Convergence - User Expectations, Communications Enablers And Business Opportunities

Convergence: User Expectations, Communications Enablers and Business Opportunities offers a user-centric and business-oriented analysis of the rapidly changing communications industry. Clear summaries of key technology areas provide the backdrop for an extensive analysis of the expectations set by users and the challenges and opportunities this presents to companies. 


The process of convergence is characterised by complex interactions between different technical fields, business areas and end-user relations, where traditional telecommunications services, internet-based services and media broadcast services are blending into a continuum of rich new offerings. With these changes the existing hardwired links between user services and specific industry segments are rapidly dissolving.


* Presents guide to end-user market trends and expectations

* Includes models and analysis of new industry structures and dynamics

* Contains comprehensive discussion of innovation as a business driver

* Provides wide range of references to reflect the cross-disciplinary scope of convergence

* Offers motivation and suggestions for refocus of key business strategies



Convergence bridges the fields of business, economics, technology and social studies and analyses business models and practices from across a range of industry segments. The wide scope makes the book an ideal text for technically-minded executives, business-oriented engineers and anyone with an interest in the intricacies of the convergence triggered market changes.

Noman Muhammad works at Nokia Siemens Networks as a Solutions Manager for their Customer and Market Organisation in the UK. He works closely with service providers on IP Multimedia Subsystems (IMS), fixed mobile convergence, mobile packet core and value-added services. Noman has a Masters degree in Telecommunications Engineering (Networking) and a first degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering. His 10-year career working in the telecoms and Internet industries has included positions in services product development, end-to-end network planning, mobile services development and web solutions development.

Christian Saxtoft currently works as a Senior Process Architect in Nokia Siemens? Networks' SW Business Development and Strategy group. He obtained a Ph.D. with a dissertation titled 'Telecommunications Network Architectures' as well as an MBA in Strategic Business Planning. During his 15-year career in the telecoms industry, Christian has held various R & D, marketing, sales and management positions at British Telecom, Alcatel, Tellabs and Nokia. His research interests include operator processes, strategic planning and convergence, and some of his work has featured in recent telecoms white papers.

Davide Chiavelli works in the Consulting & System Integration group of Nokia Siemens Networks as a Product Manager for their Service Optimisation / E2E Consultancy. He has a 'Laurea in Ingegneria' degree from the Politecnico Milano in Italy. Davide has worked in the telecoms industry for more than 12 years; first in R&D planning for the Telecom Italia Group, and later at Nokia in Senior Network Planning, Programme Management and Product Business Management roles. Davide's main interests include service optimisation, E2E and the translation of technical problems into their financial equivalents.

Introduction.


List of Abbreviations.


PART I: EXPERIENCE OF THE END-USER.


Chapter 1: Communications in a User Perspective.


1.1 History of the Communications Services Users.


1.2 The ‘Long Tail’.


1.3 A Fragmented User Community.


1.4 Knowledge: A Human Resource.


1.5 Summary.


1.6 References.


Chapter 2: The Convergence Culture Square.


2.1 Different Dimensions to Convergence.


2.2 Social Changes.


2.2.1 Consumer Production.


2.2.2 A Participatory Culture.


2.3 Convergence in Thinking.


2.4 Change Management Challenges.


2.5 Value Perception.


2.5.1 Management of User Expectations.


2.5.2 Terminal-Based Services.


2.6 Summary.


2.7 References.


PART II: CONVERGENT BUSINESS MODELS.


Chapter 3: Market Trends and Predictions.


3.1 Towards End-User Focus.


3.2 Changing Patterns in the Communications Industry.


3.2.1 Classification of CSPs.


3.2.2 User Behaviour.


3.3 Important Market Characteristics.


3.4 Value Systems in the Communications Industry.


3.4.1 Sustainable Competitive Advantage.


3.4.2 Brand Value.


3.4.3 Psychological Factors that Influence Consumers.


3.4.4 End-User Influence on the Value System.


3.5 Value Grid in the Communications Industry.


3.6 Summary.


3.7 References.


Chapter 4: Structures and Strategies.


4.1 The Competitive Environment.


4.2 Diminishing Control.


4.3 Web 2.0-Driven Business Models.


4.4 The Sphere of Influence.


4.5 User Expectations.


4.6 Advertising.


4.6.1 Contents-Sensitive Advertising.


4.6.2 User Privacy Versus User Benefits.


4.6.3 Respect for the User.


4.7 Summary.


4.8 References.


Chapter 5: Strategic Opportunities.


5.1 Generic Business Strategies.


5.2 Quality Versus Cost: A Trade-Off.


5.3 ‘Lean Operator’ and Beyond.


5.4 Summary.


5.5 References.


PART III: TECHNOLOGIES AND SERVICES.


Chapter 6: Enabling Technologies.


6.1 Core Network Technologies and Systems.


6.1.1 IP Multimedia Subsystem.


6.1.2 Service Delivery Framework.


6.2 Access Network Technologies and Systems.


6.2.1 Fixed-Line Access.


6.2.2 Wireless Access.


6.3 Consumer Products.


6.3.1 Mobile Terminal Evolution.


6.3.2 Home Entertainment Hub.


6.4 Summary.


6.5 References.


Chapter 7: Convergent Services and Systems.


7.1 Services on Mobile Terminals.


7.2 Television and Video Services.


7.2.1 IPTV.


7.2.2 Internet Video.


7.2.3 Mobile TV.


7.2.4 Digital TV Broadcasting.


7.3 Other Convergent Services.


7.3.1 Music Downloading.


7.3.2 Radio Listening.


7.4 Fixed-Mobile Convergence.


7.5 Summary.


7.6 References.


PART IV: BUSINESS PROCESSES IN CONVERGENT COMMUNICATIONS MARKETS.


Chapter 8: Management of Convergent Services.


8.1 Enterprise Software Environment.


8.1.1 Customer Relationship Management.


8.1.2 Enterprise Resource Planning.


8.1.3 Operations Support Systems.


8.1.4 Business Support Systems.


8.2 Enterprise System Integration Challenges.


8.2.1 Enterprise Architecture Frameworks.


8.2.2 Service-Oriented Architecture.


8.3 Enterprise Process Optimization.


8.3.1 Telecommunications Process Framework.


8.3.2 IT Process Framework.


8.3.3 Cross-network Optimization Challenges.


8.3.4 Process Mapping.


8.3.5 Simplified Process Loops.


8.4 Methodologies for Business Process Optimization.


8.4.1 Business Process Management.


8.4.2 BPM Automation.


8.5 Summary.


8.6 References.


Chapter 9: New Business Opportunities.


9.1 The Network – a Managed Dynamic Business Asset.


9.1.1 Business Opportunity Management.


9.1.2 A Business Management Paradigm Shift.


9.1.3 Business Data Requirements.


9.2 Knowledge Based Organisations.


9.2.1 Scarcity of Network Capacity.


9.2.2 Scarcity of Service Innovation.


9.2.3 Scarcity of Customer Attention.


9.2.4 Scarcity of Business Evolution.


9.3 Opportunities in Outsourcing.


9.4 Summary.


9.5 References.


Chapter 10: Management of User Expectations.


10.1 Mobile Terminals and Convergence of Services.


10.2 Control of End-User QoE.


10.3 Terminal Characteristics and User Preferences.


10.4 CSP Crossroads.


10.5 Summary.


10.6 References.


Chapter 11: Billing and Convergent Charging.


11.1 Convergent Charging System Architecture.


11.1.1 Hybrid Tariffs.


11.1.2 Mobile Payment.


11.2 Standardized Charging and Billing Frameworks.


11.3 Data Sources in Charging and Billing Systems.


11.3.1 Charging Data.


11.3.2 Billing Data.


11.4 Summary.


11.5 References.


PART V: CONVERGENCE AND BEYOND.


Chapter 12: Innovation and New Opportunities.


12.1 Categories of Innovation.


12.1.1 Scope of Innovation Processes.


12.1.2 Depth of Innovation Processes.


12.2 Methods to Facilitate Innovation.


12.2.1 Execution Processes.


12.2.2 Creativity Processes.


12.3 Innovation Frameworks.


12.3.1 Theory of Inventive Problem Solving.


12.3.2 Organizational Challenges.


12.4 Convergence of Experience.


12.4.1 Human Interfaces.


12.4.2 Social Networking.


12.5 Future Trends.


12.5.1 Beyond Web 2.0.


12.5.2 Crossing the Line.


12.6 Summary.


12.7 References.


Chapter 13: The Future of Communications.


13.1 A Different Paradigm.


13.1.1 Changes to the Value Chain.


13.1.2 Convergence Culture.


13.2 The New Challenges.


13.2.1 The Competence Trap.


13.2.2 Eight Primary Challenges and Opportunities.


13.2.3 Overview of Challenges and Opportunities.


13.3 The New Horizons.


13.4 Summary.


13.5 References.


Index.