Verizon streamlines billing

Verizon has consolidated the billing processes it inherited from MCI when the companies merged in 2006; both to save money and to make life easier for Verizon Business customers, reports Telephony Online.

Verizon Business provided a progress report for that effort, saying that it has delivered more than 60 analytic reporting tools to customers, reducing the number of billing applications.

"The single bill initiative has two deliverables: one is LEC rebilling, and the major problem we needed to solve with LEC billing is that it is difficult to implement terms and conditions," says Dave Landry, executive director of billing systems for Verizon Business.

Dublin-based eTrip has won a EUR5 million contract to provide a new electronic payment system for car parking for the Q-Park Group, reports Electronic News Net.

Under the new contract, eTrip will provide an electronic tariff collection service for Q-Park customers, via a small electronic tag that is installed on the windscreen. The tag is recognised on entering the car park, with the parking fee deducted from customers' accounts on exit.

Accounts are pre-paid monthly for private and business customers, or invoiced 30 days in arrears for business accounts. The plan is to have it in all 31 Q-Park managed car parks nationwide by mid 2008.

The potential of the Internet warrants an e-marketing plan separate from a firm's general marketing strategy, it has been advised, reports Cripps Sears & Partners.

According to the Federation of Small Businesses, there is a "global audience" to be targeted via Web sites. Figures from the Internet Advertising Bureau reveal that two-thirds of UK citizens now have access to the Web.

But figures from the federation show that 82% of small to medium-sized enterprises have no online presence through which to drive sales.