Businessweek

Huawei announced the signing of a MoU for an Operations Support System Interoperability Initiative (OSSii) along Ericsson with and Nokia Siemens Networks. The OSSii aims to simplify interoperability between OSS systems in a multi-vendor environment. The initiative will provide easy access to interfaces that earlier were subject to restricted use, and will enable interoperability testing services to a wider community. The parties' general guiding principles for the OSSii are openness, fairness, reasonableness and non-discriminatory treatment. Industrywide interoperability between different vendor OSS systems will reduce OSS integration costs, simplify overall network management, and enable shorter time-to-market for new services. By enabling the implementation of 'up-front' multi-vendor OSS interoperability, OSSii will also target the promotion of healthy, win-win competition for network-level OSS systems. While all three initiating OSSii companies have agreed to cross-license their OSS interfaces for multi-vendor network management, cross-licensing and interoperability testing opportunities will also be offered for third-party OSS vendors and other network equipment providers.

Thuraya has selected Ericsson as the sole vendor for its circuit-switched core network. Under the agreement, Ericsson will upgrade the Thuraya circuit-switched core network, implement an advanced billing mediation solution and provide support services for five years.

Ericsson Presents at JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s 41st Annual Global Technology, Media and Telecom Conference, May-16-2013 . Venue: Stone Conference Room, Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel, 425 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02210, United States. Speakers: Mikael Halen, Director Government & Industry Relations.

Korek and Ericsson collaborate to introduce a new business model that will enable scalability and agility. Ericsson Charging and Billing in One (CBIO) system will provide Korek's subscribers with pro-activity, personalization, control and service quality. Korek has selected Ericsson to provide CBIO as their new convergent charging and billing platform. The project will consolidate and modernize Korek's existing revenue management solutions and provide a convergent system for all its subscribers featuring various kinds of services such as real-time rating for all, segmentation for advanced pricing, discount and promotion handling. Through the agreement, Ericsson will manage the planning, design and integration of the full solution and the migration of service offerings and subscribers into Korek's existing infrastructure which will enable its postpaid and prepaid mobile subscribers to enjoy benefits such as flexible tariffs and full control of costs as well as bonuses and awards. The deployment of the project will also enable Korek to offer seamless telecommunication services across all end-user segments. After the completion of the project, Korek will have a single revenue management system for all its subscribers and services which will include features such as discount and promotion handling, real-time rating, segmentation and pricing and promotions.

Ericsson reported consolidated earnings results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2013. For the quarter, the company reported net sales of SEK 52.0 billion compared to SEK 51.0 billion a year ago. Operating income excl JV was SEK 2.1 billion compared to SEK 10.5 billion a year ago. Operating income incl JV was SEK 2.1 billion compared to SEK 9.1 billion a year ago. Net income was SEK 1.2 billion or SEK 0.37 per share compared to SEK 8.8 billion or SEK 2.76 per share a year ago. Cash flow used in operating activities was SEK 3.0 billion compared to cash flow from operating activities of SEK 0.7 billion a year ago. The sales increase was primarily driven by Networks and rollout services, following high project activities primarily in Europe and North America. Investments in property, plant and equipment were SEK 1.196 billion compared to SEK 1.648 billion a year ago. The negative cash flow from operating activities was driven by increased working capital of SEK 4.6 billion.