The 2006 Frost & Sullivan Award for Customer Service Innovation in the audio conferencing service provider market has been awarded to MeetingZone Limited, in recognition of its application of information systems technology to support innovative customer services.

One of the largest independent, UK-owned conferencing service providers, MeetingZone focuses on the delivery of high-quality conferencing solutions, tailored specifically to meet customers' needs. The company aims to use the principles of mass customisation, combined with the application of new technologies to deliver flexible solutions as well as consistent high levels of service at very competitive prices.

Commenting on the award, Frost & Sullivan Senior Industry Analyst, Mr. Dominic Dodd said "MeetingZone aims to achieve sustainable competitive advantage through a highly innovative customer service web portal, which provides real time billing and reporting and full conference control. Moreover, mass customisation of services is achieved through the implementation of a high level of integration between delivered services and the company's backroom systems."

MeetingZone's clients are able to gain instant access to their accounts via their own personal web portal, which allows them to see real time billing data and usage reports. Additionally from here they can add users, change conference preferences, manage their conference recordings, schedule one-off conferences and manage multiple accounts and account hierarchies. This secure web portal can also be customised for large clients and white label channels allowing MeetingZone to provide services into a range of non traditional channels.

Supported by its highly focussed customer service strategy and innovative business approach, MeetingZone has a rapidly expanding list of blue chip clients around the world and has enjoyed 100% growth year on year since its formation in 2002.

"Over the next five years, the audio conferencing services market is likely to witness significant changes that will challenge the dominance of automated reservationless audio conferencing services," states Mr.Dodd. "However, the company's business model and strategy, with its emphasis on customer service differentiation through mass customization, will assist in avoiding the impending threats posed by price commoditisation, VoIP hosted services and IP-PBX applications."

Frost & Sullivan's Award for Customer Service Innovation is bestowed upon a company that has demonstrated excellence in customer service innovation within its industry. The award is conferred in recognition of a company's abilities to effectively and efficiently respond to the perceived needs of its customers.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognise companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices in the industry.