Package Frequencies

Overview

Package frequencies allow you to configure packages with as many billing frequencies as you require (monthly, quarterly, annually, etc.). Package frequencies are where recurring, transition, one time and tiered prices are set on services configured on the package. This allows you to setup different charges based on the frequency (e.g. a monthly recurring service can charge a different amount than the same service setup on an annual package frequency).

Prerequisites

• Services need to be configured before package frequencies can be setup

• Service statuses need to be setup in order to configure recurring charges on services for each billable status

• Service transitions need to be setup if you wish to configure charges based on transitioning from one status to another (e.g. an activation fee when going from a pre-active status to an active for instance)

• Currencies need to be setup in order to define the currencies that package frequencies can bill in and to configure service charges in each enabled currency

• Rate plans are required if you plan to attach rate plans to package frequencies (i.e. there are usage based services in the package)

• Package contracts are required if you need to attach a contract to a package frequency (e.g. an annual contract on a package with an annual package frequency)

Packages Panel

The Packages panel on the left of this screen allows you to select package frequencies to view and edit on the Edit Package Frequency panel to the right. Actions are also available in this panel which are shown as icons above the Filter text box. The available actions are described below.

Actions

Icon	Description
	Deletes the selected package frequency if not in use
	Adds a new package (disabled when a package frequency is selected)

Edit Package Frequency Panel

The information in this panel reflects the currently selected Package frequency. From here you can modify package frequency details (fields will display a red left border if a value is required and purple text if the field is read-only and cannot be modified).

Package Frequency Fields and Options:

• Name: a unique name for the package frequency. Typically, this name is a combination of the package name and the frequency, e.g. 'Global Cellular Annual' or 'Hosted Phone Monthly'

• SKU: a code used to identify the product (a package with a particular frequency in this case). Typically, this code is used for internal purposes

• Active: the state of the package frequency. If active then the package frequency can be selected when adding the package to an account, if inactive the package frequency cannot be chosen. The Active option will be disabled if no currencies have been enabled on the package frequency

• Frequency: how often the package frequency will bill recurring service charges

• Contract: permits you to configure a package contract on the package frequency

• Rate Plan: this option will appear when usage based services are setup on the package. This field allows you to specify a rate plan for services in the package frequency to use. Rate plans determine the rates applicable when billing usage. For more information see the rate plan screen help

• Tiering: enables price tiering based on a selected counting rule. Counting rules can adjust prices based upon the number of packages or services on an account and the status that the packages/services are in (e.g. only count ‘active’ services)

• Counting Rule: allows you to type in the name of a configured counting rule and select it as the rule to use. The package frequency will need to be setup on the counting rule after you have setup the frequency. See the counting rules screen help for more information

• Billing Activation Service: allows you to select a service that has been configured as a billing activation service. Billing activation services trigger billing for packages when a certain amount of time or usage has been reached. See the services screen help for more information

Recurring tab

This tab is where you setup charges for the services that were configured on the package. You can charge different recurring prices based on the service status (e.g. charge one price when the service is in a pre-active status and another when the service is active).

For steps on how to setup recurring charges see the Configuring Recurring Charges guide under this article.

For an example configuration on setting up recurring charges see the Package with Recurring and One Time Charges Configuration Example.

Transition tab

This tab allows you to setup transition charges when service statuses are changed. E.g. if you have a service transition called 'activation' you can configure a charge (activation fee, installation fee, etc.) to be applied when the service transition occurs (e.g. the service goes from [New] to active, or pre-active to active, depending on how you configured your 'activation' service transition).

For steps on how to setup recurring charges see the Configuring Transitions Charges guide under this article.

For an example configuration on setting up a transition and a sample transition charge see the Service Transitions Configuration Example.

One Time tab

This tab allows you to setup charges that will only be applied once. After the package is first billed these charges will not occur again regardless of status changes to the package or services within it.

For steps on how to setup one time charges see the Configuring One Time Charges guide under this article.

For an example configuration on setting up recurring charges see the Package with Recurring and One Time Charges Configuration Example.

Counting Rule tab

This tab will only appear if the package frequency has been setup for tiered pricing with a counting rule. The configuration of the counting rule set on the package frequency will be displayed here. The configuration details will indicate what entity is being counted (packages or services), which particular packages/services are being counted under the rule and the package/service status that is applicable to the counting rule (e.g. count only ‘billable’ status packages/services).

Custom Fields tab

This tab will display any custom fields that have been setup with an 'Entity' value of 'Package Frequency'. Custom fields are used to capture/provide additional data and for package frequencies typically this data is used for internal/back-end purposes. To allow or require users to enter data when adding packages to accounts you would setup custom fields with an 'Entity' value of 'Account Package'. See the custom field help for more information.