Amartus: Amartus Opens OSS API for Dynamic Provisioning of Cloud and IP Services

Amartus, a developer of next-generation operational support system (OSS) and management software solutions for telecoms, today announced its upcoming Service Commander™ 2.0 release. This is a major upgrade of its flagship OSS software that features the industry’s first programmable network application programming interface (API) framework for dynamic, on demand connectivity service fulfillment across next generation (NGN) IP, Ethernet and optical transport networks.

Now, carriers can truly collaborate with cloud service providers, network exchange operators and corporations to allow them to dynamically create their own services on the carrier’s network. With an open API, carriers can offer unlimited creation of on-demand services to better meet the emerging network business models of their customers and partners while delivering new revenue-generating offerings.

Service Commander was launched in Aug. 2010 and provides end-to-end service delivery for highly complex networks that traverse multiple carriers, domains, technologies and equipment vendors. It offers service-centric processes and tools for design, deployment and operation of dynamic on-demand connectivity that underpin next-generation cloud, business, mobile and residential data networks.

In this release, Service Commander’s new open API framework offers fast support for a range of OSS interfaces, including the TeleManagement Forum (TMF) multi-technology operations system interface (MTOSI), which provides a very efficient means for rapid integration with other applications in the OSS / BSS environment.

The industry is transitioning from static service offerings with fixed subscriptions to dynamic on-demand service offerings with pay-per-use models that provide one-time, boost, promotional and interconnect access to the network. In addition, the rush to the cloud is transforming the way connectivity services are procured and delivered. In this new world of dynamic on-demand services, open access to programmable network APIs is critical to enable flexibility and field customization of services.

TM Forum hosts a unique Catalyst program, where service providers and other end users act as project "champions,” guiding collaborative vendor teams to bring innovative, not-seen-anywhere-else ideas and solutions to life.

Amartus Service Commander provides the solution for the provisioning and assurance of end-to-end network connectivity as part of its contribution to the “Enhanced Cloud Service Management” catalyst. This is one of the most complex aspects of unified communications and collaboration (UC&C) service delivery, as this connectivity typically traverses a diverse range of vendor equipment, spanning multiple domains and multiple carrier networks.

To provide the elastic, on-demand support required for UC&C services, Amartus provides a simple programmable network API that exposes the network as a service (NaaS). This API isolates the caller from the complexities of the proprietary vendor, domain and carrier implementations, focusing solely on delivering connectivity with the required user experience. British service provider BT champions this catalyst with lead vendor Cisco. Other partners include Progress Software, Comptel, Metratech and InfoVista.

In addition, Amartus is partnering with Openet in “The Exemplar Network: Dynamic Desktop” catalyst, which is also championed by BT. This catalyst introduces the first web programmable telecommunications network and demonstrates how operators can control and monetize their network bandwidth capabilities using web-based interfaces. It leverages the Exemplar network, which was commissioned by the Irish Government to test and validate new revenue-generating services and applications that can take advantage of the dynamic nature of a web-programmable network.

“Service Commander enables carriers and equipment vendors to embrace the shift taking place in the telecoms industry and the critical need for automated provisioning of cloud, exchange and flexible IP connectivity services,” said Michael Kearns, CEO of Amartus. “Service Commander 2.0 not only delivers the connectivity service automation that carriers require, the new open API framework injects flexibility into the OSS to push service creation even closer to the customer.”

“A combination of increasing unpredictability of bandwidth usage, customer demand for flexible pay-per-use service models and radical shift in the service provider ecosystem is driving demand for instant connectivity at the service layer,” said Mark Mortensen, principal analyst with Analysys Mason. “To deliver, network operators must implement fully automated service fulfillment, removing the complexity of the network layer to offer a consistent, rapid means to design and provision dynamic connectivity.”

Additional Service Commander 2.0 features include MPLS VPN and MPLS-TP reference implementations that demonstrate the true multi-technology support of the software, as well as pre-integrated support for Oracle and Apache Tomcat, which offers greater flexibility & efficiency in deployment. Enhancements to provisioning, discovery and network integration provide greater scalability and performance.

Availability

Service Commander 2.0 will be generally available in June 2011. It is being showcased in live demonstrations at TeleManagement World, stand #38, and in several key TMW Catalysts.

About Amartus

Founded in 2003, Amartus develops next generation OSS/BSS and network management solutions for service providers. The company’s flagship product, Service Commander™ is a connectivity service automation management system that integrates existing OSS and network management systems to provide comprehensive end-to-end management for NGN services. Amartus is an active member of leading standards organizations including the TeleManagement Forum (TMF) and Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF).

The company is privately held and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland with offices in the U.S. and Poland. More information is available at www.amartus.com.

Contacts

Amartus Communications Contact:
The David James Agency
David Rodewald/Elisabeth Glover
+1.805.494.9508
amartus@davidjamesagency.com