Billing solution by Accenture and Intec enables new pricing models for mobile data services in Brazil

26 January 2006 – Brazilian wireless operators Telemig Celular and Amazônia Celular have introduced a next-generation content charging solution for pre-paid and post-paid mobile data services, based on a new software platform developed by Accenture and Intec, the companies announced today.
 
The new platform, known as a charging gateway and based on Intec’s DCP dynamic charging platform and Cisco’s Cisco Mobile Exchange, enables accurate billing for next-generation mobile data services regardless of whether those services are coming from multiple sources.
 
The solution allows Telemig and Amazônia to identify users and deliver content to them independently of the form of access -- cellular phones, notebooks or PDAs.  It analyses network traffic and rates for different types of mobile data services to determine charges for a transaction.
 
Telemig and Amazônia, sister companies in Brazil controlled by the same shareholders, will use the new platform to manage charges for a variety of new mobile commerce services scheduled for roll-out to customers.
 
“We needed an active mediation and real-time rating system that could also leverage flexibility in rating rules and service plans to both prepaid and post-paid customers,” said Telemig and Amazônia chief information officer (CIO) Evandro Canabrava.  “This new solution gives us the flexibility and accuracy we need to bill for our content-based services in real-time, allowing us to offer more services, and therefore increase customer satisfaction and revenue. Telemig and Amazônia offer a wide array of content based services, with approximately 160 service offerings and more than 5000 content items or channels.”
 
“One of the main challenges facing mobile operators today is ensuring accuracy and flexibility when rolling out and charging for new services,” said Henrique Washington, a senior executive in Accenture’s Communications & High Tech group in Brazil.  “By rolling out this new platform, Telemig and Amazônia are opening up their networks to a whole new world of innovative services that can be offered on increasingly robust wireless networks.”
 
“Given that 80% of the mobile market in Brazil is pre-paid, it was essential for Telemig and Amazônia to find a platform that could support real-time rating and charging of content-based services in order to roll-out its data services to prepaid customers,” said Per Martell, Intec regional director for the Caribbean and Latin America.  “Intec DCP’s functionality enables Telemig and Amazônia to bill for all of their content-based services in real-time regardless of the customer’s account type.  The platform’s customizable pricing and flexible business rules provide Telemig and Amazônia with the tools needed to manage a broad portfolio of services.”
 
The project is the first of its kind to be deployed in Latin America and was selected as the Best IT Case in the Telecom/Utility category by Info Corporate, a Brazilian IT-focused publication.
 
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About Accenture
Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company.  Committed to delivering innovation, Accenture collaborates with its clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments.  With deep industry and business process expertise, broad global resources and a proven track record, Accenture can mobilize the right people, skills and technologies to help clients improve their performance.  With more than 126,000 people in 48 countries, the company generated net revenues of US$15.55 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2005.  Its home page is www.accenture.com.
 
About Amazonia Celular & Telemig Celular
Telemig Celular S.A. is a wireless telecommunications provider in the State of Minas Gerais, in Southeastern Brazil. Its market share is estimated at 39% in the third quarter of 2005.  Amazônia Celular S.A. is a wireless telecommunications provider in the States of Amapá, Amazonas, Maranhão, Pará e Roraima, in the north and northeast of Brazil. Its market share is estimated at 27% in the third quarter of 2005. Together their customer base totaled 4.2 million during the third quarter of 2005.
 
About Intec
Intec Telecom Systems is a leading supplier of business and operations support systems (BSS/OSS) to over 350 customers across the global telecoms industry. Intec is world market leader in both inter-carrier billing and mediation, and one of the largest suppliers of retail billing systems. Intec’s customer base now includes over 60 per cent of the world’s top 100 carriers. Founded in 1997, Intec is listed on the London Stock Exchange (ITL.L) and has over 1,600 staff and 31 offices in 25 countries.
 
Intec's product and solution portfolio includes:

• Retail billing and customer management
• Multi-service mediation and activation
• Inter-carrier billing settlements including US CABS and ITU-based settlement
• End-to-end content partner management
• Optimised wholesale routing and trading
• Real-time pre/post-paid mediation and charging
• A fully-integrated solution for IPTV charging, billing and user interaction