Telecom Update #555, November 17, 2006

************************************************************ TELECOM UPDATE ************************************************************

published weekly by Angus TeleManagement Group

555: November 17, 2006 Publication of Telecom Update is made possible by generous financial support from:

** AVAYA: ** BELL CANADA: ** CISCO SYSTEMS CANADA: ** ERICSSON: ** MICROSOFT CANADA: ** NEC UNIFIED SOLUTIONS: ** ROGERS TELECOM: ** SHAW BUSINESS SOLUTIONS: ** VONAGE CANADA:

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IN THIS ISSUE:

** Cabinet Overrules CRTC on VoIP ** CRTC Implements Cabinet Order ** Peterborough Hospital Deploys Bedside Terminals ** Union: Bell Threatens to Close Expertech ** Global Roaming with One Phone ** CWC, ITAC Partner to Advance Women ** Three Carriers Seek Satellite Slots ** Comments Filed on 3.6 GHz Spectrum Licensing ** Avaya Launches Unified Communications Portfolio ** Aliant Offers Taxi Dialing ** Motorola to Buy Good Technology ** March Sells Health Care Division ** SR Telecom Postpones Report, Seeks New Investment ** Vecima Posts Sales, Profit Gains ** Cisco Offers Municipal Wi-Fi Technology ** Consultants Call for Speakers

CABINET OVERRULES CRTC ON VOIP: On November 9, Cabinet overturned par of the CRTC's 2005 VoIP decision. The order-in-council allows the incumbent telcos to offer "access independent" retail VoIP services without getting CRTC approval for rates and terms of service. (See Telecom Update #481, 544)

** The order says that these ILEC services are to be subject to no more regulation than CLEC retail services, but all "non-economic" rules for VoIP services will still apply.

** This is the first time that Cabinet has overturned a CRTC decision since 1988, when it intervened to allow Call-Net to keep operating as a long distance reseller. Ironically, Call-Net's lawyer at the time was Charles Dalfen, now CRTC chairman.

CRTC IMPLEMENTS CABINET ORDER: CRTC Telecom Circular 2006-10 notes that the Cabinet order means that the tariffs for Bell Canada's Digital Voice Lite and Business IP Voice for Broadband, and SaskTel's WebCall, are no longer in effect.

** The Commission says it is still reviewing whether the order will affect any of its other rules or determinations.

PETERBOROUGH HOSPITAL DEPLOYS BEDSIDE TERMINALS: Peterborough Regional Health Centre plans to install 500 Integrated Bedside Terminals that will be used by both patients (TV, radio, phone, Internet) and clinical staff (medical records and updates). The $11 million contract with Telus, said to be the first such installation in Canada, uses Siemens technology.

UNION -- BELL THREATENS TO CLOSE EXPERTECH: The Communications, Energy, and Paperworkers Union says that Bell Canada has threatened to close down its Expertech subsidiary if current contract negotiations don't result in major concessions. Expertech installs and maintains carrier telecom networks; it employs about 1,400 people in Ontario and Quebec.

GLOBAL ROAMING WITH ONE PHONE: Customers who buy a Motorola A840 handset from MTS Allstream ($250 on a two-year contract) can use the phone on North American CDMA networks under their regular calling plans. The same phone will work on GSM networks in 140 other countries, where MTS International Roaming Service charges $2.49 per minute, including all airtime and LD charges.

CWC, ITAC PARTNER TO ADVANCE WOMEN: Canadian Women in Communications (CWC) and the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC) have announced a partnership to promote the participation and advancement of women in the information and communications technology sector. The CWC hopes to extend the focus of its programs, such as mentorship, "career accelerator," and "Women on Boards," to include more women in ICT careers.

** The application deadline for the CWC's 2007 Jeanne Sauve professional development programs, open to women in telecommunications and broadcasting, is December 6.

THREE CARRIERS SEEK SATELLITE SLOTS: Telesat Canada, Ciel Satellite Group, and Canadian Satellite Radio Investments have all submitted applications for new satellite orbital positions. Industry Canada opened 29 new satellite positions in July: the applications announced to date cover only 17 of them. (see Telecom Update #537)

COMMENTS FILED ON 3.6 GHz SPECTRUM LICENSING: Industry Canada has posted the comments it has received on proposed policies for licensing spectrum in the 3650-3700 MHz band for wireless broadband applications. (See Telecom Update #541)

AVAYA LAUNCHES UNIFIED COMMUNICATIONS PORTFOLIO: Avaya has launched a new Unified Communications product family that delivers "the right applications to the right devices for various segments of workers with different communications needs."

ALIANT OFFERS TAXI DIALING: Users of Aliant cellphones can now reach a taxi dispatcher by dialing #TAXI (#8294). A similar service was launched in Canada by Rogers Wireless in 2001. (See Telecom Update #312)

MOTOROLA TO BUY GOOD TECHNOLOGY: Motorola has agreed to buy Good Technology, which makes wireless email software that competes with RIM's BlackBerry system. Good's software is used by 12,000 companies worldwide and claims about 10% of the U.S. wireless email market.

** Motorola is also buying Netopia, which makes broadband home network equipment, for about US$208 million.

MARCH SELLS HEALTH CARE DIVISION: Ottawa-based March Networks has sold the assets of its eHealth unit for US$1 million. March closed the unit down in April, as part of a move to focus on digital video technology.

SR TELECOM POSTPONES REPORT, SEEKS NEW INVESTMENT: SR Telecom is delaying release of its third quarter results while it seeks "additional financing from existing lenders and stakeholders." (See Telecom Update #523)

VECIMA POSTS SALES, PROFIT GAINS: Victoria-based Vecima Networks (formerly VCom), which makes broadband access gear, reports third quarter revenue of $20.1 million, 14% more than a year ago. Net income of $8.3 million was mostly due to a one-time gain related to Vecima's purchase of WaveRider in July.

CISCO OFFERS MUNICIPAL WI-FI TECHNOLOGY: Cisco Systems has announced ServiceMesh, a network infrastructure for municipal Wi-Fi providers.

CONSULTANTS CALL FOR SPEAKERS: The Canadian Telecommunications Consultants Association will hold its Spring 2007 Conference at the Chateau Champlain, Montreal, on February 23-24, 2007. Proposals for presentations at the conference are due by November 24. For information, write snipped-for-privacy@ctca.ca or visit

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