Indian firm to provide telecom software to US service provider
26 Apr 2006
The patent pending VOISE solution, developed by Xius, the telecom division of Megasoft Ltd, a global provider of highly specialised OSS solutions to the telecom sector, will power Xero Mobile's launch and delivery of a revolutionary new mobile phone service in the US.
VOISE is next-generation convergent service delivery platform for mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) and virtual carriers. Xero Mobile is both an advanced MVNO and a media sales organisation. Xero has targeted its services to the college student community and will provide high-specification handsets along with a variety of targeted services.
Xero's operations combine two of the largest and most dynamic markets in the U S — mobile phones and advertising. Xero is targeted at the 17.3-million strong college market, and will provide high specification handsets without contract and at notably competitive prices. In return, students will agree to accept a small number of relevant video ads on their handset each day. Each ad provides the student with free mobile airtime.
Announcing the deal, G V Kumar, MD and CEO, Megasoft said that the contract with Xero Mobile was a multi-million, multi-year contract. He said that Megasoft would be responsible for providing a customized, turn-key management of Xero's end-to-end network-agnostic VOISE platform for enabling Xero's mobile launch and would also include supply of several other professional services as the project moves forward.
The launch of Xero Mobile's service is scheduled for the second half of 2006 targeted towards college students in over 350 U S markets. Prominent national advertisers will be able to send permission based TV-style ads with the accuracy of direct mail, and the accountability of the web -- delivered with the intimacy of mobile.
"We look forward to working with Xius and leveraging on their knowledge and experience in the area of authentication, billing, subscriber ownership and interoperability, particularly in the mobile domain," said Peter Lilley, CEO, Xero Mobile.
Added David Levett, CTO, Xero Mobile, "We evaluated several service delivery and MVNE alternatives and chose the VOISE platform for its ability to provide service flexibility, pricing flexibility, brand flexibility and customer ownership. Xius has developed a comprehensive plug-n-play solution that will greatly enhance our capability to rollout innovative customer specific services, enabling us to concentrate on our core business. We expect the VOISE platform will help us to dramatically save on time-to-market while enhancing and enriching the brand experience of our subscribers."
Established in 1994, Megasoft, a SEI CMM Level 4 company, is a transnational intellectual property- (IP) driven IT company focusing on the telecom sector. Its January-December 2006 revenues stood at Rs115 Crore.
Xius India Limited, a successful provider of mobile telephony platforms and products, and Megasoft amalgamated in 2004, creating a combine with a strong suite of products, applications and technology platforms capable of functioning in in all continents.
