; operators need to go all the way there and look more like the Apple Store or Best Buy.”

4. Focus on service and product development as an integrator, even more so than as a developer of original services.

   “Service providers need to get fluent in various ecosystems such as Apple or Microsoft and understand the value-added reseller-type role they can play.”