Starhome, the roaming specialist, has announced the release of its Local Data Roaming solution.
The Starhome Local Roaming Data solution is said to provide operators with the ability to offer lower-priced, local roaming data packages for inbound roamers to eliminate potential bill shock. The solution also enables the VPMN to offer attractive pricing packages, which are similar to local charges. One of the main advantages of the solution is that it allows roamers to roam with any mobile device, without having to replace SIM cards or switch devices.
The solution fills a niche in the roaming market for an alternative solution for communicating with inbound roamers. With the Local Roaming Data solution, visited networks are able to offer packages, promotions and location-based services together with discounted offerings of third-party vendors, encouraging opt-in by roamers. Seamless access to the roamer’s home portal is done in the usual way.
Initial registration for the service is quick and simple and is offered on the roamer’s first attempt to set up a roaming data connection, using a mobile phone, laptop, tablet etc. The solution is equipped with SMS notifications to warn subscribers if they inadvertently move to another network that does not provide the service and increases potential voice and SMS revenues from inbound roamers.
The service works by eliminating visited-to-home-network traffic while the GRX intermediary allows the VPMN to offer local data plans for inbound roamers, which improves the quality of service for subscriber data consumption.
“Communication with inbound roamers is a valuable method of attracting new roamers to the visited network, as it offers them additional new services as well as information,” said Amit Daniel, VP Marketing at Starhome. “The Local Roaming Data solution differentiates the visited network from the competition and enables the visited network to define which home networks are targeted for this offering. Home networks with which the visited network does not have any data roaming agreements in place are potential candidates to extend the existing the voice and SMS coverage.”