A Web-based telecommunications billing system that the Cable & Wireless Outsourcing Group developed especially for outsourcing customers is under consideration for its other divisions and customers.
The Queensland government has scheduled the solution, still in development phase, for trial in August and September this year. According to Craig Price, business manager for C&W Optus' FM Outsourcing enterprise division, the company's total investment in the project will be about $3 million to $4.5 million. Price said the billing system, whilst not new to the Australian market, is a new service to the telecommunications outsourcing market.
"Other companies provide Web-based billing systems," Price said, but although "unique" to the Outsourcing Group's environment, it is "not unique to the Australian environment".
The system allows organisations, through their Internet browsers, to view bills and expenditure from different suppliers, including Telstra, Vodafone and AAPT, Price said.
No additional IT infrastructure is needed to run the Unix-based application, which offers users a secure connection via user login and passwords, he said.
Developed in conjunction with key customers, including the Queensland government, the system has the ability to store up to 15 months' worth of data in a data warehouse that is updated daily.