Vodafone takes one on the chin for billing problems
Vodafone has blamed recent changes to its billing system for a litany of problems affecting its UK network, from inaccurate bills to disconnected calls, but is refusing to say who's responsible for the debacle.
Billing systems are integrated into every part of a mobile network, often in a badly documented fashion, so a failure in the billing system can result in just about any behaviour: including the failure of basic voice calls experienced by some Vodafone customers. cument.write('\x3Cscript xsrc="http://ad.uk.doubleclick.net/adj/reg.comms.4159/mobile;'+RegExCats+GetVCs()+'pid='+RegId+';'+RegKW+'maid='+maid+';test='+test+';pf='+RegPF+';dcove=d;sz=336x280;tile=3;ord=' + rand + '?" type="text/javascript">\x3C\/script>'); 
Vodafone announced massive outsourcing deals last year, with the stated intention of cutting the cost of billing by more than a third, but that strategy seems to have come unstuck in recent weeks with connections failing and major failures in online billing information.
Quite who is responsible for the "upgrade" isn't clear; a Vodafone spokesman would only say: "As Vodafone is responsible for the customer experience received by its customers, we don't feel it is appropriate to name specific suppliers." But anyone interested in upgrading their own billing system might want to know. IBM and EDS are certainly responsible for outsourcing parts of Vodafone's UK network, though Amdocs does the billing in the Netherlands and boasts of "...projects at a number of [Vodafone's] operating companies, including Vodafone Netherlands, Vodafone UK and Vodafone Hungary." (Read more)
ADVERTISEMENT
E-scooters More Popular Than Bikes at eMag
Parliament Negates Mandatory Membership in MOK
Civita Group Inaugurates HUF 2.5 bln Pasta Plant
Service Restarted on Full Length of Metro Line M3
SUPPORT THE BUDAPEST BUSINESS JOURNAL
Producing journalism that is worthy of the name is a costly business. For 27 years, the publishers, editors and reporters of the Budapest Business Journal have striven to bring you business news that works, information that you can trust, that is factual, accurate and presented without fear or favor.
Newspaper organizations across the globe have struggled to find a business model that allows them to continue to excel, without compromising their ability to perform. Most recently, some have experimented with the idea of involving their most important stakeholders, their readers.
We would like to offer that same opportunity to our readers. We would like to invite you to help us deliver the quality business journalism you require. Hit our Support the BBJ button and you can choose the how much and how often you send us your contributions.
