Microsoft Online Services Adopts Telco Standards

Microsoft Online Services Adopts Telco Standards, recognized as a leading Global Service Provider

Business Problem:

To provide the speed and convenience of cloud computing services, Microsoft recently launched Microsoft® Online Services, a new family of offerings that combine elements of client-based programs with services hosted in remote data centers. For Online Services to be successful, Microsoft needed both a new business model and new business processes.

Solution Implementation:

Using models for creating and running a service business from the TM Forum, a select team used enterprise architecture tools to model a new Microsoft reference BSS/OSS architecture. The team customized and adapted it to accommodate specific business requirements and implemented a completely new BSS/OSS stack in less than eight months—one-third of the time normally expected.

The Online Services team used the New Generation Operations Systems and Software (NGOSS) reference architecture from the TM Forum to help establish the new solution architecture, generate code, and complete the integrations. The tools included Sparx Enterprise Architect, Microsoft Office Visio, Microsoft Visual Studio® 2008, Microsoft Visual Studio Team System Team Foundation Server, and the .NET enabling technologies of Windows® Workflow Foundation, and Windows Communication Foundation.

The team developed the architecture of the solution based on the following TM Forum NGOSS components:

• A business process model based on the eTOM Framework

• A data model based on the TM Forum Shared Information/Data (SID) Model

• An application model based on the TM Forum Telecom Application Model (TAM)

• A set of standard APIs

Deployment and Results:

The Online Services team started in February 2008 and completed architectural and design work in early July 2008. Coding new components and configuring and integrating existing components began in July. The new Microsoft Online Services Customer Portal was live and operational in early October and the team officially rolled it out for the broader service provider audience at a TM Forum event in November 2008. 

More than 2,000 industry partners have signed up to support Online Services by using the new BSS/OSS. Online service syndication agreements have been announced with Telstra and Vodafone. In March 2009, Microsoft will invite international partners and customers to use the new service.

The full case study is available at www.tmforum.org/casestudies.