Telecom Update #501, October 14, 2005

************************************************************ TELECOM UPDATE ************************************************************ published weekly by Angus TeleManagement Group Number 501: October 14, 2005

Publication of Telecom Update is made possible by generous financial support from:

** AVAYA: ** BELL CANADA: ** CISCO SYSTEMS CANADA: ** ERICSSON: ** MITEL NETWORKS: ** NEC UNIFIED SOLUTIONS: ** ROGERS TELECOM: ** VONAGE CANADA:

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IN THIS ISSUE:

** Telus and TWU Reach Tentative Deal ** Canadians Making More Phone Calls Than Ever ** Ottawa Wants Increased Wiretap Capability ** First Hall of Fame Members Named ** A Personal Note from the Editors ** RIM Denied Right to Appeal Patent Ruling ** Shaw, Cogeco Expand Phone Service ** Rogers Wireless to Begin 3G Trial ** Virgin Mobile Launches in Manitoba ** Bell to Operate RFID Trial ** FCI Launches VoIP Service ** Microsoft, Yahoo to Link Messaging ** "Telemanagement Live" Trade Show in Toronto

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TELUS AND TWU REACH TENTATIVE DEAL: The Telecommunications Workers Union is recommending that its members accept a new five-year contract with Telus. The TWU and Telus signed a memorandum of agreement on Monday: the ratification vote should be completed by October 23.

** If approved, the agreement will end the lockout that began on July 21. Before that, TWU members had been working without a contract for more than four years.

CANADIANS MAKING MORE PHONE CALLS THAN EVER: Statistics Canada's Quarterly Report on Telecommunications says that Canadian telecom traffic reached record levels in the first three months of

2005. Traffic in the quarter included 15.9 billion long distance minutes (14.7 billion wireline, 1.2 billion wireless) and 12.8 billion local wireless minutes. Local wireline minutes are not tracked or reported. (See Telecom Update #500)

OTTAWA WANTS INCREASED WIRETAP CAPABILITY: The Canadian government is reported to be preparing a Lawful Access Bill that would require telecom carriers to significantly increase the ability of security and law-enforcement agencies to eavesdrop on Canadian phone calls, email and Internet activities. The Privacy Commissioner and others have warned that the plan could lead to abuse of privacy rights.

FIRST HALL OF FAME MEMBERS NAMED: The first nine members of Canada's Telecommunications Hall of Fame will be inducted at a gala dinner in Toronto on Monday, October 17. The initial laureates are:

** Inventors and Innovators: -- Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone -- Reginald Fessenden, wireless communications pioneer

** Servants of the Public: -- David Colville, former CRTC Telecommunications vice-chair -- John Chapman, father of Canada's satellite communications industry

** Icons of Business: -- Terry Matthews, founder of Mitel and Newbridge Networks -- Charles Fleetford Sise, founder of Bell Canada and Northern Electric

** Advocates and Academics: -- Professor Hudson Janisch, professor of telecom regulation and law -- Lis and Ian Angus, telecom consultants and journalists

A Special Recognition Award will acknowledge the contributions of Canada's telephone and switchboard operators.

A PERSONAL NOTE FROM THE EDITORS: We are deeply honoured to be included in the distinguished group being inducted into Canada's Telecommunications Hall of Fame. We've enjoyed every minute of our years in the telecommunications industry, and we're thrilled that our contributions have been appreciated and valued. Our heartfelt thanks to the selection committee and to Lorne Abugov, founder of the Hall of Fame-Ian & Lis Angus

RIM DENIED RIGHT TO APPEAL PATENT RULING: A U.S. appeals court has declined to review a panel decision that sustained seven of 16 BlackBerry-related patent claims by NTP Inc. against Research in Motion. (See Telecom Update #491, 495) Facing a possible injunction against BlackBerry sales in the U.S., RIM says it will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case.

** RIM says that initial reexamination rulings by the U.S. Patent Office have now rejected all the NTP patent claims.

SHAW, COGECO EXPAND PHONE SERVICE: Shaw Communications' cable phone service is now available in Victoria, and Cogeco Cable has expanded its service to include all its customers in Kingston, Trois-Rivieres, Drummondville, and Saint-Hyacinthe. Cogeco's offering is new in Kingston and was previously available in the Quebec cities only to its Internet customers.

ROGERS WIRELESS TO BEGIN 3G TRIAL: Rogers Wireless and Ericsson are about to begin a trial of UMTS-HSDPA, a high-speed data technology for GSM-based wireless networks, and of IP Multimedia Subsystem, a service creation environment that supports multimedia applications on mobile wireless, fixed wireless, cable, and DSL networks.

VIRGIN MOBILE LAUNCHES IN MANITOBA: Virgin Mobile has begun selling its cellphones in Manitoba, reselling capacity on MTS Allstream's network. Virgin notes that only 35% of Manitoba residents have cellphones, far below the national average.

BELL TO OPERATE RFID TRIAL: The Supply Chain Network Project, a consortium of retailers and their suppliers, has chosen Bell Canada to run Canada's first end-to-end trial of Electronic Product Code/Radio Frequency Identification. A Staples store, a warehouse, and four suppliers are taking part in the trial.

FCI LAUNCHES VOIP SERVICE: Markham, Ontario-based FCI Broadband has launched its iTalk Internet phone service, which treats all of Canada as one local calling area. The service is $21.95/month (residential) and $31.95/month (business).

MICROSOFT, YAHOO TO LINK MESSAGING: Microsoft and Yahoo plan to link their messaging networks by June 2006, allowing users of MSN Messenger and Yahoo to swap text messages. Related video and phone services are not included.

"TELEMANAGEMENT LIVE" TRADE SHOW IN TORONTO: Meet Canada's leading business telecom suppliers at Telemanagement Live next week -- Tuesday and Wednesday, October 18-19, 10am-5pm, Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Trade show admission includes eight free seminars in the new Telemanagement Live Sponsors' Theatre.

** Free trade show admission! Just introduce yourself as a Telecom Update reader at the Registration Desk. (Regular rate: $50)

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The information and data included has been obtained from sources which we believe to be reliable, but Angus TeleManagement makes no warranties or representations whatsoever regarding accuracy, completeness, or adequacy. Opinions expressed are based on interpretation of available information, and are subject to change. If expert advice on the subject matter is required, the services of a competent professional should be obtained.