TIA Member Spotlight:
TIA Welcomes one of its newest members, Accudata Technologies!
 Accudata Technologies was originally founded as a private payphone company in 1989 and now provides flexible access to data validation through innovative technology and cutting-edge data transmission. Accudata serves as a LIDB access hub for validating information associated with traditional, mobile and IP-based telephone numbers. Also, Accudata supplies VoIP providers with calling name (CNAM) identification for IP-enabled caller ID services, offers name and address services and enhanced fraud detection. TIA Network staff spent some time learning about the company.
Please tell us about your company.
Accudata serves as an access hub for validating information associated with telephone numbers, cellular numbers and IP locations. This information includes items such as name and address verification, details regarding whether the individual to whom the number corresponds is likely to pay for charges – a collect call, for example – and bankcard authorization. Accudata’s validation services translate information between diverse protocols such as SS7, PSTN and IP in order to access local number portability, line information databases (LIDBs), calling name (CNAM) databases, billing name and address information. and the aforementioned bankcard transaction verifications.
Accudata also provides line information database storage of phone numbers and corresponding information. The company’s LIDB is one of only about 15 currently active LIDB storage centers in the United States. Data on the majority of the working lines in North America is stored in these LIDBs, which maintain important customer information, including a customer’s telephone services provider and collect call preferences. Accudata pays LECs to store their numbers in its LIDB, and when telephone companies use the LIDB to access information regarding particular customers, they pay a fee to Accudata for access to that information.
Accudata’s calling name database provides Caller Name information, which helps carriers provide Caller ID service and accurate identification of callers for their clients.
For optimum profitability, e-retailers in industries such as online auto sales and apartment location services require sales lead validation and lead verification. Accudata’s expertise in information storage and verification is an ideal match for these e-retailers.
Please tell us about President and CEO Greg Smith.
 Greg Smith has more than 26 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. But before he began working in telecom, he taught cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point as he served as an officer in the US Army Airborne, Ranger, Infantry. He also won the world championships in U.S. Military Wrestling. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Greg joined Accudata in 2002 as president and CEO. He stabilized the company’s offerings and prepared for rapid expansion into new markets with new technology. In his telecom career, Smith has held senior management positions in several high-profile firms, including ROLM/IBM/Siemens and Rockwell International. Prior to joining Accudata, he was senior vice president of sales and marketing at InterVoice.
Tell us about Accudata Technologies products and solutions.
Internet Lead Validation
Accudata’s AccuSure service ensures that e-retailers have accurate and current lead information that they either purchase from lead providers or collect from their own online forms. By ensuring that this information is accurate and valid, our AccuSure service improves the efficiency of our clients’ sales processes, reducing the time and money that they might otherwise waste on bad leads.
Line Information Database (LIDB) Storage
As one of only about 15 authorized LIDB storage centers currently operating in the United States, Accudata is unique. As the only company that has built its own LIDB from the ground up, Accudata is in a technological class of its own. The Accudata LIDB is available for LEC storage as well as for access by other operating companies.
LIDB Validation
For validation of billing, we provide a link to every major LIDB database in North America on our own SS7 network for real-time validation of collect, third-party and calling-card calls. With LIDB validation, customers are able to identify whether the service is non-POTS residential or business, such as a payphone or a prison, and receive the Account Owner (AO) information to indicate the LEC providing local dial-tone service.
LIDB validation, available in real-time or batch, benefits local exchange carriers, long distance providers, payphone and inmate phone system companies, among others. The possibilities are endless.
Calling Name Database (CNAM) Storage
Unique in the industry, Accudata stores both LIDB and CNAM information in the same database, saving our storage customers from duplicate administration updates. Accudata will store your subscribers’ Calling Name data at no charge, and you’ll earn revenue when other carriers access the data for Calling Name delivery (or enhanced Caller ID.)
CNAM Delivery Service
Accudata is linked to every major CNAM database in North America to return Calling Name information instantly. With CNAM delivery, carriers create revenue opportunities delivering nationwide enhanced Caller ID to their subscribers. Just like LIDB, CNAM offers a wide variety of applications to customers from telecommunications to telemarketing.
Bankcard Authorization Service
Accudata bankcard service validates credit and debit cards to make certain they are valid, current and not stolen or suspended. Also, the service can indicate whether there are sufficient funds to pay and whether the customer is likely to pay based on previous payment history.
Billing Name and Address (BNA) Service
Critical to long distance providers, direct marketing firms and 900 number companies, Billing Name and Address Verification helps Accudata clients obtain information to bill consumers directly or update customer database records. For the most current name and address information for telephone numbers, Accudata BNA service searches a regularly updated, dynamic database. Often, other vendors search databases that are created from outdated phone directory information. For our BNA service, clients send a batch of numbers via FTP. Within 24 hours, Accudata returns the results for up to 1 million queries.
Working Telephone Number (WTN™) Service
Our WTN™ service is a great solution for telemarketing companies, e-retailers, lead generation providers and similar service providers. Accudata screens 10-digit numbers against a combination of CNAM, LIDB and other sources and indicates whether the numbers are working or not.
Telephone Number Validation Service
Before connecting certain calls, payphone providers, inmate systems, operator services, wireless operators and hospitality services must determine whether they will be able to collect payment for each call. If payment is unlikely, the provider can choose not to connect the call. Telephone service providers and wireless carriers rely on Accudata validation to access and cross-reference information that will indicate the likelihood of payment. E-retailers such as online auto dealers and apartment locators use Accudata’s validation services to check their lead information, making their sales efforts more productive.
Carrier Type Lookup (CTL) Service
For companies such as telemarketers that need to avoid calling wireless numbers, Carrier Type Lookup screens customer-provided numbers and identifies the type of carrier, landline or wireless, with nearly 100 percent accuracy.
Operating Company Name Lookup (OCNL™)
When wireline or wireless subscribers get better offers from other providers, they often switch. The carriers who lose these subscribers learn only that the number has been ported and the billing has been changed. It’s a little like going back to college after the summer and finding that your best friend from last year has transferred to some other school without telling you.
Accudata is involved with a variety of memberships in industry associations and participates in community programs. Which associations/ programs are you involved with and how have these relationships helped your business grow?
Accudata is involved with the Telecommunications Industry Association, American Electronics Council (AeA), Allen Chamber of Commerce, American Teleservices Association (ATA), Metroplex Technology Business Council (MTBC), and STARTech Early Ventures. Accudata believes in giving back to the community and being an active participant in industry dialogue. These beliefs are reflected in Accudata’s membership in industry associations and participation in community programs.
Accudata Technologies recently introduced AccuSure, an Internet lead-validation service that can verify that the most critical sales information that companies collect via the Internet is accurate and current. Tell us how this product helps e-retailers “make hot leads hotter!”
The AccuSure Internet lead validation service can verify that the most critical sales information (names and telephone numbers) companies collect via the Internet is accurate and current. Companies such as lending institutions, auto retailers and e-commerce websites need accurate information in their databases, particularly for sales purposes. Our automated service validates this information, reducing the time and money wasted on less accurate, labor-intensive data validation services or, even worse, on bad leads.
Starting with just a telephone number, Accudata can confirm that the number is operational and that it is registered to the correct user as of the previous 24 hours. Also helpful to clients who wish to place sales calls, the AccuSure service can determine whether each telephone number is serviced by a wireless or a landline provider. Working from your pre-collected telephone numbers, we can make sure your information is accurate right before you start your next sales effort. Or we can validate telephone numbers in real time, literally as users enter their information into your online forms. This serves as a great deterrent to inaccurate or false information.
What value do you gain from your TIA membership?
Through Accudata’s TIA membership, the company is able to participate and contribute to important industry dialog with other business leaders. Accudata enjoys the trade shows sponsored by TIA as well.
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