Solution provides advanced real-time charging capabilities for mobile data services
P-Cube Inc., the originator of programmable IP Service Control Platforms, announced that it has integrated its Encharge offering with the Dynamic Charging Platform (DCP) from Intec Telecom Systems to provide a converged and extensible real-time billing solution for mobile carriers. P-Cube’s Encharge in combination with Intec DCP offers mobile carriers the ability to deliver high-value mobile data services and content-based applications on all network types, including GSM/GPRS, CDMA, 1xRTT, UMTS and WLANs, further expanding mobile operators’ service offerings and converging with their existing voice prepaid and postpaid billing systems.
P-Cube’s Encharge enables mobile operators to do real-time analysis and control, and policy-based charging ensuring that carriers can not only block, redirect or shape traffic for new content-based services but also instantly create new services and billing profiles which accelerate revenue recognition. The solution permits prepaid and postpaid billing for entire suites of mobile applications. Utilising P-Cube’s patented and comprehensive Layer 7 deep packet inspection capability further enables carriers to identify any mobile service running across their transport including Push-to-Talk and Multi-media streaming offerings.
“P-Cube and Intec recognise that mobile operators that can quickly respond to business and customer demand for the latest content-based services will thrive in this competitive environment,” said John Aalbers, director, next-generation solutions business at Intec Telecom Systems. “There are two things that set the P-Cube and Intec solution apart from other solutions available to our customers today: the adherence to and promotion of B2B interface standards like Parlay and the ability of the joint solution to transparently and rapidly integrate into existing core networks without disruption.”
P-Cube’s programmable network element enhances wire-line and mobile networks with an application-aware service control point that enables the network to identify, classify, guarantee performance and charge for limitless content services. Leveraging this exclusive wire-speed, stateful architecture operators can profitably deliver an array of data services customised to individual subscriber needs.
Aalbers added, “Providing OSS solutions to Tier One customers means teamwork. Fitting into the bigger picture without causing more problems than you solve is key. The work we have jointly performed to pre-integrate Encharge and Intec DCP reduces the risk and effort required to deploy a comprehensive, real-time network to BSS solution for next generation services.”
The combined Intec and P-Cube solution utilises OSA Parlay over CORBA to ensure compliance with industry standards. Intec’s DCP provides a complete carrier-class solution for wireless services enabling service providers to deploy differentiated mobile data services. P-Cube’s Encharge supports over 600 protocols including: HTTP, POP3, SMTP, FTP, MMS, WAP, SIP and many peer-to-peer protocols and is fully extensible to incorporate new and emerging protocols.
“By establishing granular, application-level control within a network, flexible provisioning and transaction-based billing becomes possible,” said Vikash Varma, president worldwide sales and field operations of P-Cube. “This is a vital function for the success of market-driven mobile services and is a key requirement for our joint customers.”
The combined solution works in unison with existing infrastructure. Acting as an effective service control point, it enables operators to launch compelling services and more quickly deploy them to more users while simultaneously controlling access to services in real-time on a per-subscriber and per-service basis. The offer minimises revenue leakage and generates accurate end-customer charging for content and mobile services in real-time. This converged offering extends the functionality of existing prepaid and postpaid voice systems further leveraging infrastructure investments and reducing capital and operational expenditures.