Web-Based Wholesale Carrier Customer Network Management Systems

Written by Channel
March 31, 1999

WEB-BASED WHOLESALE CARRIER CUSTOMER NETWORK MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
Wholesale Carrier Web-Enabled CNMs	Frontier UCommand	IXC IXC Online	MCI WorldCom Inc.	Sprint Corp. Desktop Manager	Williams Network InSite
Web Interface
* Netscape	1998	3/98	2Q98	5/98	—
* Explorer	1998	3/98	N	5/98	3/99
* Other	—	—	*(1)	—	—
Connectivity
* Internet	1998	3/98	*	5/98	3/99
* Private network	—	9/95	N	5/98	3/99
* Frame relay	1Q99	1/97	2Q98	5/98	3/99
* Other, please specify	—	9/95(2)	—	—	—
Architecture
* Uses open API	N/A	N	*(3)	N	3/99
* Security/SSL Encryption	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
* Tiered security level clearance programmable by reseller	4/99	N/A	—	5/98	3/99
Functions
* Order Management
provisioning	(4)	9/95	2Q98	(5)	3Q99(6)
status	(4)	9/95	2Q98	5/98(5)	3/99
adds/moves/changes	(4)	9/95	2Q98	Sum99(5)	—
* Trouble/Repair
reporting	1998(4)	4Q99	2Q98	Sum99(7)	3/99
status	1998(4)	4Q99	2Q98	Sum99	3/99
* Billing
CDR delivery	1Q99	9/95	2Q98	—	—
invoice	2Q99	4Q99	—	*	3/99
payment posting	N/A	4Q99	—	*	—
* Reporting – trending analysis	4/99	3/97(8)	2Q98	Sum99(9)	2Q99
* Configuration management
Toll-free routing	2Q99	3/97	2Q98	1997	3Q99
Other, please specify	2Q99(10)	3/97(11)	2Q98	Y(12)	—
* Network Management
circuit status view	4Q99	8/99	2Q98	5/98(12)	3/99
alarms	4Q99	8/99	2Q98	* (12)	3/99
bandwidth control	4Q99	8/99	2Q98	*(12)	3Q99(6)
Wholesale Products Supported by the Web-based CNMS
* Voice
ANIs	Y	9/95	2Q98	5/98	4Q99
calling cards	Y	9/95	1Q99	5/98	4Q99
toll free	Y	9/95	—	5/98	4Q99
* Data
private line	mid99	1Q00	2Q99	*	3/99
frame relay	4Q99	1Q00	2Q99	*	3/99
ATM	4Q99	1Q00	2Q99	*	3/99
* Internet Access
dial-up	N/A	3/99	*	*	*
dedicated	mid99	1Q00	*	*	*
* Dedicated Access
voice	mid99	6/99	2Q98	5/98	*
data	mid99	1Q00	2Q98	*	*
integrated voice/data	mid99	1Q00	2Q98	*	*
Administration
* Help desk
online	Y	9/96	2Q98	5/98	Y
CSR via web	3Q99	4Q99	N	5/98	N
CSR via phone	Y	9/95	2Q98	5/98	Y
* Information
newsletter	1Q99	3/97	2Q98	5/98	N
handbooks	1Q99	9/95	2Q98	5/98	Y
other	—	3/97(13)	Y (14)	5/98(15)	Y(16)
Legend: Y=yes; N=No; *=in development; — did not answer/specify Footnotes: (1) Browser independent; (2) dial-up; (3) internal API; (4) voice products 1998; dedicated/data 3Q99; (5) 1+ switched/dedicated, toll-free, travel card services; (6)for Frame Relay Flex-CIR; (7) Network trouble repair available in InTouch product as of 5/98;non-network trouble ticketing to come summer 1999; (8) detail reporting only; (9) standard reporting; trending reports yet to be released; (10) enhanced features; (11) 1+ calling/debit cards; (12) In Circuit Switched Manager product; (13) Quick Start Guide; (14) online updates, news and promotions; (15) announcements, promotions, product information, organizational charts, training information; (16) brochure.
Source: Compiled by PHONE+ from surveys of carrier sales departments in late February. Please check with individual carriers for more specific data or questions.