Provider of agreements-based billing and compensation solutions MetraTech (News - Alert) has announced its participation in the second phase of an Enhanced Cloud Service Management Catalyst.
To define an end-to-end cloud computing services management framework, the company has teamed-up with Cisco (News - Alert), InfoVista and other international names.
For the communication service providers (CSPs), the TM Forum Catalyst explores how they can develop, monetize as well as assure a portfolio of cloud computing-based services such as hosted video conferencing. The collaboration involves BT (News - Alert), Cisco, Amartus, Comptel, MetraTech and Progress Software. These companies are aiming to deliver an intelligent infrastructure and management approach, enabling CSPs to achieve service differentiation.
In addition, with the new approach, they can also reduce costs and access new revenue streams and markets via portfolios of enhanced cloud services, said company officials. The objectives for 2011 are to build on the Inter-Cloud Service Management Catalyst, which was demonstrated at TM Forum’s (News - Alert) Management World 2010 conference. The new objectives have now broadened from the fulfillment of cloud services to the operational processes associated with assurance, usage collection, billing, rating and charging.
“The Enhanced Cloud Service Management Catalyst provides an opportunity to explore how the delivery, performance and monetization of enhanced cloud computing and collaboration services can be managed without any negative fallout for CSPs,” said Tom Caldwell, director of technical marketing for Network Management Technology Group at Cisco.
Barbara Lancaster, vice president of sales for Americas at MetraTech, said that the catalyst draws attention to how critical it is for service providers to have at their fingertips the ability to quickly monetize innovative yet complex services.
“In a world where service models are defined by the ever more complex agreements between customers, suppliers, and partners, the ability to monetize has to be an enabler, rather than a gating factor, to success,” Lancaster said. MetraNet, a content billing solution from MetraTech, is used to complete the billing process. Company officials said that it provides the data needed for managing the financial aspects of policy controls and supporting other complex customer care activities. MetraTech offers a new approach to charging, billing, settlement and customer care enabling organizations to embrace change without compromise. Earlier this year, MetraTech announced an integration initiative with Microsoft (News - Alert) Dynamics CRM 2011.
Anshu Shrivastava is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Anshu’s articles, please visit her columnist page.
Edited by Carrie Schmelkin