Globally, 50 GSM networks deploy Bharti Telesoft’s RoamWelcome solution, a roamer profiling and messaging tool, to optimize non-voice roaming ARPU. With 14 additional ongoing installs, total number of Telesoft’s RoamWelcome deployments span 64 networks in 10 countries, making it the world’s maximum install base for a roaming VAS product in this category. Bharti Telesoft, a supplier of core Value Added Services (VAS) platforms for wireline and wireless carriers, today announced it has achieved this milestone in a span of three years, since the initial product launch in December 2001.

Transnational roamers are an invaluable asset and approximately contribute between 10 and 20 per cent of operators’ revenue. With interoperability issues no longer a hurdle and declining voice revenues, operators, to safeguard and grow roaming revenues, need to ensure their networks provide a welcoming environment to inbound and outbound roamers. Telesoft's RoamWelcome, an advanced roamer relationship tool, empowers operators with a mechanism to identify and profile roamers, who enter their service area, and accordingly transmit messages - welcome, promotional and informational - to roamers. By enabling operators deliver a wide range of differentiated, innovative content services over the entire lifecycle of the roamer’s network stay, RoamWelcome stimulates greater network usage by roamers, maximizes revenues and propels operators into a “preferred network” position.

In the fiscal year 2003-2004, the solution’s contribution to total Telesoft VAS revenues equals 9 per cent. With 41 client wins in the current fiscal including Hutch India, AirTel India, MTNL, BSNL, Xpress Jordan, TellCel Zambia and Togocell Togo, the solution’s percentage contribution to total revenues would be higher.

“Telesoft has proven itself as a leading global provider of roaming VAS technology. Seamless roaming – over one number, one phone and one bill in 205 countries, is a key driver for the global success of GSM. We can proudly claim 64 of these networks welcome their high net-worth transnational subscribers using one system - RoamWelcome,” stated Sanjiv Mital, CEO Bharti Telesoft. “Achieving a record install base demonstrates, beyond question, we deliver high-performance VAS solutions operators want across the globe. Telesoft’s commitment to open industry standards, quality, and constant product innovation, in anticipation of market needs, has propelled us into a market-leadership situation,” he added.

Applauding Telesoft on the milestone, Suresh Reddy, General Manager Marketing, Orange said, “As the first customer for this product in October 2001, we congratulate the entire Telesoft team on this achievement. The product has brought tremendous benefits to Orange in communicating our network's superior value proposition to high-value roaming customers and adding the personal touch for which our brand is renowned. As a result we have been able to retain and grow our market share of the lucrative roaming market.”

The next product edition of RoamWelcome codenamed RoamPulse is due for release in the second quarter of the next fiscal year, 2005-2006. In its new avatar, the solution would support advanced location-based messaging and General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) roaming. Location is a critical attribute of mobility. Location-based capabilities pinpoint a roamer’s precise location at any point of time on the network. Operators can leverage location-based tracking in innovative ways - ranging from streaming geographically referenced information to roamers (such as hotel, taxi, services closest to their current location and location-based games and entertainment.) to optimizing network planning (identifying cells with low signal capacity) and resource allocation. With GRRS support, operators can augment their messaging capabilities with packet-based MMS support. For instance, sending a video clip of a hotel’s facilities nearest to the roamer’s arrival location rather than sending a vanilla, text message.

About Bharti Telesoft
Bharti Telesoft, a member of Bharti Enterprises, India’s leading telecom conglomerate, enables wireless and wireline carriers to unlock the revenue potential of their networks by delivering best-in-class, revenue-critical VAS products and services. Bharti Telesoft’s flexible, telco-grade, revenue-generating applications span core areas of operators’ business: Messaging, Call Management, Roaming, Prepaid, Billing and Customer Care. Bharti Telesoft has proven real-world experience in launching the live VAS network with deployments spanning 19 countries, 102 networks and 50 million global subscribers. For more information, please visit www.bhartitelesoft.com
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Roaming Business Scenario
As per industry consensus, global roaming is worth $50 billion annually. The AsiaPacific region would soon head the world in generating revenue from mobile roaming. Earlier this year, official GSM industry figures confirmed the region accounted for some 40 per cent of the global mobile subscriber base – a share, which would put its roaming revenues at an estimated US $20 billion annually. What’s more, the Asia Pacific region – and the markets in India and China in particular – are growing at a faster rate than their European counterparts.