[LINK] Vodafone software problems risk public safety?

[Tom Worthington]

Vodafone changed to a new billing system in 2007 
<http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/business/soa/Vodafone-tries-for-top-billing/0,139023166,339282910,00.htm>. 
There appear to be ongoing problems with the system, which Vodafone 
is reluctant to acknowledge. If this attitude extends to the 
maintenance of their network, Vodafone this may require investigation 
by government regulatory agencies.

The latest bill shown for my Vodafone mobile phone on their online 
system is from October 2007. When I tried to check some "National 
Data Usage" charges on the bill, the system reported: "An error has 
occurred." So I logged a question with Vodafone online system. The reply said:

"We wish to advise that your most current invoice is available 
online.  However we are currently experiencing intermittent issues 
with some aspects of our website. We do suggest you attempt to access 
the required information again at a later time.  ..."

A web search on "Vodafone billing problem" showed that this is more 
than an occasional intermittent problem.

After several attempts to use the Vodafone billing system, I lodged a 
complaint with the Telecommunications Ombudsman, using their 
excellent online service: <http://www.tio.com.au/make_a_complaint.htm>.

But if Vodafone are unable, or unwilling, to fix their billing 
system, how well are they maintaining their telecommunications 
network? The system Vodafone are providing is relied on by phone 
users and is interconnected to the Australian and international 
systems. There have been cases of poorly maintained mobile systems 
contributing to deaths, being used to illegally monitor phone calls 
of government officials, of mobile phones used for terrorism and of 
computer systems used for billion dollar fraud. If Vodafone's system 
is not being correctly maintained, it places at risk the safety of 
the public, as well as creating a risk of fraud, crime and terrorism.

ps: A news report from 2003  indicated that  Vodafone had selected 
IBM as the integrator for its new CRM, billing and provisioning 
systems in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji: 
<http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;836665261;fp;2;fpid;1834532753>.



Tom Worthington FACS HLM tom.worthington at tomw.net.au Ph: 0419 496150
Director, Tomw Communications Pty Ltd            ABN: 17 088 714 309
PO Box 13, Belconnen ACT 2617                      http://www.tomw.net.au/
Adjunct Senior Lecturer, ANU