LTC International: Inside Out tag:www.ltcinternational.com,2011:/inside-out//1 2011-02-12T22:31:49Z Movable Type 3.35 The co-Evolution of Networks and Devices: Autonomics and Device Management tag:www.ltc-planet.com,2008:/inside-out//1.77 2008-10-01T05:00:00Z 2011-02-12T22:31:49Z Our world of communications just keeps getting bigger. So too does our job of managing this burgeoning world. Today we can see that our historical ability to manage millions of connections is going to have to somehow scale to manage tomorrow's trillions of devices. We propose a composite Service and Device Management Framework that provides for (A) autonomic devices which connect to (B) a series of network resident, server hosted active models that virtualize the many interactions and groups that the device, and its user/customer, is participating. Each device reports its image of the world about it to this virtual, composite model. There this information is matched to and combined with all the reports from all the other devices about it. Each device can really only know itself, but the network can collect state and data from all the plurality of interconnected devices: sometimes directly, sometimes trading for it through collaborative interfaces to other service providers. We call this network resident model, the Operational Consciousness of the device.
Someone will eventually provide the ultimate management service. We feel it goes beyond looking at components and frameworks. We see the opportunity to completely reinvent the Service Provider for the 21st century.

]]> The future is here. Are you ready? tag:www.ltc-planet.com,2008:/inside-out//1.76 2008-09-09T19:20:45Z 2011-02-12T22:18:18Z by Wedge Greene Cloud Control tag:www.ltc-planet.com,2008:/inside-out//1.75 2008-07-17T05:00:00Z 2011-02-12T22:18:58Z While "Cloud Computing" is a hot, new marketing term, the cloud is an actual thing owned by a company providing a service. A Cloud is formed by spinning applications out into the network and letting them float as needed. The cloud is network virtualization of applications, and perhaps also of data. Cloud Computing is Internet-based, shared, service-oriented computing. Specific business features like SLAs are not merely attached, but embedded in the service architecture. The primary service value for the customer comes from being able to use an infrastructure that isn't their own. Additional value is derived because the burdensome management of the service is done by someone else - it's someone else's business to make it work. Sounds like an evolution of outsourcing.

But maybe a qualitatively different outsourcing, that becomes a new thing. Cloud Computing holistically fuses many new technologies, systematic use of the network, and a change in business model. We see an opportunity for telecom in Cloud Computing. There is potential for advantage posed by Cloud Computing being network-based that our industry can leverage. But for the cloud to become a dominant telecom service product, it needs the architecture of the service ecosystem. This is another way that the world continues to become one big ball of network-resident software; at LTC, we call this future software/network: TeleGaia.

]]> The Unification of Contact Centers, SOCs and NOCs tag:www.ltc-planet.com,2008:/inside-out//1.74 2008-05-08T20:16:21Z 2011-02-12T22:19:43Z Talk at Management World Nice by Wedge Greene Service Providers and vendors see the need for increased corporate/client cohesion. Customer self service was seen as a means of offloading work and gathering better data; however, customers have not embraced self-service and it not always appropriate. Often, personal contact is needed. For this, we use Contact Centers - but not yesterdays Call Center. Instead we have the opportunity to re-unify Contact Centers, SOCs and NOCs. NGOSS technologies can aid in system integration of OSS, BSS and CC's. With this new Web 2.0 technologies enable an invigorated model of transparent collaboration between service provider and customer.

]]> Project Management 2.0: Collaborative Communications tag:www.ltc-planet.com,2008:/inside-out//1.73 2008-05-02T05:00:00Z 2011-02-12T22:20:25Z According to the Standish Group, only half of all projects meet even partial success with only one third meeting a majority of goals. Clearly we must do better; we need to do more to solve the continuing project killer: poor communications. However, project management tools and methods are essentially what they were decades ago. The Web 2.0 revolution is all about empowering communication. Can Web 2.0 and the new collaboration technologies be applied to project management? We find that collaborative workspaces can enhance PM tools, combining communication, document sharing, and project scheduling in one coherent whole. Everyone understands their part to play. Additionally, the advent of viral communications and reputation networks can enhance cohesion and provide a fresh look at accountability. Yet, without a good business strategy you still will manage projects for the wrong goals. We suggest the following action list for realizing PM 2.0

]]> A book review of Application Integration Using the SID tag:www.ltc-planet.com,2008:/inside-out//1.72 2008-05-01T05:00:00Z 2011-02-12T22:20:42Z by Wedge Greene A book review by Wedge Greene, LTC International:
Application Integration Using the SID
by John Reilly and John Wilmes, published by the TM Forum, April 2008.

Appeared in Pipeline Magazine, 05 2008

]]> From Walled Garden to Community Garden: Collaborating in a Competitive World tag:www.ltc-planet.com,2008:/inside-out//1.71 2008-04-01T05:01:00Z 2011-02-12T22:21:08Z The economic drivers of Edge service providers and those of Core service providers are not the same. The Edge (companies providing devices or over- the-top services) represents the new generation of service providers - innovative, flexible and somewhat impatient, they are accustomed to a business environment with a relatively low barrier to entry. The Core (network owners/operators) is the domain of more traditional companies, those with large investments in network infrastructure, accustomed to being able to exert a level of control over customers and partners. The Core and Edge could view each other as competitors, but we suggest looking at becoming partners to yield a more positive business outcome. The emergence of a collaborative attitude should allow all to flourish. What results is not simply a world in which the Edge provides the services and the Core provides the network. Instead, The Core unbundles component services to qualified partners at the Edge. Edge companies use the service enablers supplied by the Core. The starting point for the Garden Clubtm could be the development of an "open" Service Delivery Framework.

]]> Edge/Core Collaboration: Navigating the Ocean tag:www.ltc-planet.com,2008:/inside-out//1.70 2008-03-14T18:39:08Z 2011-02-12T22:28:16Z It would seem to a disinterested observer that the future of the telecom industry will be decided by the victory of one armed camp or another. There are the Edge service providers offering OTT services who see the Network service providers as mere bit-carriers, and therefore easily replaceable albeit at a cost. And there are the Network service providers who see little value in the Edge providers, who they consider to be dependent on getting a free ride over their networks. Neither of these opposing views is reasonable or accurate. The Edge brings creativity and a plethora of new revenue opportunities; the Network brings an immense asset investment, and a well-managed one. Both sides appear to see strategy as "us or them", where "them" is actually a potential source of business advantage if only we could find the right symbiotic way to make money together.

]]> <![CDATA[Comptel Plus - Spring 2008 Convention & Expo]]> tag:www.ltc-planet.com,2008:/inside-out//1.69 2008-03-01T01:44:57Z 2009-08-12T15:17:21Z Show review by Peter Gilligan The Comptel Plus Spring Convention traveled to Nashville this year and was held at the impressive Gaylord Opryland Resort. Around 2,500 telecom folk from network providers, service providers, telecom and regulatory consulting firms, BSS/OSS vendors, hardware vendors and interested onlookers converged for the show - Comptel's best attended show so far. Three of the four days focused on a wide range of topics of interest to the Comptel community - Tier 2/Tier 3 Telecom operators and their vendors.

]]> Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, February 2008 tag:www.ltc-planet.com,2008:/inside-out//1.68 2008-02-22T15:37:26Z 2009-08-12T15:17:21Z Barbara Lancaster and Trevor Hayes Mobile World Congress continues to grow and diversify. It's not getting prettier as it matures, but it still serves a purpose. Around 55,000 delegates turned up to the Barcelona conference center, which for four days holds the population of a good-size town, but with not so many bathrooms. 1200 companies paid for space on the exhibit floor and many more rented meeting rooms, or just turned up to network, sell and buy in the halls and bars of the Barcelona conference center. This is a show that takes about five days to learn to find your way around. Too bad it only lasts four days.

A version of this article also appears in Pipeline Magazine.

]]> TeleRenaissance: target Autonomic Communications tag:www.ltc-planet.com,2008:/inside-out//1.67 2008-02-07T06:00:01Z 2009-08-12T15:43:42Z Presentation by Wedge Greene of LTC Wedge Greene recently (Feb 7, 2008) represented LTC International with a talk introducing Autonomic Communications as the future of telcom management at the OnPoint "Transforming OSS" conference in Dallas. This is the PowerPoint presentation.

]]> Service Delivery Frameworks: The Service Provider's Mashup tag:www.ltc-planet.com,2008:/inside-out//1.66 2008-01-02T06:00:00Z 2011-02-12T22:27:47Z Service Delivery Platforms (SDP) are being built by dozens of vendors. And dozens more are contributing bits and parts to various SDP. Yet every SDP is different and mutually incompatible. Further, some SDPs support and leverage IMS while others do not. Into this mess, the TMF has stepped forward with a powerful vision called a Service Delivery Framework (SDF). SDF will aim at interoperability. SDPs allow the rapid creation of services. SDF is planed as a broad glue using SOA to link otherwise incompatible SDPs with other resources and enablers. SDP is used to build a service. SDF, as conceived, allows services to be mashed up: service calling service, calling service, each being delivered by smart network enablers. However, neither SDP nor SDF is a BOSS application, so why is the TMF doing it? And given the scope and meager progress, is this just another group of OSS platitudes? We hope not, because this work could be a ray of hope for Web 2.0 beleaguered service providers - becoming the Network Operators Mashup and enabling a new strategy for network owing operators that we call the "garden club".

]]> Over the Top Services tag:www.ltc-planet.com,2007:/inside-out//1.65 2007-12-01T06:00:00Z 2011-02-12T22:27:34Z Today the debate over Over-the-Top services (OTT) rages across media, service provider planning teams, and now the TeleManagement Forum. Partly this debate is about business models, partly about legality and regulation, partly about what technology to allow and to leverage, and lastly it is about consumer and business desire for services. But what does this mean for the management of networks, for OSS & BSS? What is changing? What is no longer realistic and what new opportunities are opening up? How can intelligent planning, good policies, proper technology and well crafted processes turn the tide of operator fear to profit?

(from Pipeline Publications, December 2007)

]]> Comptel Plus Conference Dallas 2007 tag:www.ltc-planet.com,2007:/inside-out//1.64 2007-11-02T05:00:00Z 2011-02-12T22:27:18Z by Barbara Lancaster and Wedge Greene Barbara Lancaster and Wedge Greene covered the Fall (October 7, 8, 9, 2007) Comptel Plus CLEC show at The Gaylord Texan Convention Center, Dallas, Texas for Pipeline Publications.

(from Pipeline, Nov 2007)

]]> NPI for Life: Collaborate for Better Products tag:www.ltc-planet.com,2007:/inside-out//1.63 2007-11-01T16:19:49Z 2011-02-12T22:27:01Z What is happening with old style product launch processes? What was good and should be kept? What needs to change? We find there is a time for speed to market, and a time when "speed kills". New processes must balance the need for speed against the time required to capture all views and identify all issues so that the new product performs as expected (for the company and the customer). Everyone must work together - building teams as well as technologies.

Service providers can no longer afford separate impact assessments on Network, Operations, Marketing and other departments; now we must measure based on the impact on the company as a whole. In the TeleManagement Forum, NGOSS and eTOM are providing standardized structure to the way products are catalogued and managed. But their most advanced work is occurring in the newly conceived new Service Delivery Framework. Will organizations adopt the necessary process discipline to govern product introduction successfully?

]]> Architects Anonymous: Rehab for Telecom tag:www.ltc-planet.com,2007:/inside-out//1.62 2007-09-07T22:03:04Z 2011-02-12T22:26:49Z The world of telecom systems projects is in need of rehab after the excesses of the past. For too many years service providers have accepted that OSS/BSS projects will costs millions of dollars and show little tangible improvement in business performance. We have become dependent on binge projects: bloated projects that never quite deliver on time, on budget or on scope, and never achieve the business transformation expected.

After years of denial, the competitive pressures on the industry are creating an awareness of the need for change. Having reached the bottom - it is time to recognize our problem, face up to it, and break away from our dependency on the comfortably inefficient old ways in order to reap the benefits that accrue to the nimble and the swift.

LTC International offers a Ten Point Program for those who no longer want to suffer from projects that just don't deliver to plan. In our little drama, the Architects Anonymous Program, we present how those who have been there and suffered too, can accompany you on your way to success. We use the TMF's programs as examples and starting points for our OSS/BSS transformation, but do not stop there.

]]> Self-* Networks: Helping Networks Help Themselves tag:www.ltc-planet.com,2007:/inside-out//1.61 2007-09-07T05:00:00Z 2011-02-12T22:26:36Z By Wedge Greene and Barbara Lancaster Continuing our discussion on Autonomic Networks and Autonomic Communications, we dive into designing and building what we call self-* (pronounced self-star) systems. Self-* is a shortcut term for systems which are designed specifically to be self-organizing and self-managing, including properties such as: self-defining, self-configuring, self-awareness, self-optimizing, self-protecting, self-healing (self-monitoring, self-diagnostics, self-restoration). Further these systems exhibit the structural characteristic of self similarity. This is a drill down companion to last month's autonomic communications exploring what can and cannot yet be done. Fortunately, self-* systems are available today but it will take determined leadership to change. Specifically, we explore:
  • What the architecture looks like,

  • How the technology works,

  • Where you can get it,

  • Changes in the organization necessary to accept these approaches.

]]> Autonomic Networks - Autonomic Communication tag:www.ltc-planet.com,2007:/inside-out//1.60 2007-09-06T05:00:00Z 2011-02-12T22:26:24Z By Wedge Greene and Barbara Lancaster At its core, Autonomic Networks change our whole concept of 'what is a network', 'where are the corporate boundaries', and 'what is network and service management' - radically. Some of these principles are so compelling (such as discovery and self-configuration) that we are implementing them today even as our incomplete understanding of them improves year over year. But to truly understand and manage our existing and future networks, we need to see them as complex, organized, evolving systems and develop a 'top down' approach to controlling the transition of the existing network toward more autonomics.

To make this practical concept a reality, we need (1) a well understood picture of how things actually work, (2) a set of clearly explicated goals, and (3) a set of plans and processes which provide for a practical transition from what we have to what we can see will be better - this is the epistle of the authors. This article also provides a summary of the key groups and initiatives currently addressing Autonomic Networks and Autonomic Communications.

]]> Tit-for-Tat: Meeting Customer Expectations tag:www.ltc-planet.com,2007:/inside-out//1.59 2007-07-01T05:00:00Z 2011-02-12T22:26:10Z NOCs, SOCs, & Contact Centers: To make the transition successfully to customer-centric operations, we need to reexamine the processes, behaviors, and scope of responsibility of Operations with an eye fixed firmly on customer, customer, and customer. We examine this problem from two perspectives: first, mechanical: the applications and integration technology and second, humanistic: the people and behaviors conducive to satisfied customers.

These approaches are unified by the long-duration coordinated process flow contained in Collaborative Applications technology. Collaborative applications enable both kinds of agents (autonomic software agents and customer service people) to enact strategies in response to triggering events in the evolution of a negotiation game. This game is solvable with known strategies like tit-for-tat; but the important takeaway is 'defining and implementing processes' is not as effective and realistic as enabling agents in a game.

]]> LTC Mini-survey on SOA and IMS - UPDATE June 2007 tag:www.ltc-planet.com,2007:/inside-out//1.58 2007-06-30T22:54:51Z 2011-02-12T22:25:57Z This article updates our earlier report to include responses from a sample of delegates at TMW, in Nice France, in May 2007.

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