Sigma Systems Group Announces Support for Web Warehousing

Sigma Systems Group, a global provider of advanced customer care, billing and operational support systems, launched CLEC in a Box, Version 2.5, supporting Web warehousing.

Web warehousing is the ability to portray and manipulate complex information in a Web browser to facilitate business decisions. With CLEC in a Box Version 2.5, carriers and their customers will be able to access traditional data marts, data warehouse and legacy systems via the Internet or intranet, enabling instant analysis of call detail, subscriber activity, usage trends and other critical information. The information is deployed into a decision support hypercube framework known as "Web cubes." A Web cube is a data storage mechanism that permits data to be viewed flexibly yet efficiently in numerous ways. Traditionally, this has been done with expensive, PC-based products that typically require specialized training. Web warehousing supports powerful query capabilities using common Web browser technology.

The CLEC in a Box suite consists of a core workflow engine that coordinates twenty-four key functionality sets for end-to-end service management: customer account management, e-commerce and self care, product management, rate plan management, credit checking, order entry, street address guide, line-side inventory assignment, number administration, PIC/CARE, LSR gateway, 911 gateway, directory services gateway, service activation, CDR processing, bill calculation, invoicing, accounts receivable, collections, ERP support, ASP and service bureau, reporting, Web warehousing as well as trouble management.

"Already established as a leading product for CLECs and ICPs, CLEC in a Box Version 2.5 pioneers a new trend by extending its functionality to a carrier's subscribers, especially business subscribers who require detailed usage information to make informed service management decisions," said Robert Bratulic, Director, Product Management, Sigma Systems Group. "Subscribers of next-generation carriers can now log on to the Web to view and analyze their own usage information. Carriers can view trends across their entire customer base, by time, by region, by service, or by any other criterion."

There are numerous benefits to CLEC in a Box. It delivers complete end-toend CLEC and emerging carrier functionality for processing orders and billing subscribers. The suite is packaged with interface frameworks for ILECs, IXCs, credit bureaus, banks, collection agencies and print vendors. Because its components are pre-integrated, deployment of the suite is drastically derisked, and systems integration time and effort are reduced - a critical consideration for time to market. By consolidating the service order cycle from order entry to payment processing, CLEC in a Box provides a complete revenue flow view of a carrier's operations, and supports sound revenue assurance practices. CLEC in a Box is also a fully convergent solution, and supports all the major services offered by emerging CLECs, including local, long distance, Internet as well as high-speed data services.

"This version of CLEC in a Box continues to deliver significant cost savings to emerging service providers. Its ability to be rapidly implemented without lengthy customization is a key benefit, as is the automatic processing of orders and provisioning of services in a flow-through manner," said Andy Jasuja, president, Sigma Systems Group. "Moreover, because of its flexible architecture and Web warehousing support, CLEC in a Box will facilitate the strong growth of tomorrow's industry leaders, by empowering CLECs to understand their customers in a simple manner irrespective of location."

About CLEC in a Box

CLEC in a Box is a breakthrough superOSS suite for CLECs and emerging carriers that supports and automates the end-to-end service order cycle. While it is a pre-integrated software solution, it is also open and modular. It is deployable as an end-to-end order management solution for new market entrants, or as an individual customer care, provisioning and billing system for established CLECs. CLEC in a Box incorporates ServiceBroker, Sigma's best-in-class workflow engine for service provisioning and activation.

About Sigma Systems Group

Established in Toronto in 1990, Sigma Systems Group Inc is a leading global provider of OSS and BSS solutions for communications service providers. The company's comprehensive, standards-based product set supports billing, customer care, service activation and provisioning, and Web-enabled customer self-care for voice, data, Internet, cable and broadband services. Sigma is a leader in the development and deployment of superOSS solutions. Using its pre-integrated CLEC in a Box suite, next-generation CLECs, DLECs and ICPs can manage their operations using a modular suite of tools automating the service cycle from customer care, through provisioning, to billing. Sigma's ServiceBroker product is the world's leading solution for provisioning broadband cable and other residential broadband services. Additional information about Sigma Systems can be found at www.sigma-systems.com.

Contact for Sigma Systems Group, Sacke and Associates, John Sacke, 416-271- 4790, johns@sackepr.com.