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CAMEL (Customized Application for the Mobile network Enhanced Logic) is astandard for Intelligent Networks for mobile communications networks. It iscurrently deployed in all regions of the world, enabling mobile network operatorsto offer fast and efficient services to their subscribers.For operators that consider prepay a must-have, CAMEL (CustomizedApplication for Mobile Enhanced network Logic) is becoming the prime methodfor putting the intelligence into intelligent networks.Initially designed for circuit-switched calls, CAMEL (phases I and II) triggered theintelligent network (IN) during a prepay call, so that companies could swiftlyassess and respond to subscribers' status information regarding location,account balances and service characteristics.CAMEL phase III adds prepaid support for SMS and data services. By supportingSMS, phase III allows GSM operators to offer real-time charging for MobileOriginated Short Messages (MO-SMS) without the need for proprietary devices.By enabling real-time charging for data services, CAMEL III opens up options for prepay billing, with parameters based on the location of the sender, thedestination of the message, as well as date and time.Since its initial phases, there has been an inextricable link between the evolutionof GSM and its many phases, and those of CAMEL. For carriers evolving fromTDMA to GSM, and onto second-generation GSM to 3GPP networks (UMTS),CAMEL Phase III (now a part of the 3GPP GSM spec) will be germane tocreating a foundation for service differentiation by enabling roaming.IN implementations, and subsequent roaming capabilities in large multi-vendor networks were difficult without CAMEL, because most vendors had developedproprietary IN standards around recommendations from CS1, the legacystandard from ETSI."Roaming is now being demanded by subscribers in Europe, South America andeven North America. By giving end users access to operator-specific serviceswhen roaming outside their home network, there will be a perception of addedvalue and an opportunity for carriers to charge accordingly and differentiatethemselves," says Rogier Noldus, senior specialist, Intelligent Networks,Ericsson. Because CS1 has been open to many interpretations over the years,CAMEL is standardized to a "bit level," so that comments, questions andcompatibility issues can be addressed in a standard manner, Noldus contends.Where multiple interpretations of previous standards inhibited intelligentnetworks, CAMEL will open the doors to inter-vendor compatibility. Ericsson,Nokia, Alcatel and Siemens work together regularly to improve CAMEL. "Wework like friends, rather than competitors in the 3GPP environment, which hasbecome a great breeding ground for building standards," says Noldus, claiming
 
that engineers working on CAMEL want to ensure the industry gets the most outof GSM as a whole."For carriers, CAMEL enables carriers to take inbound roaming subscribers intotheir networks."Any time operators can increase traffic on their networks, as well as thethroughput and usage on those networks, it is an attractive proposition," saysNoldus, noting that once carriers get roaming partners, subscribers can camp onMSCs (mobile switching centers) in their respective territories, and open uproaming to prepay customers. Noldus adds that European operators deployingCAMEL for inbound roaming subscribers are reporting increases in networkusage.
CAMEL-Phase III
 With CAMEL - Phase III - real-time charging moves from circuit switched towireless with IN capabilities based on GPRS and UMTS. For operator that haveimplemented prepaid GPRS services, CAMEL phase III provides a standardinterface between SMC and SCP within packet-based networks. Now, CAMELenables the mobile station to request data from the SGSN (a serving GPRSsupport node) and GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node) so that the IN isinvolved during the data context creation. The SGSN triggers the SCP, whichchecks the user's account as in the circuit switched case. The SGSN updates theSCP in regular intervals with status information (time, volume, position) about thePDP context. The SCP performs hot-rating, decrements the account, andrequests the SGSN to continue processing or to release the PDP context.Depending on the number, the duration and the traffic of the GPRS sessions, thiscan impose important performance requirements on the SGSN and SCP.CAMEL Phase IV (also known as "release 5" ) is slated for early 2005, is nowbeing finalized. It is based on IMT-2000, the ITU's framework for global wirelessaccess that links terrestrial and/or satellite networks.
The Practical Side
 Like any standard, carriers and operators cannot look through rose-tintedglasses: For CAMEL III to really "work," there have to be many operators whoimplement it, as the whole point is to allow roaming in other places, says SteveMenear, associate VP within the IN division of Comverse.Because it is relatively expensive to upgrade switches, many carriers are "sittingon their hands" waiting for others to do it first. "It will be the operators who needsupport for charging for short messages and GPRS services that will be the firsttoo implement CAMEL III," says Menear. "It was the same with CAMEL II; thoughit seemed obvious everyone should want it, it was a matter of the biggest
 
operators in Western Europe to go ahead before others thought the valueoutweighed the cost." Because CAMEL does not support all data services, thedecision to implement CAMEL III or IV will be a business decision. "Whether youspend the money to upgrade switches to support roamers depends on your business plan," adds Menear.
CAMEL
One of the biggest enhancements in GSM phase 2+ is the mobile network integration with intelligent network (IN). Customised Application for Mobilenetwork Enhanced Logic (CAMEL) is a GSM 2+ feature that makes worldwide support of Operator Specific Services (OSS) possible. CAMEL is not aservice, but a feature to create services. ETSI SMG1 group has worked since1994 to create the specifications for CAMEL and its development towardsUMTS Virtual Home Environment (VHE). CAMEL Phase 1 specification wasreleased 1996 and phase 2 in 1997. Current specification level is phase 3 (GSM09.78) .CAMEL phase 1 support call screening and supervision services, number translation services, enhanced call forwarding (time and location dependent)and fraud information gathering services (FIGS) and it is implemented tosupport both mobile originated and terminated calls. CAMEL phase 1 is limitedto basic call services and the trigger points are answer and disconnect, and theservices include optimal routing of the call. Phase 2 supports private numbering plan (SPNP), Prepaid Card Service with Advice of Charge, Free phone andUniversal number. Phase 2 includes more trigger points and usage of severalCAMEL Service Environments (CSE), which makes it possible for subscriber to receive message on his own language even when roaming abroad. Phase 3has additional features that allow roaming subscribers to access their full portfolio of IN services. CAMEL phase 3 connects the home and visited mobilenetworks to various Intelligent Network (IN) platforms used throughoutnational networks to provide features such as pre-paid roaming services, specialnumbers (e.g. 123 for voice mail works everywhere) and closed user groups(office extension numbers work everywhere) personal numbering and morecomplex location dependent services. As a result, CAMEL is a relativelyinexpensive method of allowing telecom operators to add new services to theexisting network infrastructure.
 
Value-added Service Characteristics
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