Openwave Systems released the latest version of its Openwave Passport traffic mediation solution. Passport 3.0 is designed to help operators more effectively manage network resources and tap into new revenue streams by offering subscribers personalized, context-aware Internet services.
Mobile spectrum is a finite resource; the tension between operators and consumer demand is definitely beginning to grow, says Graham Finnie, Chief Analyst at Heavy Reading. The all-you-can-eat data plan approach is no longer sustainable, and operators need usage-based pricing as a means to better manage their precious network resources, while still providing value to the chain. Solutions that empower users to have a hand in their own data usage management, while improving upon the overall mobile Internet experience, will help operators remain competitive.
With Openwave Passport, a roaming user can be immediately informed of roaming data charge options and make a choice that best suits their needs. They might opt to purchase a roaming day pass, pay per megabyte (MB), or pay per block of 100 MBs. This could work to ensure that the operator adheres to any relevant regulatory matters around control of data roaming charges, while at the same time keeping the user informed and providing them with choices.
Passport 3.0 allows the operator to offer a range of different data access plans to their subscribers, from a monthly recurring plan with specified fair usage limits, to a more flexible pay-as-you-go, time-based pass that might be more suitable to the casual data user. Passport monitors the users activity (by time or traffic volume) and can proactively inform them of events such as allocated quotas being reached, changes to their service plan, new data changes that may apply, or new services that may be of interest. The subscriber may also manage their service plans directly with on-demand access to time and/or volume meters and options for extensions or upgrades.
In a separate move, Openwave has announced a joint collaboration with research firm The Nielsen Company to develop an insight engine. This will be a combined demographics and analytics-based solution that features deeply refined reporting and the ability to compare a wide variety of demographics segments. The solution combines the Openwave Analytics platform with the Nielsen PRIZM consumer segmentation system. It is intended to help mobile operators more effectively analyze rich profiles and data segments by using insights such as time-spent and clickthrough rates, for more accurate content recommendations.