GATINEAU – In back-to-back presentations this morning, the CRTC heard from two of Canada’s largest ISPs, Telus and Cogeco Cable, one of which uses no Internet traffic management techniques (yet) and one which uses them all the time.
Each want the same thing, however: to be left alone to manage their networks how they see fit.
Telus, the big western-based telco, uses no traffic management technology right now on either its retail consumers or wholesale business clients, said senior vice-president of regulatory and government affairs Michael Hennessy. But it wants the freedom to be able to deploy them, if needed, in…
Continue Reading
GATINEAU – According to the Campaign for Democratic Media, the CRTC’s hearing into network traffic management is about nothing less than “who will determine the way we use the Internet,” David Fewer, acting director of CIPPIC told commissioners Thursday morning.
Leaving network management practices up to the discretion of the networks owners can only invite disaster and make Canada “a backwater of online innovation,” he added. “The Canadian Internet is not simply the private property of Canadian ISPs.” (CIPPIC is the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic and a member of the CDM.)
While that may be true…
Continue Reading
MONTREAL – Bell Canada finished off a pair of acquisitions today that will boost both its wireless subscribers as well as its branding and distribution capabilities.
First off, the company has completed its previously announced $135 million purchase of Canadian electronics retailer The Source. Now operating independently as The Source and as La Source in Québec, the company is already selling Bell TV, and will offer Bell and Virgin Mobile wireless products exclusively in January 2010. The stores used to sell Shaw Direct (formerly Star Choice) gear, but no more.
The Source had been owned by the bankrupt…
Continue Reading
GATINEAU – Earlier this week, the CBC attempted to give the CRTC a little advice before the Regulator releases its public notice announcing the September hearing into an overhaul of the regulation of the TV business in Canada this coming Monday.
As reported by Cartt.ca, this past Monday the CBC offered up a proposed new distribution order which would govern new fee-for-carriage negotiations between broadcasters and cable and satellite companies (actually, the broadcasters are trying to “re-brand” the fee-for-carriage battle to one entitled value for signal, but we digress…)
Together, Shaw Communications, Telus, Rogers Communications, Cogeco and Bell…
Continue Reading
BY UNDERESTIMATING THE SPEED of tech rumours that go a little viral and overestimating the diligence of Canadian journalism, I lost a bet last week.
Last Thursday, I came across an unsubstantiated rumour on the web that said Telus would have the Apple iPhone in October of this year. I bet a friend it would take a couple of days at least before that rumour found its way into the mainstream media (MSM) as a “sources say” piece. I was wrong. It took less than a day.
Thanks to Google Alerts, I was linked to gadget news/blog site Electronista.com,…
Continue Reading
VANCOUVER – Telus Satellite TV is now available across British Columbia and Alberta, the western-based telco announced this morning.
Cartt.ca originally had this story announcing the launch was coming back in May.
Telus Satellite TV is available to more than 90% of homes in the two provinces and residents can now add it to their suite of services from Telus. “Bundling Telus TV with Internet, home phone or long distance services helps consumers simplify their lives – and save money at the same time,” says the press release.
Telus Satellite TV will help the company more quickly compete with…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Mobile advertising should be part of marketers’ media buy now – “not next year, not in six months, the opportunity is now” – said Phil Barrett, vice-president of digital and mobile for Toronto-based marketing communications agency B-Street Communications.
Barrett made his comments during a panel discussion on mobile marketing, advertising and commerce at the Canadian Telecom Summit on Tuesday afternoon.
“We’re not suggesting you forget about online and TV and other media, but our point of view is that mobile is now about 10% of our marketing business… and we’re seeing great click-through rates on mobile advertising,”…
Continue Reading
WATERLOO, ON – Research In Motion (RIM) has added another Blackberry to its family of smart phones.
The Blackberry Tour was designed for CDMA customers in North America – such as Bell, Telus, Verizon, and Sprint’s legacy networks, allowing customers to “stay seamlessly connected – across town and around the world”, according to the press release.
"BlackBerry continues to be the top selling smart phone brand in North America and we are proud to add this powerful new 3G world phone to our successful product portfolio," said RIM president and co-CEO Mike Lazaridis, in the release. "With its striking design and…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – A recent survey from KPMG International suggests wireless subscribers are more willing to pay for broadband content if it means they can avoid having to view ads on their mobile devices. In addition, an increasing number of mobile customers are being turned off by content bundles that don’t let consumers pick and choose the applications they want.
Peter Greenwood, a partner at KPMG in Canada, presented some of his organization’s survey results at the Canadian Telecom Summit on Monday during an afternoon session on the mobile evolution.
“There were comments made during lunchtime today that ‘everybody loves…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Canadians may soon be able to send and receive money using their mobile phone, thanks to a new application called Zoompass.
Launched Monday by mobile commerce company EnStream, Zoompass allows customers to link their personal bank account or credit card to load and transfer money via a secure account, much like PayPal does.
This will allow users to conduct everyday transactions such as splitting a lunch bill, requesting money from parents, or even pay a babysitter, directly from a mobile phone.
The service also has the ability for customers to make purchases in stores and on the Internet using…
Continue Reading
