Roamware is a worldwide provider of voice and data roaming solutions. BizTech2.com in conversation with its Founder President and CEO Bobby Srinivasan gets insights into the latest in the telecom space.

What kind of technologies should telecom CIOs look to invest as the recession is easing out?

Telcos today are focusing on solutions around regulation and compliance. For example, Data Tariff Advisor informs users of data roaming rates, or solutions that prevent wasteful expenses and help improve profitability like VMCC –or voice mail call completion that saves significant costs for subscribers and operators alike. Telcos are looking for solutions that differentiate them from their competitors. A number of subscriber-centric innovations – particularly the mobile financial services portfolio are receiving serious attention.

In the Indian market there is a demand for from new players for rolling out roaming services quickly. Existing players are rolling out services like Virtual Home Environment, Roaming Quality Monitoring and so on.

How do you think technologies like MNP and 3G/ WiMax are going to be disruptive for the Indian telecom scenario?

Services like these will put pressure on mobile operators. It will improve the overall offering with a special focus on high value customers. Wimax holds the promise of improving overall offering on broadband and data services and that does not present an immediate threat to mobile operators.

India, today is among the lower ranks with regard to penetration of broadband. In the current scenario, broadband access is a key element of infrastructure and a national Wimax network will help build on this front.

Multi-standard roaming is a feature, which our platform already supports. Mobile users could now potentially roam into the WiMax network and use high-speed data services and get billed for these services through their mobile subscriptions.

What are your thoughts on mobile banking and its benefits?

Mobile Banking has seen several of our customers build various exciting services through their mobile banking platform. Currently, the cost of banking makes it a challenge for banks to extend banking to the marginalised sections of society. Our offering, Mobile Financial Services has the potential to enable receipts of transfers directly into the mobile wallet with the added capability of making payments for key expense heads like utilities, mortgages, insurance and the like.

What key telecom trends do you see emerging?

One of the key trends we see is ARPU getting substituted by AMPU or average margin per user to reflect the new reality. Cost of delivering services, therefore receives particular attention and operators are attacking flab and leakages in their processes like never before. Their focus is also shifting on retaining subscribers and keeping them happy.