| Cambridge Technology Enterprises helps Billing
Concepts pioneer Wi-Fi billing services |
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.
— January 09, 2004 — Cambridge Technology Enterprises
(CTE) Inc., a leading provider of real-time decision management solutions
mainly to the government and utility sectors, has helped telecom billing
service major Billing Concepts Inc (BCI) pioneer a business solution
that promises to expedite the spread and interoperability of Wi-Fi networks
from multiple providers.
BCI’s core business is a comprehensive billing system to collect long
distance charges from telephone users on behalf of more than 1,300 local
telephone companies, including long distance companies and operator service
and information providers. This leading provider of LEC clearinghouse and
information management services to the telecom industry was threatened with
a shrinking wireline billing reconciliation and settlement segment due to
an increasing usage of cellular services.
BCI approached CTE to develop a solution to address the shrinking wireline
markets and declining revenues. It also sought advise on the prospects of
a new billing reconciliation and settlement service in the cellular segment.
CTE, however, advised BCI to tap to the emerging Wi-Fi markets. “The
last few years has seen the immense spread of wireless hot spots across
the country. However, there is no single company that provides ubiquitous
coverage across the US. The growth of Wi-Fi will require interoperability
and roaming agreements and settlements between providers. End users will
like the convenience of single sign-on and a single bill. This is where
BCI can help fuel the growth of the market while keeping capital investments
low for the providers. We encouraged BCI to look further ahead, helped them
innovate, and tap to the Wi-Fi segment,” says Anand Daga,
Vice President, Business Innovation Services, CTE Inc.
A senior management team from BCI attended CTE’s Cambridge Executive
Workshop (CEW), an intensive three-week program where corporate executives
and staff collaborate to identify new ideas and move them to deployment.
During the CEW Workshop, BCI set goals to build on the company’s core
business knowledge and customer experience in order to create opportunities
for growth and profitability in the emerging telecom technologies.
Introducing BCI to the prospects in the Wi-Fi segment, CTE played a key
role in helping the Platinum Equity company reinvent itself through the
eZ-Wi™ Wireless LAN Solution.
The eZ-Wi™ is the first independent clearing and settlement service
connecting the subscribers of Internet service providers (ISPs) with public
wireless LAN hotspot operators. It offers subscribers of participating ISPs
the freedom to use their existing account to access the Internet at participating
hotspots. BCI takes care of the billing settlement that is necessary between
the providers for this wide coverage.
Explaining the benefits of the service, Donald R Philbin, Jr, Chief
Operating Officer of Billing Concepts, said: “With eZ-Wi,
hotspots can increase revenues by offering Wi-Fi access to subscribers of
ISPs. ISPs can generate additional revenue and increase subscriber loyalty
through a Wi-Fi service offering. Subscribers gain the befit of high speed
Internet access from their home or office with the help of a single provider
relationship.” |
| How eZ-Wi™ Work |
 |
BCI establishes contracts with many ISPs and
hotspot venues. |
|
BCI compares the amount a venue charges for
access to what the ISP will pay, performing a "value handshake." |
|
BCI provides settlement between the parties.
It invoices ISPs and distributes payments to the appropriate hotspot
venue or aggregator. |
|
BCI provides reporting on usage, clearing and
settlement. |
|
About Billing Concepts
Billing Concepts, Inc. (BCI) has proven itself as the leader in the telecommunications
billing industry. Billing Concepts’ product suite offers outsourced
billing solutions through a wide range of proprietary LEC processing products
and wireless Internet clearing and settling services. The LEC bill processing
is currently the core business at Billing Concepts. This comprehensive billing
system collects long distance charges from telephone users on behalf of
more than 1,300 local telephone companies, including long distance companies
and operator service and information providers.
About
Cambridge Technology Enterprises Inc.
Cambridge Technology Enterprises (CTE), a CMMI Level 5 next-generation business
lifecycle solutions provider, has a focus on building and integrating business
applications. CTE’s core competency lies in its collaborative delivery
model, a solution delivery approach that aligns business, technical, and
user stakeholders; includes partner technologies and services as necessary;
and delivers end-to-end solutions on a fixed price and fixed time frame
basis.
CTE’s business model is based on a global delivery model foundation,
which stays close to the customer and yet optimizes the value of the solution
offered.
For more information, please visit www.ctepl.com,
or e-mail us at info@ctepl.com.
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