Telcos push ‘collaboration’ as enterprise-customer salvation

Described by many as the most competitive telecommunications market, the enterprise segment presents many challenges for providers. For years, the likes of MTS Allstream Inc., Bell Canada, Telus Corp. and relative newcomer Rogers Communications Inc. have talked about the need to bring more to the table than simple connectivity. Equally, they have to go beyond talking about technology and IP. Challenges and opportunities in the business segment took centre stage at the Canadian Telecom Summit last month with the heads of the country's major business telecommunications service providers talking about the industry. They touched on some of the hot concepts circling the sector these days - and downplayed earlier ideas."We as an industry have spent far too much time pitching the merits of IP...or pitching the ability to minimize moves, adds and changes or minimize long-distance costs," explained Joe Natale, Telus' executive VP and president of business solutions. "We've had a great success around IP migrations...when we've been in the executive suite with our customers talking about ideas that will help them become productive banks, help them become better able to serve their systems if they're in the government sector, help them overcome some of the challenges in healthcare with respect to information at the point of care, or driving productivity." Future applicationsWhile most of the conversation focused on challenges and opportunities in the business sector, speakers did give audience members a look at some of the future big applications. Many a vendor rep talked about the greater potential for improving corporate collaboration, both within the enterprise and with customers. Rogers Business Solutions VP corporate markets Tony Ciciretto highlighted the need to provide flexibility to Canadian firms regardless of whether they want to do business in China or with another company down the street. "They are looking for the flexibility of collaboration as an organization," he said. John MacDonald, president of enterprise solutions at MTS Allstream, noted that newer generations of video conferencing systems are an important element of greater corporate collaboration. "Video conferencing has been around for a long time, but it hadn't really taken hold," he said. But now the high-definition video conferencing systems represent a significant step forward in enabling a much richer collaboration experience. Natale agreed that next-generation video conferencing will play a big role in improving collaboration, but he pointed to other technologies in enabling idea exchanges and information "in a much more multimedia fashion."The carrier representatives also mentioned a couple of other emerging services. Rogers is exploring the digital signage arena where it would not only provide the network to connect digital signs but also provide and manage content being broadcast to the digital signage. Stéphane Boisvert, president of Bell Canada's enterprise division, highlighted an energy saving product on which the company is working with Hydro One Inc, an electricity distribution company serving Ontario. The device would let homeowners know when to decrease their energy consumption or risk facing increased charges from the utility company. The one-hour time limit didn't leave the panelists a lot of time to explore other potential emerging technologies, but companies operating in the enterprise sector can rest assured that the carriers are looking for ways to increase the value they can deliver to customers and prospects.

Telcos push ‘collaboration’ as enterprise-customer salvation

News | 06/21/2007 10:54 am EDT

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