Solutions and Services
Computaris solutions and services offerings are at the heart of our business. Our capabilities include end-to-end solution development, system integration services, high-level technical consultancy, and outsource software development and testing, all supported by our core telecoms expertise and referenceable case studies.
Turnkey solution development
Working for a leading product vendor, Computaris developed the core components of an Online Charging System according to the 3GPP architecture model.
The components targeted included:
- Online Charging Function implementing CAMEL call session control
- Account Management function for maintaining pre-paid and convergent customers' balances in real time
- Online Charging Gateway and
- a Real-time Rating Engine supporting both table-based and rule-based tariff calculation.
Working closely with the vendor customer, Computaris elaborated architecture, interface and design specifications for the components, leveraging the vendor's existing product investment and preserving roadmap upgrade paths for existing customers. Computaris helped the vendor to define a scalability and availability architecture for the system, allowing the vendor to deliver competitive performance with telecoms grade availability.
In the implementation phase, Computaris executed a series of core product development projects and customisation projects, to bring the various components of the Online Charging System to the market and to ensure backwards compatibility to existing customers' legacy installations. Finally, Computaris participated in integration and migration projects to bring the software into service.
This class of product provides the operator with a modern online system for rating and charging of pre-paid and convergent accounts, whilst avoiding the expense and rigidity of a full-scale IN-based solution from an infrastructure vendor; for this reason it has proved very popular with Tier 2 and smaller Tier 1 operators.
Telecom professional services
A Western European network operator engaged Computaris to consult on the procurement of a complete prepaid billing system. Working in close collaboration with the operator, Computaris analysed and documented the specific requirements, elaborated RFx documents, advised on current differentiating criteria for prepaid systems and for integration and support services, and derived a appraisal methodology for use in assessing submissions. After consulting on the shortlist, Computaris participated in the final vendor selection, attending product presentations, taking part in interviews and making final recommendations to the client’s management and supervisory board.
System Integration
An Asian Tier 1 mobile network operator having a very large prepaid subscriber based needed to upgrade their prepaid rating system. The requirement was to integrate a new rating engine and service control function with the legacy prepaid system.
Computaris attended the operator's vendor-selection meetings and developed an integration concept for each of the short-listed products. Computaris helped develop a system architecture combining the legacy prepaid system and new rating engine and service control, allowing the operator to implement modern prepaid rating technologies whilst retaining the embodied value and features of the legacy system. This optimum-cost architecture delivered the benefits of newer technology whilst simplifying migration and minimising one-off costs like re-training.
Building on the operator's trust in Computaris's expertise, and working with the selected infrastructure vendor, Computaris then developed an interface specification defining the customised protocols between the new systems and the existing prepaid installation for provisioning, customer lifecycle, loyalty and CRM. Finally, Computaris took responsibility for implementing these protocols and took part in the migration and deployment process to bring the integration to a successful conclusion.
Dedicated outsource teams
Computaris has extensive experience in establishing dedicated outsource teams for a number of software vendors across Europe, with teams ranging in size from 4 to 40+ full-time software developers and testers.
The key success factors we have discovered in creating these relationships include:
- knowledge and understanding of the telecoms domain at all levels, technical and commercial
- a culture of responsiveness at all levels to adapt to the client’s organisation
- trust in the security of confidential information and IPR
- a well-established quality management system with process that can guarantee consistent and transparent performance and
- investment in training and motivating talented staff coupled with continuity of personnel to protect and enhance the client’s investment in the relationship.
