LAS VEGAS – In an attempt to avoid the format fiasco that hobbled the launch of Blu-ray/HD DVD, an inter-industry group has unveiled a “Ultra HD Premium” logo and agreed upon specifications it hopes will avoid confusion among consumers about the benefits of Ultra HD.
The new logo is reserved only for devices, content and services that have gone through a certification process that ensures they comply with performance metrics for resolution, high dynamic range (HDR), peak luminance, blacks levels and wide colour gamut among others. Over the course of the next few days at CES we will…
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OTTAWA – Telus is the second big wireless provider to reach an agreement with the Competition Bureau to credit or refund its customers who were charged for premium text messages that they had been led to believe were free.
The Bureau said Wednesday that Telus will issue rebates of up to $7.34 million to select current and former wireless customers after it concluded that the Vancouver-based telco made, or permitted to be made, false or misleading representations in advertisements for premium text messages in pop-up ads, apps and on social media.
The rebates will apply to Telus, Telus Mobility and Koodo customers…
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BRAMPTON – Cogeco Cable’s Ron Huinink has been elected president of SCTE Ontario Chapter board for 2015.
He joins Rogers Cable’s John Triassi and Andrew Laframboise and Telonix’s Scott McPhail who were also elected to the SCTE Ontario Board for a period of two years (2016 and 2017). They join current board members Mario Massi, Ivan Novello, Chris Skarica and Joe Caruso.
The organization said that nine candidates put their names forward and that voter turnout was strong.
The Ontario Chapter of SCTE has grown to over 900 members since its inception in mid-2003 and is the largest chapter membership in North America.
www.scte-ontario.com
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TORONTO – Rogers Communications CEO Guy Laurence said in the fall he hoped this would be the Christmas of 4K TV.
The Cisco 4K set top box the company touted that day in October is now being offered to all cable customers with rental cost of $12.95 per month and all 4K broadcasts will air on channel 999, beginning with the first live 4K NHL broadcast on January 23rd when the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Montreal Canadiens.
As well, as of Wednesday, customers in select neighbourhoods in downtown Toronto and the GTA now have access to Rogers Ignite…
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TORONTO – The CRTC has rebuffed an attempt by TekSavvy Solutions to stop Rogers Communications from removing a coax cable network in a Toronto townhouse complex. The independent ISP serves customers in the 347-home development using Third Party Internet Access (TPIA) from Rogers.
TekSavvy also argued that because Rogers, which is replacing the legacy facilities with a fibre to the premise (FTTP) installation, didn’t provide the requisite six months notice, it should get wholesale access to the fibre under the same terms and conditions as TPIA over coax. As well, this access should be available for the duration of the…
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CALGARY and TORONTO – Shaw Communications announced late Wednesday it has agreed to purchase Wind Mobile.
After spending a number of years contemplating wireless, buying spectrum and then starting to build, then stopping and finally divesting its spectrum earlier this year (which it will now re-take ownership of with this deal), Shaw Communications will be the seventh Canadian communications carrier offering a quad-play of TV, internet, home phone and wireless (in its larger Alberta and B.C. centres, that is).
(Officially, Shaw has agreed to acquire a 100% interest in Mid-Bowline Group Corp. and…
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TORONTO – Rogers is rolling out new leapfrog cybersecurity solutions that it says will help Canadian businesses to detect and prevent against global cyber-attacks.
In partnership with Chicago-based information security company Trustwave, Rogers is offering services such as real-time monitoring of security events within a businesses' network infrastructure; cybersecurity diagnostic tools for proactive scanning and security testing to identify network security weaknesses and solutions ahead of a breach; and dedicated security teams that will help customers to comply with laws governing data protection and to maintain their network infrastructure.
"Cybersecurity is the number one concern for Canadian businesses of all sizes,…
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TORONTO – Telus will join the increasing number of data centre providers in Canada offering hybrid cloud services that connect applications in corporate-owned or hosted private clouds or infrastructure, to public clouds.
The Vancouver-based telecommunications company said last week the new hybrid cloud service – to launch early next year – will allow organizations to shift workloads including virtual machines, operating systems, data, and applications between their private clouds (usually applications that need high security) and public clouds (applications that are under development or are less mission-critical).
"It's going to provide the ability to move workloads between these environments…
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TORONTO – Rogers customers no longer need to wait on hold to change their plan or ask a question now that the Toronto-based telecom is offering customer service via Facebook Messenger.
By messaging Rogers on Messenger from their mobile or desktop, customers may create a continuous chat where they can respond at their convenience and keep track of the conversation, just like they would with their friends. The service is available on all consumer products between 7:00 AM and midnight daily starting immediately.
The idea was born out of a meeting between Rogers president and CEO Guy Laurence and Facebook COO…
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TORONTO – CBC/Radio-Canada has added to CBC Sports executive director Greg Stremlaw’s responsibilities, naming him general manager and chef de mission for its coverage of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Stremlaw (pictured) joined CBC Sports in September. As GM and chef de mission, he will continue to work closely with key stakeholders to ensure CBC/Radio-Canada’s coverage of the Olympic Games achieves the collective goal of bringing the country together through the unifying power inherent in sport, reads Friday’s announcement. Stakeholders include broadcast partners Bell and Rogers, Canada’s national sport organizations, the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Committees, and Own the Podium.
“Having…
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