Billing and operations software vendor Amdocs wants to arm service providers with a suite of white-labeled IP-based voice and video communications apps to better compete with over-the-top players like Skype and Google Talk.
The hosted Amdocs Unified Communications solution combines messaging, video calling and voice-over-IP into service provider-branded apps. While they could be used by any operator, the apps and accompanying services are primarily tailored to wireless carriers to “leverage their customer relationships to build revenues through metered data packages, premium features and applications,” Amdocs vice president of product and solutions marketing Rebecca Prudhomme said.
The Amdocs offering is initially available via Apple iOS and Android device apps or through an HMTL5-based Web portal. On the back end, the company provides gateways for the apps to access VoIP, unified address book, instant messaging and authentication services. Because they’re available in a cloud-based model, a service provider could deploy the apps in less than five months, the vendor claims.
The solution is compatible with the GSMA’s Rich Communication Services (RCS) standard, according to Amdocs, and provides integration with existing social networks, including Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. The apps can merge all of an end user’s social network and mobile contacts into a unified address book.
In addition, Amdocs said, the communications apps provide syndicated interoperability among operators and also can be offered to non-subscribers, extending a service provider’s “brand reach.”
Separately, voice communications equipment vendor Genband earlier this week announced its own suite of hosted communications applications for service providers, dubbed NUViA.
