Tecnomen Offers Real Time SMS Billing

Tecnomen has announced that it is to launch Real-Time Prepaid SMS Charging, a product that allows operators to charge for prepaid SMS in real time. The new product will enable operators to charge a user's prepaid account for Mobile Originating and Mobile Terminating SMS, including Premium SMS, in real-time as they are sent through the network.

Prepaid subscribers have become accustomed to the broad range of promotional schemes and service features that are associated with today's prepaid voice service offerings; Tecnomen Real-Time Prepaid SMS Charging introduces these promotional schemes and service features to prepaid SMS offerings. Customisable tariffing for each prepaid customer segment enables operators to differentiate their prepaid service and provides the flexibility to design various promotions, discounts and SMS packages to attract new subscribers and reduce churn.

Tecnomen Real-Time Prepaid SMS Charging lowers operational costs by reducing the load on the Short Messaging Service Centre (SMSC). Text messages are delivered via the Tecnomen Prepaid SMS Server so only those messages that do not reach their destination - typically less than 30% - need to be stored on the SMSC. The core element of Tecnomen Real-Time Prepaid SMS Charging, the Tecnomen Prepaid SMS Server, combines SS7 and IP functionality. When the SMS Server receives a text message it communicates with the prepaid service to charge for the text message in real time.

"Tecnomen Real-Time Prepaid SMS Charging enables the operator to charge different prices based on the type of text message being sent or received. Subscribers can be assigned an SMS package for mobile-to-mobile text messages while a completely different charging strategy can be implemented for Premium SMS, stimulating the adoption of value-added SMS-based infotainment services," says Timo Kangas, Director, Intelligent Network Systems & Paging, Tecnomen. "Account checking and SMS blocking are performed in real-time, thus guaranteeing revenue assurance and eliminating the threat of fraud."

Posted to the site on 2nd October 2003