The telecom industry is entering a new phase, capitalising on the growth of the Internet and the emergence of new mobile technologies such as high-speed data and third generation systems. As services become more complexes and the customer more adept at using them, consumers' billing requirements will become increasingly complex.

There is plenty of debates over how customers will pay for goods and services in the future and what form bills will take.

The key challenge to service providers is to develop relationships and billing models which will ensure a viable long-term revenue stream in order to justify their next generation mobile investments. The new business models and complex scenarios that will result from the present system - is a considerable opportunity.