Amdocs (NYSE: DOX), the leading provider of software and services to enable integrated customer management and the intentional customer experience(TM), hosted a Customer Experience Innovation Forum with Forbes magazine, yesterday at the Rainbow Room in New York City, with more than 60 telecoms, broadband cable, satellite and entertainment industry executives attending. The thought-leadership event facilitated an in-depth discussion of new strategies for delivering next- generation services and profiting from the convergence of these industries, and of voice, video and data services, with a focus on creating an integrated, innovative and intentional customer experience.
Attendees examined how to differentiate their offerings by delivering a customer experience which is consistently simple, uniquely personal and immediately valuable at every point of service. Keynotes were given by Michael Powell, former chairman of the FCC, who pointed out the conflicts, potential pitfalls and opportunities in the communications landscape; and David Goldberg, vice president and general manager of Yahoo! Music, who addressed how the consumer is far ahead of the media industry and is currently driving innovation.
As Michael Powell observed in his keynote address, "personalization is where the value is perceived by our teenage children and this explains why they are willing to pay more for next-generation services. While some may be unwilling to pay for a full music download of a song, they will pay two dollars for a thirty second ringtone. The reason is that the ringtone adds a stamp of personal identity to their mobile phone, which they value more than simple entertainment."
The event also featured a panel presentation on customer experience innovation. Speakers included Emily Nagle Green, chief executive officer of Yankee Group; Michael McSherry, senior vice president of Emerging Technologies at Amp'd Mobile; Michael Matthews, chief marketing officer of Amdocs; Lawrence Kenny, senior vice president and general manager of telecommunications at IBM; Von Wright, vice president of Cingular; and Tara Maitra, vice president and director of programming for TiVo. There were also breakout sessions focusing on profiting from next-generation services, delivering the lowest total cost of ownership to the service provider market and enabling the delivery of the intentional customer experience.
"We live at a time of unprecedented change in terms of technology and customer business models. This change is constant; however if you can't keep your customers, it doesn't matter if you are on the right side of this evolution," said Rich Karlgaard, publisher of Forbes magazine.
Service providers have realized that the key to their success lies in enhancing the customer experience -- and that will continue to be their top business priority in the next two years, according to a recent survey commissioned by Amdocs.
"Amdocs is about helping service providers focus on the customer experience, and we wanted to offer a venue to discuss this key issue," said Michael Matthews, chief marketing officer, Amdocs. "Service providers have greater insight into their customers than any other industry in terms of usage, lifestyle and user preferences. They have an incredible opportunity to tap this information to increase profitability and retain their customers - in short, to create an intentional customer experience."
About Amdocs
Amdocs combines innovative software and services with deep business knowledge to accelerate implementation of integrated customer management by the world's leading service providers. By delivering a comprehensive portfolio of software and services that spans the customer lifecycle, Amdocs enables service companies to deliver an intentional customer experience(TM), which results in stronger, more profitable customer relationships. Service providers also benefit from a rapid return on investment, lower total cost of ownership and improved operational efficiencies. A global company with revenue of $2.48 billion in fiscal 2006, Amdocs has over 16,000 employees and serves customers in more than 50 countries around the world. For more information, visit Amdocs at http://www.amdocs.com.
Forward-Looking Statement
This press release includes information that constitutes forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements about Amdocs' growth and business results in future quarters. Although we believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be obtained or that any deviations will not be material. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ from those anticipated. These risks include, but are not limited to, the effects of general economic conditions, Amdocs' ability to grow in the business segments it serves, adverse effects of market competition, rapid technological shifts that may render the Company's products and services obsolete, potential loss of a major customer, our ability to develop long-term relationships with our customers, and risks associated with operating businesses in the international market. Amdocs may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, however the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These and other risks are discussed at greater length in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006, filed on December 13, 2006.
Media Contacts:
Amdocs
Darcy Hansen
Manager, Corporate Communications
(415) 806-4139 Cell
(201) 631-3226 Direct
Darcy.Hansen@amdocs.com
Forbes:
Laurie Baker
Director of Corporate Communications
(212) 367-4874 Direct
LBaker@forbes.com