TeleManagement Rehauls Catalyst

MORRISTOWN, N.J. -- In order to address the unparalleled transformation of the global communications industry, the TeleManagement Forum (TM Forum) announces a reformation of its popular Catalyst Program. The Catalyst Program is the living lab of the TM Forum that enables service providers, system integrators, and hardware/software vendors to work together to discover and demonstrate the art of the possible when solving common, critical OSS/BSS industry challenges. "Over the years, TM Forum's Catalyst Program was based on experimentation that stretched the industry's traditional lines of thinking," said Jim Warner, president and CEO of the TM Forum. "But in today's more pragmatic environment, we are recasting Catalyst Showcase projects to focus on solving specific problems that require immediate attention and are more aligned with what service providers are looking to procure." The TM Forum's Catalyst projects are unique in that each is sponsored by a service provider who defines the OSS/BSS problems and requirements. The projects undergo New Generation Operations Systems and Software (NGOSS) compliance testing to ensure the solutions adhere to key TM Forum NGOSS principles such as the use of existing commercial off-the-shelf products that support a common communications infrastructure. "Building upon its current Catalyst concept, the TM Forum has evolved its living lab program into a three stage developmental design that continues to support TM Forum's NGOSS program," said Warner. The three stages are: proof- of concept, interoperability testing and catalyst-developed products. Telemanagement Forum