AsiaInfo Holdings, Inc., a provider of telecom network and software solutions in China, recently announced that it has signed an agreement with Shanghai Mobile, one of China Mobile's largest provincial subsidiaries, for future strategic co-operation, particularly in the Business Operation Support System (BOSS) related field.

Immediately following the signing of the agreement, AsiaInfo was also awarded a contract by the carrier to optimize its BOSS network. According to the agreement, the two parties will work closely together on joint research and development of advanced BOSS technology, as well as planning and implementation of Shanghai Mobile's long-term BOSS development strategy. Under the agreement, a specific advisory board will be formed, with key personnel from both sides to oversee the strategic development of the carrier's BOSS network. AsiaInfo will not only provide the carrier with its leading BOSS solutions and superior services on an ongoing basis, but also bring comprehensive consulting services to the carrier in the field, sharing AsiaInfo's rich partnership resources with the carrier. The agreement will also encourage the two parties to collaborate in fields other than BOSS.

The BOSS optimization project awarded to AsiaInfo will provide solutions and services to enhance the flexibility, reliability and user-friendliness of the carrier's current BOSS network, with a focus on its billing component. Upon completion of the project, the optimized network will be capable of handling 8 million subscribers and their increasingly diversified demands, with fully differentiated and customized service options.

The BOSS solution contract signed between AsiaInfo and Shanghai Mobile in late 2001 was AsiaInfo's first BOSS solution contract win. In early 2003, AsiaInfo was selected by the carrier again to deploy its award-winning Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solution. AsiaInfo is now the largest system integrator and telecom solution provider for Shanghai Mobile's BOSS network. The two companies have also worked closely together in other fields, from the construction of data network to the deployment of short message gateway solution.