New Release of Convergys IP Suite Enhances Activation and Mediation Capabilities for Next-Generation IP-Based Offerings

Business Wire, Dec 10, 2002

Business Editors, High Tech Writers

CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 10, 2002

(NYSE:CVG)

Preintegrated Convergys Application Suite Helps Multiservice

Operators to Accelerate Revenue Growth from New Services with Reduced

Risk and Low Total Cost of Ownership

Convergys Corporation (NYSE:CVG), the global leader in integrated billing, employee care, and customer care services, announced today the availability of Convergys IP Suite Release 2.1. This new release of Convergys' carrier-grade application suite incorporates enhanced activation and mediation modules that strengthen multiservice operators' ability to deploy advanced enterprise and residential voice, video, and data services on their IP-enabled networks.

Built on Convergys' innovative, award-winning Next Generation Framework, the Convergys IP Suite brings together capabilities from Convergys' Geneva(TM) rating and billing software with its Activation Manager and Mediation Manager application modules. The fully convergent Convergys IP Suite is available in a licensed, outsourced, or build-operate-transfer delivery model to support the full range of IP-based services. These include Internet telephony and access, gaming, virtual private networks, e-commerce and hosting services for Web sites, and applications and business processes for traditional fixed and mobile operators and Internet service providers.

Convergys IP Suite 2.1 provides operators with strengthened activation and mediation features that simplify and accelerate service provisioning, workflow configuration, subscriber service activation, and profile management. Refinements to the suite's mediation capabilities give service providers flexible event definition to support multiple billing options and enable quicker configuration of new offerings. Also, operators have greater flexibility to differentiate services and bill on an event or transaction basis.

"Release 2.1 of the Convergys IP Suite provides multiservice operators with the complete solution they need to support and speed time-to-market for advanced IP-based services with the lowest total cost of ownership," said Randy Mysliviec, Convergys Senior Vice President of Marketing. "By upgrading the preintegrated activation, mediation, and rating/billing modules along a well-defined, Convergys-funded product roadmap, we greatly reduce operator integration risks and provide operators with a powerful tool to drive revenue growth from new services and new business models."

Additionally, Convergys IP Suite 2.1 extends an operator's subscriber care capabilities through an optional preconfigured interface with Convergys' browser-based Customer Service Agent. The highly scalable front-end component uses a task-based interface that quickly and cost-effectively enables customer service representatives to manage daily customer service activities.

In addition to the preintegrated capabilities of Convergys' Geneva, Activation Manager, and Mediation Manager application modules, the Convergys IP Suite also features additional components and capabilities to address the unique requirements associated with offering IP-based services. These include industry-leading authentication, authorization, and accounting functionality provided through integration with Interlink Network's server supporting RADIUS and emerging standards such as DIAMETER.

Convergys application suites address convergent services needs with broad functionality by integrating Convergys modules and, where appropriate, other third-party components. These suites are preintegrated to provide cost-effective add-on functionality or may be configured using standard APIs to meet client-specific needs. Convergys' application suites are also offered with a core-custom option that enables operators to modify their systems to meet specific requirements and still take advantage of Convergys-funded product upgrade release plans.

Convergys' product line of highly scalable end-to-end billing products, preintegrated application suites, and application modules enables communication providers to create fully integrated billing and customer care environments that are adaptable, reliable, and cost-effective. Convergys products are based on its proven and innovative Next Generation Framework, a component-based architecture that provides unsurpassed flexibility, investment protection, and support for convergent communication services.

About Convergys

Convergys Corporation (NYSE:CVG), a member of the S&P 500 and the Forbes' Platinum 400, is the global leader in integrated billing, employee care, and customer care services provided through outsourcing or licensing. We serve top companies in telecommunications, Internet, cable and broadband services, technology, financial services, and other industries in more than 40 countries. We also provide integrated, outsourced, human resource services to leading companies across a broad range of industries.

We bring together world-class resources, software, and expertise to help create valuable relationships between our clients and their customers and their employees. This commitment is validated by the more than 1.5 million individual bills our software produces each day to support more than 120 million subscribers, and by the more than 1.7 million separate customer and employee contacts we manage each day, both live and via electronic interaction.