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TELECOM UPDATE
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published weekly by Angus TeleManagement Group
http://www.angustel.ca
Number 499: September 30, 2005
Publication of Telecom Update is made possible by generous
financial support from:
** AVAYA: www.avaya.ca/en/
** BELL CANADA: www.bell.ca
** CISCO SYSTEMS CANADA: www.cisco.com/ca/
** ERICSSON: www.ericsson.ca
** MITEL NETWORKS: www.mitel.com/
** NEC UNIFIED SOLUTIONS: www.necunifiedsolutions.com
** ROGERS TELECOM: www.rogers.com/solutions
** VONAGE CANADA: www.vonage.ca
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IN THIS ISSUE:
** Carriers Debate Local Deregulation
** Telus and TWU Resume Negotiations
** Alberta SuperNet Now Complete
** Bell Buys Quebec Integrator
** RIM Shareholders Hard to Please
** Nortel Reorganizes Again
** Ottawa Updates PCS Spectrum Availability
** Telehop Intros Business VoIP Service
** Yak Sales Up, Profits Down
** Telemarketing Scammers Shut Down
** Allstream Launches Hosted IP Contact Centre
** Most U.S. VoIP Customers Accept 9-1-1 Limits
** Report Sees Phone Gains for Cablecos
** Conference Adds Telecom Management Tutorials
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CARRIERS DEBATE LOCAL DEREGULATION: This week's CRTC hearings on
criteria for deregulating the incumbent telcos' local telephone
service went into overtime: the commission held evening sessions and
extended the sitting to Friday in order to hear all the submissions.
As expected, the contentious issues were what percentage market share
loss would trigger deregulation, and how large an area should be
included in calculating the percentage.
** Full transcripts of the hearings are posted at
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/process/2005/sep26_t.htm
TELUS AND TWU RESUME NEGOTIATIONS: On Tuesday, for the first time in
three months, Telus and the Telecommunications Workers Union met at
the bargaining table. CEO Darren Entwistle has agreed to participate
personally, and both parties have imposed a news blackout on the
talks, which are being held in the Toronto area.
ALBERTA SUPERNET NOW COMPLETE: Alberta SuperNet is now connected to
4,200 learning and health facilities, and to government offices in 529
communities. Prime contractor Bell Canada says SuperNet's focus is now
shifting to the development and delivery of multimedia applications.
BELL BUYS QUEBEC INTEGRATOR: Bell Canada has acquired The Createch
Group, a Quebec-based information systems integrator that specializes
in business process optimization. Createch's 160 employees will work
with Bell's enterprise wireless data group.
RIM SHAREHOLDERS HARD TO PLEASE: This week, Research In Motion made a
deal to use a new Intel processor in future BlackBerry devices,
obtained another favorable ruling from the U.S. Patent Office in its
dispute with NTP Inc, and released second quarter results that showed
sales up 58% and profits up 57%. Despite that, RIM shares fell more
than 10%.
NORTEL REORGANIZES AGAIN: Nortel has reorganized its product,
technology, services, operations, and sales groups into two product
divisions -- Enterprise Solutions and Packet Networks led by Steve
Slattery, and Mobility and Converged Core Networks led by Richard
Lowe -- as well as four region-based marketing divisions.
** Malcolm Collins, who has been president of the Enterprise
Division, is leaving the company.
OTTAWA UPDATES PCS SPECTRUM AVAILABILITY: Interested in becoming a
cellular carrier? There's unused PCS spectrum in parts of B.C.,
Saskatchewan, Quebec, and New Brunswick: it will be assigned to
applicants on a first-come-first-served basis. Industry Canada has
posted an updated summary at
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/en/sf08451e.html.
TELEHOP INTROS BUSINESS VoIP SERVICE: Toronto-based Telehop
Communications, known primarily for dial-around (1010) long distance
service, has introduced a business version of its VoIP-based telephone
service. Starting at $53.99/line/month, the SOHO version of Broadtalk
includes a 416 number, unlimited calling to most of Ontario and the
Montreal region, 1,500 Canada/U.S. LD minutes a month, and various
calling features.
YAK SALES UP, PROFITS DOWN: Another dial-around operator, Yak
Communications, reports revenue of US$92.7 million for the year ended
June 30, 15% higher than the previous year. Net earnings declined 16%
to $4.18 million. Between April and June, 905,000 customers used the
service.
TELEMARKETING SCAMMERS SHUT DOWN: Telemarketing operations at four
locations in Toronto and Calgary were raided and shut down on
September 22 and 27, and criminal charges have been laid. The
Competition Bureau says the boiler rooms ran scams that offered
pre-approved credit cards to American consumers with poor credit
history.
ALLSTREAM LAUNCHES HOSTED IP CONTACT CENTRE: Allstream has introduced
a managed IP contact centre service based on Cisco technology that
allows agents to interact with customers voice, email, web chat, and
fax.
MOST U.S. VOIP CUSTOMERS ACCEPT 9-1-1 LIMITS: Most of the 2.7 million
U.S. Internet phone subscribers have said they understand and accept
the limitations of 9-1-1 service on these phones. The Federal
Communications Commission had ordered VoIP providers to disconnect any
customers who had not responded positively by September 28; it has now
extended this deadline again, by another month.
REPORT SEES PHONE GAINS FOR CABLECOS: A new report from the
Convergence Consulting Group predicts that Canadian cable TV companies
will capture 16% of residential phone lines by the end of 2007, and
27% by 2009. By contrast, the report says, the telcos will get only 4%
of the TV market by 2007 and 9% by 2009.
** For more information on the report, see
http://www.convergenceonline.com/reportE.html
CONFERENCE ADDS TELECOM MANAGEMENT TUTORIALS: The first day of year's
Telemanagement Live conference (Toronto, October 17-19) features six new
in-depth tutorials for managers of enterprise telecommunications and
networking. Topics:
** IP-Based Convergence How to Make the Right Decision
** Telecom Cost Control Reducing Your Bills Without Sacrificing Service
** Single or Multiple Vendors Selecting the Better Approach
** Transitioning to IP The Megatrade Story
** Managing Change in the Telecom Industry
** IP Security The Threat and Risk Assessment
Telecom Update subscribers who register online now will receive a $200
discount on an All Access pass, including all sessions and meals and a
ticket to the Telecommunications Hall of Fame Dinner. To qualify,
register at Telemanagement Live website http://www.telemanagementlive.com
and enter AMBP95 in the "promotional code" field.
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HOW TO SUBMIT ITEMS FOR TELECOM UPDATE
E-mail ianangus@angustel.ca and jriddell@angustel.ca
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TeleManagement Group Inc. All rights reserved. For further
information, including permission to reprint or reproduce, please
e-mail jriddell@angustel.ca.
The information and data included has been obtained from sources which
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Angus TeleManagement Group (jriddell@angustel.ca)