ePLDT service reduces cash outlay in developing business apps

ePLDT, the information and communications subsidiary of telecommunications giant Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), has unveiled a new type of service that reduces outright cash outlay for developing, testing and benchmarking new business applications.

Applications at ePLTD’s VITRO Competency Center run in a complete, well-equipped and diverse simulated testing environment to yield accurate results.

ePLDT provides enabling infrastructure and services focusing on next-generation communications, connectivity, content and multimedia applications to consumers and businesses.

In using the center, clients are able to create proof-of-concepts before the initial rollout of projects for their offshore customers. This minimizes the risks in making investment decisions and maximizes the rate of success upon rollout. The significance of this activity is not reflected on cost savings but more importantly, on the applications’ performance.

It also boosts professional capabilities in running system integrated facilities, multi-platform hardware and a combination of software programs, thus making proof-of-concept activities a low-risk and low-cost alternative for planned commercial and operational enhancements.

The VITRO Competency Center is a highly functional staging laboratory backed by a comprehensive framework of hardware, software and networking solutions that provides opportunities for conducting a series of product enhancement tests, simulation experiments, pre-launch activities and even a pilot run of new services to benchmark performance while minimizing expenditure.

"The ultimate purpose of having VITRO house a competency center is to provide a near-live flexible environment to develop, test or benchmark applications. We offer cost-effective solutions to do proof-of-concepts without disrupting your current production system," ePLDT chief technology officer Emmanuel Dizon said.

The Manila outsourcing project team is in the midst of data conversion activities, the development of the interface and Structured Query Reports (SQR) batch modules, Java online pages and reports. The project uses a Sun architecture, specifically iPlanet.

Accenture, a global management and technology services organization, is tapping the VITRO Competency Center for applications testing. With its solid background in consulting, Accenture Manila is involved in an outsourced development project that involves the design, development and implementation of a school administration system.

Accenture associate partner Ma. Theresa Yuyek said its activities at the VITRO Competency Center are geared toward the completion of applications for their clients.

"Our expectation is that our use of the center will help us make our solutions workable to benefit our end-users," she said.

Located inside the Philippines’ first and only ISO 9001-certified Internet data center, VITRO is strengthened by ePLDT’s partnerships with the world’s trusted technology names. The center provides a high-standard and conducive simulation environment for pilot tests of the most demanding applications.

ePLDT operates the VITRO Data Center, the Philippines’ first industrial-strength Internet data center granted pioneer status by the Board of Investments.

VITRO provides co-location services, hosting, hardware and software maintenance services, managed services, shared applications, data disaster recovery and business continuity services.