The Scenario

Imagine that "XYZ Mobile Telecom" has a service whereby subscribers can access the stock market closing prices for their stock portfolio. And, imagine a prepaid client of XYZ Mobile Telecom who wants to use this service.

When the prepaid user sends a query for the stock market information, it must be intercepted on the fly, and its potential cost instantly checked against the status of the user's prepaid account: does this account still have enough credit to allow this request to be satisfied? An eventual authorization from the prepaid account must then be transformed into a debit against the user's account for the proper sum. And all of this, in a matter of seconds!

This sort of instantaneous service is made possible by an application called a charging proxy.

Add Services, Add Value

A charging proxy is a key element in the success of mobile information and communication services. These sorts of services add value on top of an operator's network by making their users' access to content the richest and easiest possible, no matter what the access method used (web, SMS, MMS, voice...)

Today, with networks increasing their data-transfer capabilities thanks to GSM-data, GPRS and soon UMTS infrastructures, mobile operators are introducing more and more "Mobile Internet" services, from the simplest ringtone and logo downloads, to the flashiest Multimedia Messaging possibilities, and beyond.

Shared Revenue, New Relationships

As a result, revenues that in the past were drawn entirely from voice services (800 numbers, premium numbers…) all fully owned and operated by telecom providers, are today being replaced by revenues that often must be shared with third-party content providers.

In order to properly manage these new relationships, operators need to be able to position themselves as value-added service providers. They need applications that allow for seamless and effective data and content charging, rating and payment. And they need to significantly reduce OPEX while significantly increasing flexibility, without needing to redesign their existing services or infrastructures.

The Alcatel 5326 Charging Proxy does all this. This application, running on the Alcatel Proxy Platform, enables mobile operators to charge their subscribers for the data services accessed via their mobile network.