USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Data) messaging is a method of transferring information or instructions between subscribers and session based applications over the GSM network. The USSD messaging technology is similar to SMS messaging with two important differences: i) the messages go directly between the communication peers, without any store and forward node in the middle, and ii) dialogues between the peers are possible, which open new opportunities for business services and provides for more effective use of the resources in the network. USSD messaging is defined within the GSM standard and is available on almost any GSM handset.
The inherent simplicity, vast availability, session support, transfer speed, availability for roamers, make USSD the best means for establishing a rich variety of interactive services for mobile clients, and is in many ways superior to SMS.
There is a need of messaging solutions based on USSD where the business supporting departments or 3rd party service providers will have the freedom to create new business services or modify the existing business services without being dependant from core network specifics and protocols.
A list of typical USSD based applications includes: Balance and Bonus Check, Prepaid Top-Up, e-Voucher Transfers, Last Call Costs, Call Me Back, USSD Callback, Notifications, Information (weather, news, esc, Service Self-Administration, Positioning Data Transfers, Tele-voting, m-Commerce and m-Banking, Interactive Games, Remote Control.
USSD based services allow mobile operators to enrich their service portfolios with large numbers of new services and improve their subscriber base and ARPU. They also provide a way for the operator to share the profits from their corporate clients’ services providing the transport media for these services.
Applicata USSD Gateway solution is installed in GSM core network. The solution provides an open architecture for use by business services. The USSD Gateway implements the corresponding core network signaling procedures protecting the access to the HLR and other sensitive nodes. It also provides an open architecture and interfaces for service providers. They now can concentrate on the logic of their services, create new services or modify the existing services without the need of entering into the SS7 messaging details and complexity.
Using the gateway, the service providers can implement distributed modules using their preferred development technologies, for example TIBCO, J2EE, Python, etc.
The solution comes with N+1 resilient configuration that provides service high availability. It is able to process high signaling rates. The solution capacity can be easily extended.
Excellent opportunity to enrich service portfolio and to improve customer basis
No need to invest in new core network elements or features
USSD capabilities are available with the existing GSM equipment and mobile phones
Operator, corporate customers or 3rd party service providers can develop their own business services
USSD based services in the home network are available while roaming in other networks
Flexible CDR, INAP/CAP or DIAMETER based billing support
An interface based on open standards
API layer for business services provides simple interface to the business services
Hides SS7 MAP layer complexity
Services can be extended to other networks without cross network charging
No extra costs, no need to change the existing handsets for being able to use the service
Simple to use, fast response times
Session data support
Menu driven support for interactive services
Support for subscriber and/or network initiated services
Option for integration with SIM toolkit based applications
