providing good user interface for managing the service and network thus hiding complexity. The other option of having more trained professionals is both expensive and risky. Let us try to list the major issues in telecom industry that necessitates the need for a user-friendly and functionality-rich EMS: There are an increasing variety of NEs: New network elements are being developed to provide new services. In the network itself there are mul- tiple telecom networks like GSM, GPRS, CDMA, IMS, and SO on with independent work being carried out in the development of access and core network. Need to support elements from different vendors: Mergers and acquisitions are inevitable in the telecom industry. So a single EMS product might be required to collect data from a family of network elements. What Is EMS? Increase in complexity of managing NEs: With advances in telecom indus- try there is a major trend to combine functionalities performed by multiple elements to a single element. For example, most vendors now have a single SGSN performing functionality of U-SGSN and G-SGSN and a media gate- way is embedded with functionality to handle signaling protocols. Shortage of trained telecommunications technicians: Telecom industry is evolving SO rapidly that telecom technicians are not able to keep pace with the same. This leads to a shortage of trained professionals in maintaining the network. With a functionality rich and user-friendly EMS solution, the effort to train technicians is reduced. Need to reduce cost of managing network and high-quality innovative ser- vices: Cost of managing the network and service is one major area where companies want to cut down cost as they do not directly generate revenue, unlike customer management and research activities that could help to get and retain business. Meeting these challenges requires element management systems (not just EMS but good NMS, OSS, and BSS also) with the maximum efficiency and flexibility with respect to accomplishing tasks. 1.5 Characteristics Required in EMS