Value Added Services

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Comment by Fred Taylor on August 11, 2009 at 12:14am

Here is the best definition that I have found of a VAS:

All VAS share the same characteristics:

Not a form of basic service but rather adds value total service offering
Stands alone in terms of profitability and/or stimulates incremental demand for core service(s)
Can sometimes stand alone operationally
Does not cannibalize basic service unless clearly favorable
Can be an add-on to basic service, and as such, may be sold at a premium price
May provide operational and/or administrative synergy between or among other services – not merely for diversification
Every VAS will demonstrate one or more of the above characteristics. Furthermore, a value-added service will never stand in stark contrast to any of the above characteristics.

VAS also have a certain time dimension associated with them. Subjectively speaking, a value-added service today becomes a basic service when it becomes sufficiently common place and widely deployed to no longer provide substantive differentiation on a relative basis.

There are two types of VAS. The first service type are those value-added services that stand alone from an operational perspective. These types of services need not be coupled with other services, but they can be. Many non-voice services fall into this category. They are often provided as an optional service along with voice services, but they could be offered and used by themselves without the voice service. For example, SMS could be offered and used as a service without voice calling.

The second, and arguably more numerous and important type of VAS, are those services that do not stand-alone. Instead, this category adds value to existing services. While it seems implicit in the definition of value-added, this is an important principle that makes value-added services stand apart from other services.

Comment by Fred Taylor on August 11, 2009 at 12:13am

What does everone think defines a VAS?

I think Unified Communications is an example of a VAS.

Here is a development in that area:

Ipitomi Selects VOSS to Manage Voice Network

Ipitomi centralises and automates its managed services architecture, to lay foundations for growth

Monday 10th August 2009 – Reading, UK - VOSS, nominated a Cool Vendor in Unified Communications (UC) by Gartner, and a leader in UC service delivery software, today announced that Ipitomi has selected VOSS 6.1, as part of its unified communications service delivery platform (UC SDP).

As a leading provider of managed services, Ipitomi provides hosted multi-tenant communication management solutions to a portfolio of customers, including SMEs and business centre clients. With multiple customers that each has its own complex communications requirements and many thousands of end points, Ipitomi sought to simplify business processes and unify its multi-customer architecture with a centrally managed voice and data solution. Additionally, to maintain a competitive market edge, Ipitomi was keen to offer its customers the latest voice features, including unified communications.

Ipitomi has engaged with VOSS to specifically address the challenges involved in managing the entire lifecycle of a multi-tenant, multi-location IPT architecture. The solution incorporates VOSS 6.1, a UC service delivery platform, with an unprecedented ability to grow with Ipitomi’s business and to support its large-scale, multi-development, multi-technology operation.

VOSS will help enable Ipitomi to radically streamline and improve business processes and control costs, by centrally managing and standardising its diverse networks. Through automation and the introduction of a much-simplified administration capability, VOSS also frees up Ipitomi’s technical team from many day-to-day tasks, enabling them to concentrate on providing superior service, whilst securely devolving administration to Ipitomi’s customers. Additionally, VOSS has laid the foundations for Ipitomi to expand its business and to specifically target other connected real estate businesses, with its cutting edge managed hosted IPT solution.

Paul Cosgrave, Group Managing Director at Ipitomi, commented; “By deploying VOSS as the overarching layer of our managed services architecture, we have created a robust and scalable infrastructure to support our growing business and the evolving demands of our customers, who understandably expect an excellent level of service when it comes to unified communications.”

Mike Frayne, CEO at VOSS, added; “We are delighted that Ipitomi has selected VOSS as the management platform for their UC network. There is no other solution on the market that can help MSP’s manage the ever-changing requirements of UC, and we look forward to stretching the boundaries with Ipitomi to deliver its end users with the next generation of UC applications.”

About Ipitomi, www.ipitomi.com
Ipitomi provides technology and telecoms services and solutions to businesses ranging from SMEs to large multinationals, as well as specialist solutions for business centres and business parks including the companies based within them.

Ipitomi is part of a group of companies that include sister companies Pasporte, EVD and Telinet. Backed by banking group Investec, the group is emerging as one of the fastest growing and leading providers of integrated ICT for the UK, SME marketplace.

The group forecasts a turnover in excess of £50 million and collectively, has more than 40 years' experience in servicing 5000 customers across all industry sectors. With further acquisitions planned and continued natural growth, the group has plans to hit the £100m turnover barrier as soon as possible.

Together, group companies provide end-to-end solutions that incorporate IT, voice, data and telecoms, using best of breed products and services from IBM, Microsoft, Cisco, Orange Business Services, VMWare, Mitel and Avaya. Group companies operate from principal offices in London and throughout the South East.



About VOSS
VOSS, a leading provider of service delivery software helps organisations meet their complex and rapidly changing Unified Communications (UC) and IP telephony requirements. Uniquely, VOSS delivers UC services and systems integration, over large networks that use disparate technologies, vendors and operating systems, in multiple locations and countries.



VOSS addresses the challenges involved in managing the entire lifecycle of a UC platform, from initial design (day 0), through to build and deployment (day 1), through to support and administration (day two), and finally to upgrade and scaling (day 3). The company’s real-time, automated and centralised service delivery platform cuts costs while speeding and simplifying the deployment of Unified Communications services. VOSS gives users and providers unprecedented operational efficiency, letting them reap savings, performance gains and the confidence that their Unified Communications environment is agile and flexible enough to change as business demands.



Based in Berkshire, UK and Herndon, VA, VOSS is funded by UK early-stage venture capital firm Eden Ventures, XAnge Private Equity and PE Investments. Founded as VisionOSS, the company is now called VOSS. Its solutions have been deployed by prominent service providers, large enterprises and partners such as Cisco Systems across Europe and North America. For more information, visit www.visionoss.com.

Comment by Gaurav Mehta on August 6, 2009 at 3:34pm

What things one should consider while
1. Selecting a Third Party VAS provider?
2. What are the main point to be included in the Agreement with VAS provider and how to know that whethe he is actually following them?

Comment by Gaurav Mehta on August 4, 2009 at 12:02pm

Well I think VAS is value added Services, Which adds value to the customers. Today the technology has gone to that levels that almost all the service providers are providing the similar kind of Quality of voice and basic services. So to diffrentiate itself from other operators the VAS has come in to picture.
One more reason is that due to excessive competition (Pricing wars) the Voice revnue is Falling day by day. So Telcos are looking for fresh revenue streams and so adopting data rich services.
I am not agreed that all VAS is charged at premium cost. There are Business models which brings third party in to picture and leverage on Mobile Advertising to generate revenues and charging customer less.
For ex. If someone wants to see a video on his mobile than by the time the video downloads, it shows a downloading bar on screen that can be replaced by an advertisement say of McDonald's... and some part of the Video charge will be paid by the advertisers instead of customer paying everything...
So the compition will bring new innovative models in the market.

Comment by Fred Taylor on July 15, 2009 at 5:01am

Does anyone have a good definition of what constitutes a VAS?

Here is the best one I have found:

All VAS share the same characteristics:

Not a form of basic service but rather adds value total service offering
Stands alone in terms of profitability and/or stimulates incremental demand for core service(s)
Can sometimes stand alone operationally
Does not cannibalize basic service unless clearly favorable
Can be an add-on to basic service, and as such, may be sold at a premium price
May provide operational and/or administrative synergy between or among other services – not merely for diversification
Every VAS will demonstrate one or more of the above characteristics. Furthermore, a value-added service will never stand in stark contrast to any of the above characteristics.

VAS also have a certain time dimension associated with them. Subjectively speaking, a value-added service today becomes a basic service when it becomes sufficiently common place and widely deployed to no longer provide substantive differentiation on a relative basis.

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Comment by Ken Ables on April 10, 2009 at 4:24pm

What are you doing to manage your technology? Do you currently have a help desk system? How about an Asset Management System? How about a TEM system? Are you a Vendor, Reseller or ...? I'd like to brainstorm and see how we can help each other if possible, are you up to it? After all what good is this system if we can't help each other, right?

Comment by Donna L. Quesinberry on December 21, 2008 at 5:31am

Comment by Robert R. LaPorta on December 1, 2008 at 5:51pm

Looking for a new opportunity within Management, Presales or Consulting. Background includes Business Development and National Presales Management at Oracle/PeopleSoft/Iron Mountain. Early career includes 8 years of Sales/Fin/Ops @ ROLM. Thanks for any referrals.

Comment by Refik Naccur on October 28, 2008 at 7:32pm

Dear Alaa,

Thank you very much.

BR

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