Amdocs and Alcatel in talks for huge joint project

The project is estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and it will be carried out in several countries.

7 April 05 11:41, Hadass Geyfman

Sources inform "Globes" that billing software giant Amdocs (NYSE: DOX) is in advanced negotiations for a joint project with French telecommunications equipment company Alcatel. The project is worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Amdocs will provide the billing systems, and Alcatel the infrastructure.

Alcatel will apparently be the systems integrator. Industry sources estimate that the project will be spread over several years, and that Amdocs will provide its unified Amdocs-6 system that combines billing, customer relationship management (CRM), orders management, and other systems. It is also reported that the project will be executed in several countries, apparently in Europe and the Far East. Industry sources said that more than one telecommunications operator might be involved.

This is not the first time that Amdocs and Alcatel are involved in a joint project. Among the larger projects they have undertaken is the activity at US telecommunications giant SBC, a customer they have in common. Moreover, Alcatel is considered a leading equipment supplier for IPTV (Internet protocol television). Amdocs recently unveiled its IPTV strategy, and its first project in this field with Microsoft. As first reported in "Globes", the project is being carried out for SBC. It may be that when the project with Alcatel gets underway, it will include systems for IPTV.

A spokesperson for Amdocs said in response, "The company does not comment on rumors.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on April 7, 2005