NL Short Takes

Rogers responds to Comwave application on LNPRogers Communications Inc. has noted in its response to a Comwave Telecom Inc. application that it is not contravening CRTC rules with respect to porting numbers to the VoIP provider (NL, May 11/06). In a June 5 filing, the communications giant says that "the problems experienced by Comwave directly result either from their misrepresentation of their service requirements, whether intentional or not, at the outset of their dealings with Rogers or from their misunderstanding of the capabilities of the services provided by Rogers, or both." Rogers believed the provision of services to Comwave were for the purpose of providing 10-digit dialing long distance services, but realized this was not the case when Comwave requested additional services. The communications giant noted in its submission that Comwave was intending to provide VoIP service and the networking and provisioning differences between a long-distance and VoIP services are significant. As well, a VoIP service requires local number portability. Toronto-based Rogers contends that it doesn’t have the resources to comply with Comwave’s request. "If Comwave had clearly identified its requirements at the outset, Rogers would have simply indicated its inability to meet those requirements and the matter would have ended there," writes Rogers in its filing. "The capabilities and limitations of Rogers’ services were communicated to Comwave, and with a clear understanding of Rogers’ limitations, Comwave proceeded to request further services from Rogers. At this point, Rogers indicated to Comwave that if it wished to pursue these services, a contract…would be required which clearly reflected Rogers’ capabilities and limitations." After detailing those capabilities and limitations, Rogers asserts that Comwave’s application should be simply denied "because it is at odds completely with the commission’s approach to regulation in the industry." The company says the services requested by Comwave are forborne from regulation because Rogers provides them as a non-dominant carrier. Rogers notes that Comwave is free to purchase these services from incumbent telephone companies, a practice it already undertakes. "The market for the services at issue is very competitive and, indeed, these services are available with the types of features desired by Comwave," writes Rogers. The company says that it can’t grant itself undue preference by discriminating between customers and the only result would be to lose customers to competitors. Online advertisers turning to behavioural targetingNew data from JupiterResearch suggests that one in four online advertisers are going to turn to behavioural targeting as part of their online advertising techniques. Behavioural targeting comes in two flavours: extended content targeting focuses on a group of people with similar interests while they are viewing content online; and purchase intent targeting is used by advertisers to define an audience during the purchase cycle. According to the research, advertisers and agencies that have tested online behavioural targeting are reporting positive results and that one in four will be using the technology by 2007. The research points out that 88% of advertising agencies that have used online behavioural targeting in the past 12 months are very or somewhat satisfied with their efforts, while 56% of agencies that didn’t use behavioural targeting are very or somewhat satisfied with their advertising efforts over the past 12 months. Nortel expands global services to include securityNortel Networks Corp. has broadened the portfolio of its global services to include new offerings that are designed to help enterprise customers and carriers to implement greater security measures. A news release notes that this move is to "make security fundamental to transforming their networks with the latest converged IP, multimedia and wireless technologies." Nortel has identified five key areas for its global services division with security being one of them. Montefiore Medical Centre in New York had previously tapped Nortel for its security consulting services as part of a network expansion to include mobility and new applications. "Nortel’s security audit has enabled us to move forward with confidence in rolling out our wireless network and to secure next-generation services for staff and patients," says Brian Hoch, director of computing services for Emerging Health Information Technology, a subsidiary of the medical centre. Pay equity settled at Bell CanadaCurrent and former Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP) members have ratified a pay equity settlement worth approximately $100 million. The settlement covers as many as 4,765 current and former Bell employees, most of whom were telephone operators. ABA takes over Internet Home AllianceThe Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA) has integrated the operations of the Internet Home Alliance (IHA), the groups announced on June 16. According to the new arrangement, the Alliance’s collaborative research program will continue under the CABA umbrella. As well the Association will create the Internet Home Alliance Research Council with the goal of overseeing a wide range of consumer research studies and pilot projects. "The integration of IHA’s research program will allow CABA to expand and improve research offerings to our industry," CABA president and CEO Ronald Zimmer said in a news release. "We plan to add IHA’s research reports to our library to create the largest collection of integrated systems research focused on the home and building industry." Shift closes $5 million offeringCalgary-based Shift Networks Inc. has closed a $5.2 million equity financing with Loewen, Ondaatje, McCutcheon Ltd. acting as lead agent on the private placement. The money will be used to accelerate the company’s expansion into Eastern Canada, particularly the Toronto and Ottawa markets, as well as continued expansion in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. Shift will also use the funds to deploy new network technology to increase margins, features and services. Lastly, the company hopes to be able to reduce the demand barriers with lower-priced telephone handsets bundled with monthly service. Shift president and CEO Trent Johnsen revealed to Network Letter in March that the company was preparing a geographic expansion into Central Canada (NL, March 15/06). Rogers and IBM debut secure email serviceRogers Business Solutions has introduced a subscription-based encryption email service, which is hosted by IBM. The service, which Rogers claims to be a first in Canada, provides for the confidentiality of emails for business users. Rogers Secure Mail encrypts information between sender and recipient with an easy-to-use service that is delivered by IBM and was developed by security software company Echoworx. The service is available for $8.95 per month per email address. CTV using Internet to expand brand reachCTV Inc. has introduced the CTV Broadband Network, the first phase of its Internet broadcasting strategy. The network is currently integrated in the CTV web site. The advertising supported network was unveiled on June 5. The four channels are CTV Shows, CTV News and Docs, etalk on Broadband, and the Discovery Channel. Yak inks agreement with IntelYak Communications Inc. has secured a software license and distribution agreement with Intel which allows the telecom services provider to offer its WorldCity VoIP service in conjunction with the rollout of Intel’s 600Sm PCI phone adapter. "This relationship serves to both optimize our products for compatibility with phone-ready PCs and provide a distribution model that will help us accelerate our execution plans on our VoIP business strategy," Yak chair and CEO Charles Zwebner said in a news release. No commission approval required in MTS deal with PWGSCThe CRTC has ruled that MTS Allstream doesn’t need prior commission approval with respect to offering service to Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) under a contract won following a request for proposals (Telecom Decision 2006-37). Bell Canada and Telus Communications had argued in separate Part VII applications that MTS required prior commission approval before it could offer the service. But the commission ruled that the service is a wide area network service forborne from regulation and therefore doesn’t require commission approval. Vonage scores another distribution agreementVonage Canada can now count on WirelessWave, Telephone Booth and La Cabine Téléphonique retail sales personnel to help drive penetration of its VoIP service after the company inked a distribution agreement with Glentel Inc. "With this relationship we hope to build on our current retail success and make it even easier for Canadians to switch from their current phone service to Vonage," Bruce Robertson, director of product marketing and programs at Vonage Canada, said in a news release. "When combined with our existing retail partnerships, Vonage is now available at more than 1,300 retail outlets across Canada, the broadest distribution of any channels among Internet phone service providers across Canada."

NL Short Takes

News | 06/22/2006 4:00 am EDT

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