Most prepay / stop-limit platforms rely on an expensive combination of software, servers, switch options, signaling, hardware and maintenance. As subscriber counts increase, the complexity and cost of this infrastructure tends to also increase dramatically. As an alternative, ARIS’ PASSPORT terms management module takes advantage of the ability in many newer switch versions to rate and manage call-in-progress CDRs. Here is how it works:

Let’s assume that the switch is configured to output interim category CDRs every three minutes. This means that PASSPORT will receive the first interim record from a given call between 1 second and 3 minutes from its start. It will then rate the CDR and compare the accumulated total to the phone’s available prepay or stop-limit balance to determine whether or not the next interim period looking forward exceeds the phones remaining available credit. If not, the call is allowed to proceed normally. Otherwise, the phone is typically sent an SMS warning of the minutes remaining. Ultimately, the call either terminates normally or a user-defined balance remaining tier is reached where PASSPORT automatically tears down (terminates) the call and blocks the phone from additional non-refresh related usage until its available balance is appropriately increased.

The final CDR of each call includes a termination flag and the total call duration. This is rated and taxed (where appropriate) and is used to decrement the subscriber’s balance remaining. If the available amount then falls below a user-defined minimum (i.e.: $0.00), the phone is blocked from further non-refresh related calls.

In the above example, the carrier risks its cost of a three minute call (i.e.: less than $1.00) at each balance depletion point (i.e.: 1 in 20 calls). However, this risk can be completely mitigated by setting the call tear down point at a balance remaining that covers the first three or four minutes of the next call. Furthermore, similar benefits can be extend to prepay / stop-limit roaming and, PASSPORT's direct integration with OPTIMA's activation, rating, customer care, web interface, accounting and reporting facilities gives service providers the ability to treat prepay customers exactly like post-pay customers. In fact, a single mouse click is required to change a subscriber from post pay to prepay and visa versa without changing the phone’s assigned number, SIM or rate plan.

In summary, PASSPORT’s interim CDR rating capability offers carriers the lowest possible operating cost, high reliability and exceptional financial safeguards.

About ARIS

ARIS has produced telecommunications billing, customer care and point of sale software since 1984. It has sold its products to more than 200 customers in 70 countries. ARIS' current product line is called Envision. Additional information can be found at www.billwireless.com.