NL Short Takes

Montreal gets new area code, Toronto still has 416 numbersThe Montreal region is receiving a new area code that will be overlaid on the current 514 NPA. The 438 code will come into effect on June 7, 2003. Down the road in Toronto, Bell Canada reports it will not have to start issuing phone numbers for the new 647 area code for another month or two. Telus to seek expansion of Vancouver local calling areaTelus Corp has submitted an application to the CRTC that would expand the Vancouver local calling area to include Abbotsford and Mission. The telco expects the change will be revenue-neutral, as the elimination of LD charges will be offset by hikes in local rates.Bell expands scope of 900 and 976 telephone serviceThe CRTC granted Bell Canada approval to broaden its 900 service in Order 2001-207 and 976 service in Order 2001-208. The Canadian Alliance of Publicly-Owned Telecommunications Systems received its final CATs in Order 2001-209 while the sunset clause for local competition was extended in Order 2001-184. Hurontario Telephones Ltd changed its name to Execulink Telecom Inc in Order 2001-197.Group Telecom moves into Edmonton officesToronto-based CLEC GT Group Telecom Inc has officially opened its Edmonton office. The company has built a fibre network of over 27,000 strand kms in the capital.Bell signs fibre deal with Hydro One Telecom IncBell Canada and Hydro One Telecom Inc have signed an agreement that will see the telco install and maintain equipment for the utility’s dark fiber network. In turn, Bell will lease capacity from Hydro One and make it available to businesses along the Windsor-Ottawa corridor.Norigen makes impact at Harbourfront CentreNorigen Communications Inc has inked a 10-year deal with Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre to be a corporate sponsor. The concert stage will now be known as the Norigen Stage, while the information line will be renamed the Norigen Hotline.Northwestel releases latest Nunavut phone directoryNorthern ILEC Northwestel has released its 2001 Nunavut telephone directory featuring original artwork by Janet Ripley Armstrong. The company has announced an art competition for the 2002 directory covers in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and Northern B.C./Yukon.Telus inks deal with Q-Media for Internet product rolloutQ-Media Services Corp of Vancouver will supply Telus Corp with chain management services as the western telco rolls out its retail Internet products. Q-Media has also signed a strategic distribution deal with 3Com Corp in Chicago.AT&T Canada chooses Datap for AMA record collectionAT&T Canada Corp has selected Calgary’s Datap division of TCEnet Inc for its local collection. It will use Datap’s technology to maintain its automatic message accounting (AMA) records.BCE Emergis ready to ink federal contractBCE Emergis Inc expects to sign a major contract with the federal government by May to build online infrastructure. The project will permit the feds to offer interactive services to its citizens and to other levels of government on a secure channel. It is part of the federal connectivity program.Bell Nexxia, ISOPIA offer corporate learning on-lineBell Nexxia has entered an agreement with ISOPIA Inc to make the Toronto firm’s e-learning software available to Bell Nexxia’s corporate clientele. The target market is firms in the Financial Post 500 index. The deal is worth $25 million over three years.Internet use in Quebec expands greatly over last three yearsInternet penetration in Quebec has skyrocketed from 10% in 1997 to 45% last year. The province has the highest percentage of high-speed connections in Canada, at 26%. It was about one year ago that the provincial government announced a subsidy plan to boost connectivity.Quebecor peddles Canoe to Netgraphe divisionQuebecor Media Inc has reconfigured its Internet assets. The Canoe portal is being sold to Netgraphe Inc, another Quebecor subsidiary, for common shares as Quebecor agrees to finance Canoe’s operations.Ontario city latest to develop Smart Community networkThe Toronto exurb of Vaughan is developing a fibre optic network to create a high-speed VPN for public and private enterprises. It is working with Universe2U of Richmond Hill on engineering and infrastructure.Voice Mobility signs deal with Gateway NetworksVancouver’s Voice Mobility International Inc has signed a three-year agreement with Gateway Networks that will see Gateway deploy VMI’s unified communications solution. Gateway will make the technology available to tier II telecoms, ISPs, ASPs and private customers.InfoInterActive moves ICM into Alaskan marketplaceInfoInterActive Inc is launching its Internet Call Manager in Alaska. The Nova Scotia company has signed deals with ACS Internet and Alaska Communications Systems to provide the solution to the American firms’ clients.Exfo buys Toronto tech company Efos for US$122MExfo Electro-Optical Engineering Inc is continuing to expand. It recently purchased Efos Inc, a Toronto-based precision light-based curing tech firm, for US$122 million. It previously bought equipment manufacturer Vanguard Technical Solutions in the United States (NL, Feb. 26/01).Aliant buys technology for ASP from California firmEast coast telco Aliant Inc has purchased the ACCPAC advantage series solution from ACCPAC International Inc of Pleasanton CA. The Canadian company will deploy the technology in its e-business application service provider portal for SMEs in eastern Canada.Pivotal sells CRM solution to FLAG TelecomPivotal Corp of Vancouver has sold its eRelationship CRM solution to FLAG Telecom, which has IP gateways in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Initial deployment is in the UK with further rollout across the world in a few months.IDC and Mexican partner to provide IP multicastingOttawa’s International Datacasting Corp has signed a partnership agreement with NEC de Mexico to provide IP-based multicasting with VSAT technology. IDC will provide technology to integrate into NEC’s networks throughout Mexico.Northwestel web site is literally for the birdsNorthern telco Northwestel Inc has launched the Ravencam portal at its corporate web site. The web-camera offers viewers a close-up look at a raven’s nest.YottaYotta buys intellectual property from Colorado firmEdmonton’s YottaYotta Inc, a net storage company, has bought the AdaptiveRAID technology from QLogic Corp of Boulder CO. It is taking over QLogic’s facility in the American city.CANARIE funds Toronto VBN company to the tune of $1.5MCANARIE Inc is providing VENNGO Inc of Toronto with $1.5 million in financing under the E-business Virtual Clusters Program it manages on behalf on Industry Canada. VENNGO has developed web-based software solutions for virtual business networks.Unfortunately the best interviewer made paroleThe Canadian Survey Research Council, a trade association for the market research industry, is upset that the federal government has established a call centre in a prison in Kingston ON. Corcan, which handles job training for Correctional Service of Canada, has been using inmates for telephone research. The CSRC wants the centre shut down, saying it is a blot on the industry.

NL Short Takes

News | 03/12/2001 5:00 am EST

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