Unified-Communications Solutions Play Starring Role

If increasing airtime and revenue and decreasing churn is still every wireless provider's mantra, then Supercomm 2000 held the answer to their prayers. Unified communications (UC), a broad term that can include everything from unified messaging (UM) to chat services, was the magic phrase being used to lure wireless providers. Why should they listen? Research firm Ovum projects that UC will be a $5.5-billion opportunity for providers by 2002.

Cisco Systems, Hewlett-Packard and Software.com teamed to create a end-to-end, IP-based UC solution that helps wireless providers increase customer satisfaction and revenue streams by delivering a broad range of enhanced-messaging and call-management services. The technology goes beyond UM by adding real-time call management to inbound and outbound communications and provides these solutions on a scaleable, open-IP architecture that offers converged services such as voice, video and data.

With the joint UC solution, providers can collect, send and deliver messages to customers, regardless of their locations, times or devices. Even the U.S. Postal Service can't promise all that. This solution features: Cisco's uOne software and connectivity hardware,which enables a broad range of UC services; Software.com's InterMail platform, which provides the highly scaleable components necessary for messaging access, notification, data storage and directory services; and HP's services for end-to-end solution deployment and support, solution management and hardware. Providers can develop or add new applications on top of the open, flexible platform.

"This is an important step toward the realization of Chapter 2 of the Internet," said Sebastiano Tevarotto, Hewlett-Packard Network and Service Provider Business Unit vice president and general manager. "This solution allows the end user to control communications through one universally accessible mailbox, regardless of device, time or location."

Tevarotto said the solution strengthens the relationship between providers and subscribers, one theme at Supercomm 2000.

Comverse Network Systems also got into the act with its personalized communications applications. Comverse's messaging, m-commerce and voice-controlled services are WAP and SMS-based, and promise increased revenue and reduced churn.

The Nex2Me instant-messaging solution, a suite of mobile instant-communications applications, creates mobile communities among wireless users. Subscribers can connect with other wireless and Internet users who share similar interests based on voice and text messaging.

"Next2Me increases barriers to churn and increases the relationship with the provider and its network," said Dan Emodi, Comverse Network Systems business development director. "It leverages the cellular network and the Internet to deliver real-time communications services."

Emodi said the solution also takes instant messaging to a new level by integrating full voice capabilities. Mobile Matchfinder, another new Comverse service, takes wireless-phone usage to a new level. The solution connects two users with a shared topic of interest via phone or Internet. So you could enter snowboarding and video games into the program installed on your phone and in a few hours find your snow-boarding, video-game-playing soulmate.

Comverse's EZ-Vend solution also attracted attention. It's an m-commerce solution that will allow subscribers to call up a cola or cookie. With their wireless phones, subscribers can call a number on a vending machine and select a product code to buy soft drinks, snacks, sandwiches and other items from vending machines. The Comverse payment service verifies the details and signals the machine. EZ-Vend offers an end-to-end solution from placing an order, authentication and credit approval to receipt of goods and billing the subscriber's account. This solution should increase airtime and boost SMS traffic for providers -- and bankruptcies for parents everywhere.