Managing mobile services

Novel communications services are flexible and expected to make the coming generations of mobile networks succeed. However, as these systems become more intricate and varied, managing them becomes harder.

Service management grew out of the technologies behind fixed telephone networks and has moved toward supporting packet-based offerings in a more open setting. Many expect 3G and, later, 4G services to transform how people communicate and connect. In that vision, the user sits at the center, and networks can work with detailed user profiles, choose services in advance, deliver services based on context, and support ubiquitous computing. Running, billing for and controlling such services makes traditional business models insufficient and calls for fresh approaches.

The book examines the problems, solutions and technologies for delivering IP-based services on mobile networks, paying particular attention to security, flexibility and charging. It also covers business models, service management architectures and standardization work, looks at the requirements and traits of services, and explains service modelling. Two case studies show how these challenges play out in real service management.

It is written for telecommunications and data engineers, network operators and service providers, as well as students and researchers who want a thorough grounding in creating and managing new value-added services.