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TELECOM UPDATE
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published weekly by Angus TeleManagement Group
http://www.angustel.ca
Number 506: November 18, 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:
** Ottawa Tables Internet Wiretap Law
** Feds Propose Giving CRTC Fining Power
** High-Speed Mobile Data Expands
** MTS Offers $15 Long Distance
** Via Rail to Extend Onboard Wi-Fi
** PBX Sales--Who's on First?
** Rogers Fights New Brunswick over Right-of-Way Fees
** SBC Purchase of AT&T Gets Final OK
** Rogers Software Offers Electronic Clipboards
** Bell Reduces Western Staff
** RIM Says Patent Workaround Is Ready
** Rogers Cutting Off Usenet
** Cygnal Names New CEO
** New CEO at Minacs
** UBS Records Sales Growth
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OTTAWA TABLES INTERNET WIRETAP LAW: A bill tabled by the federal
government would require Internet Service providers to include
interception capability (wiretap access) on new technology, and to
give the names, addresses, and phone numbers of customers to law
enforcement agencies on request.
** Bill C-74, the "Modernization of Investigative Techniques
Act," received first reading in the House of Commons on
November 15.
www.parl.gc.ca/PDF/38/1/parlbus/chambus/house/bills/government/C-74_1.PDF
FEDS PROPOSE GIVING CRTC FINING POWER: On November 13, Industry
Minister David Emerson introduced Bill C-73 to amend the Telecom Act.
** The bill would authorize the CRTC to levy fines for
violations of CRTC decisions or the Telecom Act--up to $15
million for carriers, and up to $50,000 for individuals.
** It would allow the CRTC to share confidential
information with the Competition Commissioner in
certain circumstances.
www.parl.gc.ca/LEGISINFO/index.asp?Lang=E&query=4581&Session=13&List=toc
HIGH-SPEED MOBILE DATA EXPANDS: Bell Mobility and Telus Mobility are
playing leapfrog in deploying high-speed cellular data communications
based on Evolution Data Optimized technology. This week, Telus
announced EVDO availability in Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto
and Vancouver. And Bell, which announced EVDO a week earlier in
Toronto and Montreal, this week added Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton
to its serving areas.
MTS OFFERS $15 LONG DISTANCE: Manitoba Tel customers who subscribe to
two or three of MTS TV, MTS High Speed Internet or MTS postpaid
cellular can now add unlimited wireline long distance in Canada and
the U.S. for $15 a month.
** The Manitoba telco says it now has 50,000 television
subscribers in Winnipeg.
VIA RAIL TO EXTEND ONBOARD WI-FI: Via Rail plans to offer Wi-Fi
service to all customers on its trains and in 22 stations in the
Windsor-Quebec corridor by November 2006, using technology installed
by Parsons Corp. Partial service began in 2004. Price: $8.95/day or
$46/month.
PBX SALES--WHO'S ON FIRST? Cisco says a new research report shows that
it is now "the number one supplier in the global enterprise voice
market including both Internet Protocol (IP) and traditional
circuit-based systems." And Avaya says a new report shows that it is
"the global market leader in Enterprise Internet Protocol Telephony
Revenues and Port Shipments."
** Some readers may be surprised to learn that both claims
are based on the same report, published this week by
Synergy Research Group.
ROGERS FIGHTS NEW BRUNSWICK OVER RIGHT-OF-WAY FEES: Rogers
Communications has asked the CRTC to block the New Brunswick Dept. of
Transportation from charging fees for Rogers' cables that are
supported on Aliant and N.B. Power poles in DOT rights-of-way. The
DOT claims the CRTC has no jurisdiction.
www.crtc.gc.ca/PartVII/eng/2005/8690/r28_200512972.htm
ROGERS SOFTWARE OFFERS ELECTRONIC CLIPBOARDS: Rogers Communications
now offers mForms software that permits small business field staff to
access work orders and other forms on wireless devices. Price: $125
per user per month.
SBC PURCHASE OF AT&T GETS FINAL OK: The California Public Utility
Commission has approved SBC Communications' purchase of AT&T. This is
the final approval needed for completion of the US$16 billion deal. It
had already been approved in 36 other states and by two federal
agencies.
** SBC has said it will change its name to AT&T when the
acquisition is complete.
BELL REDUCES WESTERN STAFF: Bell Canada has cut 100 jobs from its
western Canadian operations, partly as a result of integrating
360networks, which it bought last year. (See Telecom Update #435)
RIM SAYS PATENT WORKAROUND IS READY: Research In Motion says it has
completed a BlackBerry software upgrade that would enable it to
maintain service in the event that a U.S. court issues an injunction
against BlackBerry sales in that country. (See Telecom Update #505)
** RIM has sued the maker of Cranberry business software for
trademark infringement. Another RIM suit has convinced a
New Jersey toymaker to rename handheld devices called
StrawBerry, BlueBerry, etc.
ROGERS CUTTING OFF USENET: Beginning December 15, Rogers High Speed
Internet service will no longer include access to Usenet. The company
says newsgroups, once the most popular medium for on-line chat and
information sharing, have "largely been replaced by blogs, instant
messaging, personal Web pages and other tools."
CYGNAL NAMES NEW CEO: Cygnal Technology has appointed Jos Wintermans
as CEO. Wintermans, CEO of Rogers Cable in 1998-99, replaces Gerald
Hurlow, who continues as Cygnal's Chairman.
NEW CEO AT MINACS: Bruce Simmonds, founder and former CEO of a major
golf course company and former CFO of his family's Pickering-based
electronics business, has been named CEO of call centre service bureau
operator Minacs Worldwide. Founder Elaine Minacs will continue as
Executive Chair.
UBS RECORDS SALES GROWTH: Unique Broadband Systems, which bought a
majority interest in Look Communications last year, reports revenue
for the year ended August 31 of $38 million, 17% more than the
previous year. The net loss was reduced by two-thirds, to $4.3
million. (See Telecom Update #434)
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The information and data included has been obtained from sources which
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Angus TeleManagement Group (jriddell@angustel.ca)