HP introduces comms-as-a-service platform for telcos

Stuart Corner
Thursday, 17 December 2009 08:52

Business IT - Technology

HP has launched a Communications as a Service programme (HP CaaS) designed to enable telecoms service providers to offer SMBs cloud-based communications services, with pay-as-you-use utility pricing.

HP says that, using HP CaaS, wireless, wireline and broadband, service providers will, initially, be able to provide SMBs with 'one-stop shop' outsourcing for four key applications: self-service interactive voice response (IVR) and video surveillance from HP, and unified communications and IP contact centres from partners.

"Service providers can create attractive bundles that include any or all of the four 'as a service' cloud communications solutions, as well as additional solutions from HP or third parties."

According to Peter Lilley, marketing manager, software & solutions, hp south pacific, "The intent is that the platform is to be as open as possible to support different kinds of services...The aggregations platform is designed to support additional SaaS offerings that the service provider might want to make to their clients and at the back end tie those in to the OSS etc... This offering is about giving SPs the tools to offer these apps and others and tie them into the provisioning, activation and charging infrastructure."

Underpinning the HP CaaS program is the new HP Aggregation Platform for Software as a Service (SaaS), which acts as a mediation layer between the communications services, the service provider's operations and business support systems (OSS and BSS), and the SMB environment.

According to HP, it "streamlines operations for both the service provider and the SMB customer by automating processes such as provisioning, activation, mediation charging, revenue settlement and service assurance. It also provides an ecosystem for HP and third-party solutions in as-a-service domains such as infrastructure, IT management and business management."

HP will provide the consulting and integration services to build the into the HP Aggregation Platform and integrate it with the service provider's OSS and BSS. According to Lilley, "A big part of this offering is the expertise to tie it in...but it is already well integrated with HP's own BSS/OSS offerings."

CONTINUED