ICTV, the creator of HeadendWare, the world's first centralised platform for the delivery of interactive television services, and Mentis Broadband Solutions, a leading provider of integrated billing and customer care solutions for the telecommunications industry, have announced that they are jointly developing a television-based customer care solution for deployment by the cable industry.

The solution combines the HeadendWare platform with the XML-based Mentis Real-Time Response platform, which provides a common software interface between applications and the multiple billing systems used by cable system operators. The result is a simple, consistent self-service experience for users, enabling operators to reduce customer care operating costs and increase subscriber retention. The solution enables subscribers with any digital set-top box to view accounts and pay cable bills online as well as sign up for automatic payment or additional services.

Cable operators at both the corporate and system levels are under greater pressure than ever to increase cash flow without incurring substantial capital cost. This solution can provide immediate bottom line impact by enabling operators to support self-service customer access to billing while more efficiently using customer service personnel. It also has the long-term benefit of promoting the use of television-based interactivity in general.

A company release states that this solution works because of the core competencies of the two partner companies. Mentis claims that its expertise enables it to provide a common real-time interface across multiple legacy billing systems, while HeadendWare's thin-client approach enables deployment of interactive television applications to every digital set-top box.

Based in the heart of California's Silicon Valley, ICTV has been issued 23 patents and has numerous patents pending, ensuring protection of its innovative television services solution. ICTV is a member of the Motorola Horizon and Scientific-Atlanta CreativEdge Developer's programmes. ICTV offers enabling infrastructure for the delivery of new television services to digital cable subscribers. The ICTV HeadendWare platform provides the most capital efficient approach for operators to increase revenue and customer satisfaction. Strategic partners include ACTV, Adelphia, Liberty Media, Motorola, OpenTV, Shaw Communications, TV Guide, Cox Communications and Lauder Partners.