I've talked a bit about the importance of operational support systems (OSS) here. These days, they're also referred to as business support systems (BSS). The line between the two is a fine one.

There are several OSS companies that I keep an eye on and mention here from time time to time, notably Sigma Systems, Visionael and CustomCall Data Systems. I've done a podcast with Preston Gilmer at Sigma Systems, and am in the process of slowly coordinating another with CustomCall in the near future.

Visionael's been in the news a lot lately. Clearly service providers throughout the industry are seeing the importance of OSS as a service delivery tool. I think there's a role for OSS in the enterprise as well, although it's probably a bit different than the role it plays in the telco and provider environment. It's a question I'll keep digging into.

Here's an email and press release I received in email today that definitely supports my sense of importance for service providers.

The transformation of OSS was a hot topic at the Visionael Advantage conference, where over 100 industry experts gathered to debate global issues in the telecom industry.

Exclusive highlights from the conference were released today, and can be viewed at www.VisionaelAdvantage.com.

The energy was high as leading analysts faced off about how service providers can better deliver new revenue-generating services, the importance of new players in the market, and more.

Visionael Advantage Opens Dialogue on OSS Industry Transformation
Industry thought leaders from IDC, Stratecast, Gartner, TeleManagement Forum, and others discuss the changing role of OSS spending in service provider networks

New York – June 28, 2007 – More than 100 senior executives and telecoms industry stakeholders from the world's leading service providers, cable operators, industry analyst firms and systems integrators assembled here at the Visionael Advantage conference to discuss the transformation of the telecom industry. A webcast featuring exclusive coverage from Visionael Advantage was launched this week, and is available at www.VisionaelAdvantage.com.

Opinions ran strong throughout the day on OSS spending trends, IP migration drivers, and the importance of new players such as Google, Yahoo and Skype to the OSS ecosystem. A highlight of the show featured a face off among leading analysts from Gartner, IDC, Stratecast, and TeleManagement Forum on global issues such as how SPs are changing the way they manage, maintain and evolve their networks, the importance of IMS, and whether industry standards are being embraced.

"When we first started our practice within Stratecast in 1999, executives could barely spell OSS,” said Lorien Pratt, Global Director, Infrastructure and OSS. "Today, investments in OSS and BSS are not only important, but we actually believe that service providers are achieving more differentiation via investments in OSS and BSS than they are in network technology and new network build out. Network technology is becoming a commodity, folks are differentiating by investing in OSS and BSS solutions that help them differentiate in this radically changed environment.”

Elizabeth Rainge from IDC told the gathered, "OSS is something that is critical and moving in many ways to better processes, better systems, better infrastructures than telecom infrastructures…” But she also said that convergence is a very long journey: "OSS as business-driven systems, as process-driven systems – that's what's going to be a key anchor throughout the transformation period.”

Visionael Advantage attendees also benefited from technical breakout workshops, seminars and customer case study presentations facilitated by experts in marketing, telecommunications, OSS/BSS and wireless communications.

"In the ever-changing telecom market, Visionael Advantage was designed to bring our various partners and customers together to share their views on how service providers can better deliver new revenue-generating services,” said Craig Nichols, CEO of Visionael. "This session reinforced the need and benefit of solution providers such as Visionael providing the market a radically new way of doing things by offering 'plug and play,' cost and time-effective OSS solutions that will help service providers compete and thrive in the converged world.”

Additional highlights from Visionael Advantage included keynote addresses from top industry experts and real-world presentations and testimonials by customers/partners including Bell Mobility, Pride, Tiscali, Vodafone, and BT.

About Visionael
Visionael is a software and services company that enables customers to effectively plan for and respond to the ever-changing complexity associated with large computer networks. Enterprises, government organizations, network outsourcers, and telecommunications services providers rely on Visionael solutions and insights to reduce the time and risk of deploying new network technologies and services. The company has an extensive worldwide customer base, including Alpheus Communications, Comcast, Rogers, EDS, TDC Song, Kaiser Permanente, IBM Global Services, Sprint and Vodafone. Channel, system integrators and partners include Cognizant, Dimension Data, EDS, HP, IBM Global Services, Logica and Pride. Visionael is a privately held company, headquartered in Palo Alto, California, with major development facilities in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Gothenburg, Sweden; and Bangalore, India. Sales offices are located throughout North America and Europe.