Comverse Helps Wireless Operators Maintain Peak Data Performance for All Users, Avoid Network Congestion

Comverse today announced enhancing its Mobile Internet HUB with Deep Packet Inspection (DPI), which provides detailed Internet traffic management and analysis. The upgrade enables mobile operators to better manage surging mobile data traffic, achieve optimal network performance and unlock additional revenue potential, while also helping subscribers receive the best possible quality of service for their price plan.

The Comverse Mobile Internet HUB with DPI technology provides operators with better usage visibility through real-time identification of the applications and protocols running in their network, such as browsing, streaming video and file sharing. The DPI technology works with Mobile Internet HUB’s new "smart” traffic management to allow operators to:

• Reduce network congestion by shaping and prioritizing data traffic. This can have significant beneficial impact for the experience of all mobile Internet users, because high-bandwidth applications such as file sharing, which comprise a growing share of all Internet traffic, can otherwise congest the network during peak hours;
• Offer segmented pricing plans based on specific applications rather than flat-rate consumption. Higher priced "gamer” plans, for instance, would give priority to downloading games versus other applications, providing premium customers with an improved experience and promoting loyalty. DPI capability also enables operators to use more granular pricing schemes. As a result, operators can offer subscribers pricing plans according to desired usage and expected performance;
• Notify subscribers about their data consumption before they exceed their monthly allotments of streaming video or other bandwidth-devouring applications and offer upgrade plans, helping to reduce the possibility of "bill shock;” and
• Offer dynamic, personalized control over usage, so if subscribers want to watch a live sporting event, they can request and pay for higher quality service for the specific duration.

"Smartphones, netbooks and laptops are sharply driving up mobile data traffic, and operators are facing growing challenges in their role as mobile Internet service providers,” said Gabriel Matsliach, President of Products and Operations at Comverse, the world's leading supplier of software and systems enabling value-added messaging and content services, converged billing and active customer management, and IP communications.

"By providing both DPI and smart traffic management, Comverse offers operators a highly efficient and flexible way to enforce – in real time -- rules created by the Mobile Internet HUB’s Service Policy Manager,” he said. "But our truly unique value stems from Comverse’s ability to offer a broad, pre-integrated solution that includes not only policy, DPI and traffic management, but also the ability to charge for mobile Internet services because of our expertise in billing and customer management. At the same time, the Mobile Internet HUB is a modular, open-standard platform that can be easily integrated with other network elements and services.”

The DPI capability embedded in the Mobile Internet HUB is a proven technology from ipoque, a pioneer in the field. In a recent DPI industry test, ipoque was ranked first among 15 vendors invited to participate by the European Advanced Networking Tester Center. The test focused on the detection and regulation accuracy of file sharing, the overall performance of the solution, and the suitability for deployment in large networks.

"By using DPI, service providers can significantly improve performance for average mobile Internet users while also providing the necessary resources for heavy users,” said Hendrik Schulze, Chief Technology Officer at ipoque. "This allows service providers to postpone unnecessary network upgrades, as well as charge subscribers only for the level of service that they requested.”

Mobile Internet HUB is part of Comverse HUB Value-Added Services, spanning voice, messaging, mobile Internet and mobile advertising. Comverse HUB is a synergistic framework that enables service providers to maximize their business performance and augment their position in the market.

At the upcoming Mobile World Congress meeting (Feb. 15 to 18) in Barcelona, visitors are invited to Hall 8 Booth B83 to experience the Comverse Mobile Internet HUB and a wide range of Comverse demos. To schedule a meeting with Comverse, visitors are encouraged to make an online request.

About ipoque

ipoque is the leading European provider of deep packet inspection (DPI) solutions for Internet traffic management and analysis. ipoque’s PRX Traffic Manager allows network operators and Internet service providers to effectively monitor, shape, optimize, limit and control the resource consumption of network applications on a per-subscriber basis. The integrated quality-of-service (QoS) management functionality allows prioritization and optimization of network traffic to ensure the highest subscriber satisfaction and effective protection of the operator's infrastructure at the same time. ipoque's DPI engine reliably detects all relevant protocols and applications found in today's networks, including the most difficult-to-detect and proprietary protocols such as peer-to-peer file sharing (P2P), instant messaging (IM), Voice over IP (VoIP), tunneling, video and audio streaming, as well as many legacy applications. For further information see www.ipoque.com.

About Comverse

Comverse is the world’s leading provider of software and systems enabling value-added services for voice, messaging, mobile Internet and mobile advertising; converged billing and active customer management; and IP communications. Comverse’s extensive customer base spans more than 125 countries and covers over 450 communication service providers serving more than two billion subscribers. The company’s innovative product portfolio enables communication service providers to unleash the value of the network for their customers by making their networks smarter. Comverse’s solutions support flexible deployment models, including in-network, hosted and managed services, and can run on circuit-switched, IP, IMS or converged network environments. Comverse is a subsidiary of Comverse Technology, Inc. (CMVT.PK). For more information, visit www.comverse.com.

All product and company names mentioned herein may be registered trademarks or trademarks of Comverse or the respective referenced company(s).

This release contains "forward-looking statements” under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurances that any forward-looking statements will be achieved. Important factors that could affect the statements contained herein include: changes in the demand for the company’s products; changes in capital spending among the company’s current and prospective customers; the risks associated with the sale of large, complex, high capacity systems and with new product introductions as well as the uncertainty of customer acceptance of these new or enhanced products from either the company or its competition; and risks associated with rapidly changing technology and the ability of the company to introduce new products on a timely and cost-effective basis. The company undertakes no commitment to update or revise forward-looking statements except as required by law.