Sigma Systems Unveils Cloud Service Broker

TORONTO and BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - May 21, 2012) - Sigma Systems, the authority in provisioning converged broadband solutions, today unveiled the Sigma Cloud Service Broker, an integrated SaaS service fulfillment solution for the selection, provisioning and management of SaaS services and applications.

The Sigma Cloud Service Broker platform reduces costs, removes operational silos and reduces overall CapEx and OpEx by providing a single-sourced and deployed architecture for managing all on-network business services, including VoIP and high-speed broadband, as well as cloud-based SaaS services. The Cloud Service Broker enables communication service providers to extend value-added SaaS services to their small and medium business (SMB) customers in a scalable, repeatable and economic manner.

"With the Sigma Cloud Service Broker, operators can further solidify their relationships with their SMB customers by becoming a trusted provider and manager of business-critical SaaS services," said Tim Spencer, President, Sigma Systems. "Organizations today are eager to leverage more SaaS services, but do not have the time or resources to manage services from different providers. This presents an opportunity for cable and telecommunications companies to offer a much-needed service to their customers while benefiting from the increased revenues that these services can generate."

The Sigma Cloud Service Broker is built upon Sigma's award-winning Service Management Platform, a multi-service fulfillment solution that enables the quick and seamless delivery of IP service offerings. The new solution integrates with existing BSS and other back-office systems, so operators can bring cloud services to their subscribers quickly, accelerating time-to-revenue.

Sigma Cloud Services Broker -- be a Partner not a Pipe
The Sigma Cloud Service Broker provides the SMB end-user portals, order management and provisioning, billing integration and single sign-on (SSO) across a strategic suite of SMB SaaS service offerings. With its unified OSS architecture, the Cloud Service Broker allows service providers to offer their SMB customers a single source for all of their applications. Providers can establish and grow a unique and integrated catalog of services that complement their suite of network services, and allow for flexible bundling to meet their business customers' needs.

Unlike other offerings, service providers may choose to deploy the Sigma Cloud Service Broker on-premises or opt for Sigma to host their Service Management Platform and Cloud Service Broker from the cloud.

This flexibility reflects Sigma's approach to customer enablement, offering providers the level of support and management they require to maximize efficiency and revenue, while maintaining the highest level of quality for their subscribers. In addition, the Sigma Cloud Service Broker allows service providers to create unique and highly compelling packages by combining high-speed data, commercial voice, and other more complex network services with business focused, productivity enhancing, SaaS-based services.

"With Sigma's Cloud Service Broker, communication service providers can be a true business partner to their SMB subscribers, and be accepted as more than a simple access provider, or pipe," said Spencer.

Sigma Cloud Services Broker Offers Unique Range of Benefits
The Sigma Cloud Service Broker offers providers other important new benefits:

• Provides seamless order management, provisioning, and entitlement management across all technologies and platforms.
  
  
• Single-source architecture eliminates operational silos and the need for multi-vendor OSS solutions.
  
  
• Simultaneous provisioning and support for all on-network and SaaS (off-network) services and applications from a single OSS.
  
  
• Facilitates process for adding new services to their catalog with the Sigma Cloud Service Broker's back-office architecture, which enables the API integration to network SaaS services and applications.
  
  

Leading IT industry research firm IDC believes that cloud service brokerage has the potential to become an important source of revenue for service providers who target SMB customers.

"Cloud adoption among small and medium sized businesses has increased dramatically over the past 6 - 12 months," said Deb Osswald, research vice president with IDC. "Providing a solution that enables cable operators and communications service providers to quickly and easily tap into this burgeoning market opportunity with SMB-oriented applications and content provided by third parties opens the door to a significant new stream of revenue."

Availability
Sigma will host the first public demonstrations of its Cloud Services Broker at The Cable Show in Boston, May 21-23, and at TM Forum's Management World in Dublin, May 21-24.

For More Information:
Sigma Systems Cloud Services Broker: http://sigma-systems.com/solutions_cloud_services.htm
Sigma Cloud Service Broker Datasheet: http://sigma-systems.com/pdfs/Datasheet_Cloud_Services_Accelerator.pdf
Cloud Brokerage with John Frame (video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2wBKJaOSf4

About Sigma Systems
Sigma Systems is the proven global leader in delivering converged broadband services. Sigma Systems' powerful solutions enable the world's Next-Generation Operators (NGOs) to deliver a rich consumer experience through communications and entertainment services -- over any access technology to any device. The company's award-winning solutions include order management, provisioning and activation, and active mediation of residential and business VoIP, broadband, video, and triple-play and quad-play services. With the support of Sigma's Professional Services, NGOs around the globe -- including Charter, Cox, Rogers, TELUS, Cogeco Cable, YouSee, Tiscali, NET Servicos, Technology Networks, iTSCOM and ZON Multimedia and more -- are leveraging Sigma's solutions for service transformation and rapid, reliable delivery of today's -- and tomorrow's -- new services. For more information about Sigma Systems, visit http://www.sigma-systems.com and follow the company on Twitter at http://twitter.com/sigmasystems.