CMS Communications Acquires Facilities-Based Usage Reporting Technology from BellSouth

Business Wire, Sept 25, 2002

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 25, 2002

Extension of Traffic Data Management System Automates

Production of Usage Studies to

Enhance Marketing and Reduce Operating Costs

CMS Communications, which provides profit-enhancing OSS software to the telecommunications industry, announced today it has acquired usage reporting technology from BellSouth Intellectual Property Marketing Corp. CMS Communications will commercialize the technology, which extends the functionality of the company's Traffic Data Management System (TDMS) by automating the labor-intensive process of producing usage studies.

"We're dedicated to helping service providers improve network performance and profitability," said John Cullen, president of CMS Communications. "This is truly a customer-driven solution to a problem that providers face - how to quickly and cost-effectively produce usage studies. It is a perfect complement to our existing products, and we are very excited to have the opportunity to bring this proven BellSouth technology to market."

The technology replaces existing manual processes, which require network personnel to set up and decommission usage studies in the network, with a Web-based system that can be used to request studies and to track and coordinate activities across all involved personnel. As a result, service providers can double or triple the number of studies performed, increasing the opportunity to sell additional capacity or services while re-deploying the staff formerly required to perform these functions.

"We developed this technology because we recognized the opportunity to extend the functionality of our Traffic Data Management System," said BellSouth Network Vice President Oscar Primelles. "It was a very successful project for us because we were able to increase our use of usage studies while freeing up employees for service related tasks. The result was more effective marketing, improved utilization of assets and reduced operating costs. Service providers that are routinely producing line usage studies will find this a valuable addition to their network OSS."

Usage studies are used to properly size network facilities to handle traffic loads at the appropriate level of service. The studies are also used to create business cases for selling additional voice capacity to end users and are a value-added service to customers who utilize the data to determine peak usage periods and appropriate call center staffing.

The technology is available immediately from CMS Communications. The company has also implemented an in-house development program to provide ongoing support and to ensure that next generation systems are supported as they are introduced.

About CMS Communications, Inc.

CMS Communications provides profit-enhancing Operations Support System (OSS) solutions to the telecommunications industry. Deployed on many of the largest networks in the U.S., the company's solutions are being used by Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (ILECs), Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLEC) and Interexchange Carriers (IXCs) to improve network efficiency and service quality. With full support for circuit-switched equipment, CMS Communications is helping service providers extend the value of their assets and meet customer needs while supporting the migration to next generation technologies. For more information on CMS Communications, please visit www.cms-c.com.

About BellSouth Corporation

BellSouth Corporation (NYSE:BLS) is a Fortune 100 communications services company headquartered in Atlanta, GA, serving more than 44 million customers in the United States and 14 other countries.

Consistently recognized for customer satisfaction, BellSouth provides a full array of broadband data and e-commerce solutions to business customers, including Web hosting and other Internet services. In the residential market, BellSouth offers DSL high-speed Internet access, advanced voice features and other services. BellSouth offers long distance service for both business and consumer customers in Georgia and Louisiana.

BellSouth also provides online and directory advertising services, including BellSouth(R) RealPages(SM).com. BellSouth owns 40 percent of Cingular Wireless, the nation's second largest wireless company, which provides innovative wireless data and voice services.