Comverse, the leading supplier of software and systems enabling network-based, multimedia enhanced communication and billing services, is partnering with IBM (NYSE: IBM) to help telecommunications service providers worldwide reduce operational costs, increase efficiencies and drive growth.

Through a recently-signed technology and services agreement, Comverse and IBM will offer customers solutions based on IBM’s software products and service delivery platform solutions, together with Comverse’s value-added services and billing and active customer management solutions.

“Telecommunications service providers are looking to grow and generate revenue in new ways,” said Mike Hill, General Manager, Telecommunications Industry, IBM. “At the same time, they are under competitive pressures to improve the consumer experience and differentiate themselves in the marketplace. We are excited about working together with Comverse to offer value-added services such as the Converged Messaging solutions that keep pace with our clients’ ’always on’ world.”

“We look forward to working more closely with IBM,” said Andre Dahan, President and CEO, Comverse. “Our wide range of software-based solutions in value-added services, customer care, self-service and billing complements the professional services, outsourcing and technology strengths of IBM. The deeper collaboration of our two companies should open up many new opportunities to better serve telecom providers worldwide.”

As part of this expanded relationship, Comverse will include IBM WebSphere Presence Server and WebSphere XML Document Management Server (XDMS) as core components of the Comverse Instant SMS product. Instant SMS helps service providers to enhance existing mobile messaging services (SMS, MMS) with the richness and real-time user experience of Instant Messaging. IBM's WebSphere Telecom Web Services Server software has been combined with Comverse value-added messaging products to help extend their value to telecommunications service providers and their subscribers.

A key example of this is Comverse Messaging Gateway and SMSC/MMSC's for value-added messaging solutions which provide support of various types of messaging-based applications such as TV show 'voting.’ In addition, when combined with Comverse Converged Messaging, the WebSphere Telecom Web Services Server can provide a unified messaging experience and enhanced processing for all types of messaging. This suite of products and technologies is also included as part of the IBM service delivery platform solution to provide fast and efficient development and deployment of applications based on operators’ messaging infrastructure.

Comverse will also utilize IBM BladeCenter technology for its value-added services offerings and IBM Power Systems technology running the AIX 5.3 operating system for its new flagship Comverse® ONE™ Billing and Active Customer Management™ solution.

For more information about IBM’s telecommunications offerings, visit www.ibm.com/telecom [1]

About Comverse
Comverse is the world’s leading provider of software and systems enabling network-based messaging and content value-added services, prepaid, postpaid and converged billing and IP communications. Comverse solutions generate revenues, strengthen customer loyalty and improve operational efficiency for over 500 communication service providers in more than 130 countries. The company's Total CommunicationSM portfolio facilitates personalized lifestyles in an evolving connected world and is based on the InSight™ Open Services Environment. Comverse’s solutions support flexible deployment models, including in-network, hosted and managed services, and can run on circuit-switched, VoIP, IMS and converged network environments. Comverse is a subsidiary of Comverse Technology, Inc. (CMVT.PK). For more information, visit www.comverse.com [2].