[November 23, 1999]

NetCentric, Portal Integrate Internet Fax And IP Billing Applications To Offer Enhanced Carrier-Class Billing Options

NetCentric Corporation, a provider of carrier-class IP fax technology, and Portal Software, a provider of business infrastructure for Internet and next-generation communications services, announced they have formed an alliance to integrate NetCentric's Internet Fax System, FaxStorm, with Portal's customer management and billing software, Infranet.

This integration will enable global telecommunications carriers and Network Service Providers (NSPs) to offer customized pricing plans that can be integrated within one unified communications bill and simplify the process of billing customers for enhanced IP fax services. Technology leaders who plan to take advantage of this cutting edge joint solution include U S WEST and MessageClick.

Under the terms of the agreement, NetCentric will integrate FaxStorm with Portal's Infranet product to offer enhanced Internet fax billing capabilities. Carriers and NSPs will now be able to consolidate charges from FaxStorm with other value-added Internet services into one unified bill using Portal Infranet. The flexibility offered through Infranet will allow providers to develop and offer customized pricing packages quickly for a variety of services to their customers.

NetCentric's FaxStorm Internet Fax System allows network service providers to create commercial IP-based fax services as extended network service offerings for organizations ranging from small office/home offices (SOHOs) to Fortune 500 corporations. FaxStorm supports all forms of faxing to and from email accounts, desktops, Web browsers, fax machines and enterprise applications. NSPs use Portal's Infranet software for comprehensive customer management and billing from authentication and authorization to rating and billing. FaxStorm integrates with the Portal Infranet billing system to provide carrier-class rating, invoicing and billing operations to FaxStorm service providers.

"Portal is committed to partnering with industry leaders that ultimately enable our customers to be successful. Simplified billing is important to our customers and we want to make sure they have the best options available to them," said Jill Kyte, senior director strategic alliances for Portal. "Customers like U S WEST and MessageClick want the optimal and easiest way to manage their customers, provide value-added services, and bill for those services. I believe we've developed a comprehensive solution that will continue to meet their needs now and in the future as their businesses grow."

"Unifying enhanced IP fax services within a flexible billing infrastructure is central to our efforts to provide our customers with the highest quality product available," said Lily Sun, group manager, IP Services for U S WEST !INTERPRISE Networking, a leading provider of telecommunications services. "The technology provided by the alliance between NetCentric and Portal will allow U S WEST to offer a variety of services and pricing plans. This is a huge benefit for U S WEST and our customers."

"NetCentric is committed to helping NSPs deploy enhanced IP services within their existing networks rapidly. Portal's Infranet business infrastructure solution has been selected by a number of leading networks as their multi-service billing system," said Nelson Hsu, NetCentric's director of corporate development. "This integration will provide carriers and NSPs with a flexible, value-added service that will attract and retain business customers across the globe."

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]