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WirelessDevNet.com Press Release
OSS Through JavaT Initiative To Develop New Apis Supporting Component-Based Solutions
IP VALUE, Covad, and Nakina Systems lead the drive to build APIs that eliminate integration roadblocks and speed the delivery of end-to-end solutions
SANTA CLARA, CALIF. - October 7, 2004 - The OSS through JavaT Initiative, announced today plans to develop a new series of application program interfaces (APIs) that allow component-based solutions from multiple vendors to function together. The APIs will significantly extend the functional reach of OSS/J-compliant OSS/BSS (Operations and Business Support System) solutions. These solutions allow service providers worldwide to quickly and cost-effectively deploy end-to-end solutions supporting the delivery of new products and services.
Chosen because they represent the next critical areas for reducing implementation times and lowering integration and maintenance costs, the new APIs include: Pricing, Discovery, and Order Management. In addition to enabling integration, the Pricing API acts as a standard for defining and using complex pricing data and business rules to addresses usage-based business model needs for telecommunications, the entertainment industry and utilities. The Discovery API allows network discovery applications to be developed and integrated with other OSS/J enabled applications. The Order Management API will extend and replace OSS/J's Service Activation API, leveraging its order management capabilities to include Product Activation, Resource Activation and Work Order management.
OSS/J members IP VALUE, Covad, and Nakina Systems will assume leadership roles in the development of the new APIs: IP VALUE, a provider of solutions for automated provisioning of services, will lead the development of the Order Management API; Covad, a leading national provider of integrated voice and communications, will lead the development of the Pricing API; and Nakina Systems, a leading provider of network and service assurance solutions, will drive development of the Discovery API. Detailed information about these new APIs can be found at http://jcp.org, the site of the Java Community Process
(SM) (JCP) program, the community-based body that defines Java technology standards.
"IP VALUE has actively participated in the OSS/J Initiative since early 2002 and we are pleased to redouble our commitment to the Initiative by leading the development of the Order Management API," says Roland Volk, COO of IP VALUE. "IP VALUE is building its entire product and service offering - which focuses on helping service providers simplify the implementation and integration of OSS solutions - around OSS/J APIs, and we believe the Order Management API will play a critical role as service providers prepare to deliver a new generation of services."
"Covad is pleased to take a leadership position in the development of OSS/J's new Pricing API," says Paul Grantham, Vice President, Software and Information Systems, Covad. "Integration costs can be noticeably lowered by adopting OSS/J APIs and Design Guidelines. We are now expanding OSS/J's coverage of OSS/BSS solutions in critical areas, such as pricing and order management. We expect this will expand our options to more effectively use commercial software products with our existing internally developed applications."
"Nakina Systems has a wealth of experience in building Java-based solutions for the telecom industry," says Sergio Pellizzari, Chief Technology Officer at Nakina Systems. "We understand the interface challenges of making services available to northbound software applications, the ones often viewed as driving profitability in a service provider's network. Everyone at Nakina shares a sense of excitement in leading the effort to develop an additional set of APIs that will help dramatically reduce the cost of deploying network-wide OSS/BSS software solutions."
OSS through Java Initiative is a working group of industry leaders who collaborate within the JCP program to develop standardized, highly functional OSS APIs that are J2EET extensions. OSS/J APIs are the first realization of the TeleManagement Forum's New Generation Operations Systems and Software (NGOSS) program, a neutral business and systems solution framework for next generation OSS/BSS solutions. OSS/J APIs map to most widely adopted components of NGOSS - the enhanced Telecom Operations Map
(eTOM) and the Shared Information and Data model (SID).
In addition to the newly announced APIs, OSS/J has already developed and released several functional APIs - including Trouble Ticket, Billing Mediation, Service Activation, Quality of Service, and OSS Common - as well as OSS/J Common Design Guidelines. An Inventory API is in development.
"Currently, carriers spend over half of their OSS/BSS budgets on non-reusable integration," says Philippe Lalande, Sun Microsystems, head of the OSS through Java Initiative. "Following the NGOSS guidelines and adopting OSS/J APIs - such as those announced today - helps reduce this 'integration tax' and fosters a customer-centric approach to network operations. These solutions have proven to deliver immediate benefits by improving interoperability between OSS components and by reducing the overall costs and complexity associated with OSS/BSS. In the end, providers are able to reduce their CAPEX and OPEX and focus on bringing new products and services to market more quickly, which keeps innovation in the telecommunications market going strong - a true benefit for everyone involved."
OSS/J APIs consist of public specifications, reference implementations available in source code, and compatibility test suites used for product certification - all of which are made available to the industry free of charge. This unique combination means that providers and vendors can now apply not only a common process and information approach to their OSS/BSS integration tasks, but also utilize freely available implementation APIs to realize their solutions.
"We are very pleased that OSS/J has announced a new series of APIs," says Martin Creaner, CTO of the TeleManagement Forum. "This is yet another real-world validation of the TM Forum's New Generation Operations Systems and Software (NGOSS) framework, a technology neutral architecture that continues to prove its value to the telecommunications industry. At a time when economic and technical pressures are severely straining service provider's poorly integrated processes and systems, operators are realizing that off-the-shelf, component-based integration software can transform their businesses."
Look for the OSS through Java Initiative at TeleManagement World (Booth
#408) in Long Beach, California, October 11 - 14 where we will be demonstrating the latest advances OSS/J technologies.
About Covad
Covad is a leading national broadband service provider of high-speed Internet and network access utilizing Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) technology. It offers DSL, T1, hosting, managed security, IP and dial-up, and bundled voice and data services directly through Covad's network and through Internet Service Providers, value-added resellers, telecommunications carriers and affinity groups to small and medium-sized businesses and home users. Covad services are currently available across the nation in 44 states and 235 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and can be purchased by more than 57 million homes and businesses, which represent over 50 percent of all US homes and businesses. For more information, visit:
www.covad.com.
About IP VALUE
IP VALUE is a leading independent software vendor which develops and markets software components and tools for process-oriented OSS/BSS integration, service modelling and process automation at Communication Service Providers.
IP VALUE's component-based software, integration tools and methods are based on functional, industry-specific APIs developed and certified by the OSS through Java (TM) Initiative (OSS/J) as well as the latest Java (TM), J2EE and Web Services technologies. In 2002, IP VALUE introduced the world's first API implementation certified by the OSS/J Initiative. For more information on IP VALUE's service and product offering, visit www.ip-value.de/www/en/index.html
About Nakina Systems
Nakina Systems is an independent software vendor delivering innovative network and service assurance solutions to service providers and enterprise network operators worldwide. With a focus on operational effectiveness and network profitability, Nakina Systems' multi-vendor network software applications enable new services and reduced operating costs in existing and evolving networks. Nakina's adherence to network and software standards provides network operators with the flexibility to select and implement best of breed products, from Nakina Systems and Nakina Systems' partners, in existing and next generation networks. For more information, visit:
www.nakinasystems.com
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