Comverse has enabled Cherry, the mobile brand of service provider Mondial Telecom, to launch voice services in Belgium by using fixed-mobile converged (FMC), dual cellular/WiFi technology.
When subscribing to Cherry's mobile service, customers receive a dual-mode mobile handset that operates over WiFi within its coverage zone and switches seamlessly to GSM technology when leaving the WiFi coverage zone. The communication between GSM and VoIP over WiFi is enabled by Comverse Netcentrex IP Communications.
Deployed as a Software as a Service (SaaS) service model at the Comverse Netcentrex hosting center, this has allowed Cherry to launch service in the Belgium market without a mobile infrastructure. As a Mobile Virtual Network Operator, Cherry also does not have its own licensed frequency allocation of radio spectrum.
"Comverse has been a valuable partner in this innovative project by enhancing the intelligence of the network to offer affordable mobile services over a unified network with user transparency," said Bernard Noël de Burlin, CEO of Mondial Telecom.
"Comverse Netcentrex hosted services is at the heart of our strategy to innovate into the mobile market and by doing so, become a differentiating mobile service provider," de Burlin said. "Both our business model and the technical know-how of Comverse were critical success factors for this launch."
Comverse's technology, for instance, complemented Mondial Telecom's experience in all customer facing aspects, including back-office operations and agreements with a wide range of operators, such as global hotspots, WiFi providers, and mobile and fixed network providers.
"This innovative technical FMC solution is an excellent example of how IP Communications expands the telecommunications business model," said Lionel Chmilewsky, CEO of Netcentrex IP Communications at Comverse, the world's leading supplier of software and systems enabling value-added messaging and content services, converged billing and active customer management, and IP communications.
"Our hosted IP Communications model, together with the robust, high-quality Comverse Netcentrex solution, lowers the technical and financial risk and the high entry cost for service providers to provide voice services," he said.
Cherry envisions launching a similar service in other countries with various Internet Service Providers (ISP) and fixed and/or mobile operators. "This model that we developed with Comverse and some other partners has high potential," said José Zurstrassen, Chairman of Mondial Telecom and the founder of Skynet, the largest ISP in Belgium.
Comverse's hosting facilities provide a full range of IP communications services for the enterprise and consumer markets with carrier-grade service quality and availability. Comverse Netcentrex Hosted IP Communications is the ideal solution for rapid, cost-effective deployment of innovative and attractive value-added services.