Design and implementation of a distributed telecommunications supermarket

TelecomSupermart is a ´Win-Win´ solution for users and providers of communication services. In current communication systems, wired and wireless, subscribers are more or less tied to their service providers by means of long-term contracts - the business model is therefore rigid. In an ideal scenario, users should be free to buy telecommunications services just as they are able to buy other commodities in a super market without being obliged to buy products from a particular company. The service providers should also be able to maximize their revenues by means of intelligent strategies such as dynamic pricing based on demand and supply trends in the market. TelecomSupermart is a novel implementation of an agent-based system for telecommunication service provision. It encompasses the merits of an open and free market and facilitates revenue maximization for service providers while giving the users the choice of selecting a service provider based on their own requirements. The backbone of the TelecomSupermart is a decentralized network of individual service providers offering entrepreneurs and individuals an opportunity to become a listed service provider and offer communications services through the TelecomSupermart.