Telus 2006 Annual Report Download - page 12

Recent developments - business
In 2004, TELUS launched the IP-One product family, offering it to businesses in many cities in
Ontario and Québec. In 2005, the Company expanded its suite of advanced IP-based network
applications with the introduction of IP-One Evolution. This service enables business
customers to migrate from their existing Centrex systems to IP telephony at a pace that best
suits their needs. The Company also began a transformational billing initiative to re-engineer
processes in the wireline segment for order entry, pre-qualification, service fulfillment and
assurance, customer care, billing, collections/credit, customer contract and information
management. As part of this initiative, in the third quarter of 2006, the Company successfully
implemented a pilot billing system conversion for a sample set of customers. A commercial
launch of the converged billing system platform for consumer accounts is expected to progress
in 2007, with additional phases of conversion planned over the next few years. The expected
benefits of this project include streamlined and standardized processes and the elimination over
time of multiple legacy information systems. (See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis –
Risks and Risk Management – Section 10.5 Process risks” in TELUS’ 2006 Annual Report –
Financial Review).
In 2005, TELUS successfully completed a migration of 99 per cent of its long distance traffic
from the old Stentor platform. This fibre-optic network provides TELUS with certain competitive
advantages in the business marketplace. For business customers, TELUS provides a full suite
of IP-based advanced application services and the ability to integrate voice mail, e-mail, data
and video through a user-friendly online Web portal. TELUS is exploiting the competitive
advantage it has in managed data and IP solutions, utilizing its IP network to secure recurring
data revenues in Ontario and Québec.
A partnership indirectly wholly owned by TELUS delivers human resources and end-to-end
solutions to healthcare and other organizations.
In November 2004, TELUS signed a 10-year contract with the Government of B.C., in which the
Government transferred approximately 140 staff members and all government payroll and human
resource services to TELUS Sourcing Solutions Inc. (“TSS”), an indirect subsidiary of TELUS. In
October 2005, TSS entered into a 10-year contract with the Calgary Board of Education, in which 50
Calgary Board employees were transferred to TSS. This contract provides for the delivery of some
of the district’s human resources services. TSS also signed a 15-year agreement with Hamilton
Health Sciences to deliver the process and information technology components of its human
resources services.
A number of large national contracts for managed data solutions were signed in 2005, including
an eight-year agreement with Intrawest Corporation to be the exclusive supplier of certain IP
and telecommunications services at Intrawest resorts across Canada, and an agreement with a
large manufacturer to provide and manage Internet-based voice and data services. In 2006, in
addition to several other multi-million dollar contracts, TELUS secured a five-year $140 million
contract with the Government of Ontario to provide fully managed network access services.
In 2005, TELUS purchased a controlling interest in Ambergris Solutions Inc. (“Ambergris”),
which provides TELUS with international call centre capability and backup capabilities. The
international call centre capability provides support for TELUS’ bids to offer competitive call
centre services to potential new clients. In 2006, TELUS further increased its ownership interest
in Ambergris.
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