NEW YORK-AU-System Mobile AB, a wholly owned division of Stockholm-based software provider AU-System, is making a foray into the U.S. subscriber identity module market, but with a twist.
AU-System Mobile offers open software platforms that permit Global System for Mobile communications network operators to integrate their use of proprietary SIM card technologies, which recognize and communicate only with themselves. AU’s vendor-independent SIM card tools include over-the-air activation, personalization and engineering functionality.
Tomorrow (Jan. 20), the company plans to introduce a new capability, AviSIM OTA Prepaid. This product, AU-System Mobile said, will allow carriers to avoid the expense of a network-based prepaid calling service because it permits the subscriber’s account balance to reside locally in a GSM personal communications services phone. AviSIM Prepaid is fully compatible with any handset that supports Phase 2 Advice of Charge, provided the switch also supports Calling Advice Information.
“By moving the real-time call charging mechanism out from the network and into the handset, the requirements of the prepaid system are greatly reduced,” said Hakan Larsson, product manager.
“It also complements AviSIM OTA, our software platform for over-the-air management of SIM cards.”
Owned 47 percent by Telia, Sweden’s PTT and 41 percent by Ericsson Inc., AU-System already has provided various SIM card management platforms to more than 30 carriers abroad. Its AviSIM OTA is used by several carriers, including France Telecom and Telecom Italia Mobile.
AU-System Mobile’s inaugural project in the United States took place last fall when it supplied its SIM card over-the-air activation tool to DigiPH in Mobile, Ala., said Mark Ferdinands, who recently joined AU-System Mobile as product manager-North America.
DigiPH is a C-block personal communications services carrier owned by Millry Telephone Co. and Gulf Telephone Co. It has licenses for eight basic trading areas in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi, and Mobile is its primary target market.
At DigiPH, AU-System Mobile provided the over-the-air activation and Geisecke & Devrient America Inc. supplied the SIM cards, said Ferdinands, formerly product manager of telecommunications for G&D America. Encouraged by this project, AU decided to expand its presence in the United States, which has a fledgling and growing GSM market, he said.
