CHICAGO: Motorola Broadband Communications Sector and N2 Broadband® announced an integrated solution, branded as MpulseTM, that will enable cable operators with Motorola systems to offer their customers the convenience of self-subscribing to premium cable packages from the operator’s Website or EPG (electronic programme guide).

N2 Broadband’s Mpulse system will deploy at the cable operator’s headend and will interface with Motorola’s DAC and the operator’s billing system. Using Mpulse, existing cable customers can quickly and easily sign-on for new services or change existing services using a simple Web-based, self-service tool. N2 Broadband claims to be one of the most experienced provider of open platform solutions that enable cable operators and content providers to offer on-demand services.

N2 Broadband is demonstrating the new Mpulse solution in Motorola’s booth #119 at NCTA’s National Show in Chicago, 9-11 June 2003.

According to a medianet release, N2 Broadband’s Mpulse system, when integrated with Motorola’s Digital Access Control (DAC6000) platform, is designed to provide an environment that should substantially reduce customer service representative (CSR) call volume. It also increases customer satisfaction by empowering customers to self-subscribe to new services or modify service levels at their convenience.

“Our goal with this new integrated solution is to eliminate as many inbound calls to the cable operator’s service desk, and to create an alternative marketing channel for cable operators to promote premium cable services to their customers,” said Motorola corporate vice president and general manager, digital media systems Doug Means. “We have joined forces with N2 Broadband to bring to market a solution that leverages our respective strengths: N2’s back-office and billing system integration expertise and Motorola’s digital platform expertise and world-class support infrastructure.”

According to Kagan World Media, there are now over 21 million US digital cable subscribers, a number expected to top 40 million by 2008.

“Generating free cash flow is a high priority for all operators today. Cable operators know they must find new and better ways to promote, package and up-sell premium cable services,” said N2 Broadband president and CEO Reggie Bradford. “Given our experience in cable back-end systems, Mpulse is a natural offering for N2 that meets the needs of our customers.”

“The Mpulse technology is important to iN DEMAND and its affiliates. Impulse pay-per-view purchasing capability for sports packages will increase buy rates and reduce costs. We are excited that N2Broadband and Motorola are addressing this important need," said John Vartanian, senior vice president of technology and operations at iN DEMAND.”

For example, once a subscriber identifies his/her account for verification on the cable operator’s Web site or from the set-top, Mpulse will query the billing system in real-time to verify the subscriber’s identity and current service and will initiate a credit check, if required.

Upon verification and authorisation, Mpulse will immediately display available packages and promotions for selection by the subscriber. When a new service is selected, Mpulse will notify the billing system to make the appropriate adjustments to the monthly invoice and to communicate with the operator’s DAC at the headend to activate the new service.

The release adds that Mpulse is a customisable solution that allows cable operators to create, edit and delete service packages, import graphics, and define promotions on their Web site. With its easy-to-use administrative console, operators can quickly change package offerings without significant manual intervention.

Mpulse also provides operators with an open reporting platform, enabling them to access pre-defined business reports and create their own reports using any of several third-party reporting tools. Reporting data can also be extracted easily for integration into the operator’s reporting and data warehousing systems.

Mpulse is in beta testing now, and it is expected to become generally available at the end of Q2 2003, with support for EPGs available later in the year. Mpulse is interoperable with all major US cable billing systems, including CSG, Convergys, and DST Innovis.

N2 Broadband’s software is deployed in more than 70 cities with five major N. American cable operators including Cablevision, Comcast Cable, Cox Communications, Time Warner Cable, Rogers Cable, iN DEMAND, HBO, Warner Bros., Starz! Encore and others.