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——CMCC (Guangdong) releases flexible service packages supported by reliable online charging system.

"The OCS of Guangdong Mobile has successfully cut over M-zone subscribers in the Jiangmen project. This has set up a milestone in 3G real-time services in China."
--Situ Zhenping, General Manager of IT, Jiangmen Branch, Guangdong Mobile

Guangdong Mobile is China Mobile's subsidiary in Guangdong Province. Being one of the provinces that have the biggest communication consumption capability in China, Guangdong is home to a huge mobile communication network, whose size is bigger than the national networks of many West European countries. In 2003, Guangdong Mobile raked in 100 million yuan each day, and its revenue was 1/5 of the total revenue of China Mobile. Jiangmen Branch is a subordinate under Guangdong Mobile, in which new services commanded 19.35% of its total income as well as 71.03% market share.

Providing end users with rich service packages to meet different requirements

The combined marketing in operations requires convergent billing for different services, for example package charging for multiple services, and discounts or donations of some old services based on the usage of new services.

Music card was the first new package released by Jiangmen Branch after the OCS was commercially launched.
M-zone Music Card:

 GPRS package:

"I Love My Family" package:In Guangdong Province and Jiangmen, there are a lot of migrant workers from other provinces in China. To build up a communication platform for these people, Jiangmen Branch released the "I Love My Family" free toll call service, a package in the "Thank Guangdong" service series.This package is to offer free telephone service in specific time segments. It has received high praises from the society since it was released.

In addition to the above packages, Jiangmen Branch also launched 20 data service packages as well as 20 content service packages. The OCS has helped Jiangmen Branch in quickly releasing service packages according to market needs.

Quickly releasing service packages to win the market in severe competitions

Due to severe competitions, the business and operations of Jiangmen Branch have placed more and more complicated and fast-changing requirements on charging. Higher requirements have also been placed on the time-to-market of new services. Before adopting the OCS, it took Jiangmen Branch at least 3 months to release a new service package. After the OCS was adopted, it only needs some data configurations, as the OCS is configurable, expandable and with open interface. For example, to release the music card package, Jiangmen Branch spent merely 10 days on configurations and testing before it released the package to the market. The fast time-to-market of service enabled by the OCS can help Jiangmen Branch in winning the market in severe competitions.

Cutting over users gradually from the IN to the OCS; supporting smooth evolutionIn orientation to customers of different levels and with different requirements, Jiangmen Branch launched three service brands: GoTone, Easyown and M-zone. GoTone is a post-paid service brand and is charged via the offline charging system. Easyown and M-zone are prepaid service brands and was charged via the IN before the OCS was used. To protect the existing investments, the OCS was implemented phase by phase. In the first phase, Jiangmen Branch cut over 260,000 M-zone users from its IN to the OCS on April 12 2007. At present, the OCS and the offline charging system are under the unified management of the accounting system, and enable convergent billing for all three service brands. Services have been well deployed since the cutover without system fault.In the second phase, Jiangmen Branch will cut over Easyown users from the IN to the OCS. Gradual integration is a basic requirement for the healthy development of the charging system in Jiangmen Branch.Top-up, activation and product conversion services can meet the user's requirements for real-time experiences. Service processing accessed via various channels has remained smooth and stable.

Milestones 

•  On November 6, 2006, site survey was conducted.
• On December 6, 2006, equipment installation and configuration was completed.
• On January 3, 2007, the first simulated telephone call was made.
• On January 25, 2007, the first simulated cutover was accomplished. 
•  On February 10, 2007, ten thousand numbers issued for testing inside the group.
• On March 25, 2007, pre cutover was conducted. 
•  On April 13, 2007, migration of 440,000 M-Zone subscribers to OCS. 
•  On May 20, 2007, the third time software upgrade after migration. 
•  Currently, the system runs stable and performs well.