Blakely aims to whittle 65 billing and 23 accounts-receivable systems down to a much smaller number.

FORBES: Companies, People, Ideas

This accounts for an estimated 20% of hospitals' total billing expenses, so there is room for continued rapid growth.

ECONOMIST: Japanese medical suppliers

U.S. lenders report loan and credit-card activity to credit bureaus based on billing addresses, but that activity could stop if you change your credit-card accounts and loans to a foreign address.

WSJ: Getting Going: Managing Your Finances Abroad

It didn't get much of a workout, but Iridium also has one of the world's best computer billing systems, capable of authenticating calls across the globe, handling currency conversions and roaming charges, and settling international accounts on a single bill.

FORBES: McCaw poised to scoop up Iridium