Telus 2012 Annual Report Download - page 12

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travel pricing. Separate bundles and passes are no longer required to access the lower
rates, making it easy for our customers to use wireless services overseas. This was
made possible by working with carriers around the world to negotiate reduced roaming
rates.
We stopped charging activation and renewal fees for wireless subscribers in November
2012. Partially in place of the activation or renewal fee, we began charging $10 for the
SIM card, when needed, which was previously included in the activation or renewal fee.
Our clients are now realizing net activation or renewal savings even when a SIM card is
required.
Our improvements over the past several years include: elimination of carrier 911 fees
and system access fees on all of our Clear & Simple® rate plans; introduction of data
flex plans, data notifications and worry-free travel; adding caller ID and voicemail as
standard on all TELUS rate plans; simplified device pricing with anytime upgrades
through the Clear and Simple Device Upgrade program; replacing contract termination
fees with a declining initial device subsidy balance; e.bills; enhanced international
roaming notifications; large reductions in international voice and data roaming costs for
customers without subscribing to a roaming plan; and wireless device unlocking.
Partnering, acquiring and divesting to accelerate the implementation of TELUS’ strategy and
focus TELUS’ resources on core business
During 2011 and 2012, we acquired certain independent TELUS-branded wireless
dealership businesses. These investments were made with a view to enhancing
consistency and control over customer service, as well as enhancing distribution of
wireless and wireline products across Western Canada.
In 2011, TELUS Health began three pilot projects with three electronic medical records
(“EMR”) providers, whose solutions are connected with the TELUS Health Space® platform.
The pilot projects were targeted to reach Canadians in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and B.C. In
addition, we signed a contract to provide Alberta Health Services with Microsoft HealthVault
technology for the development of a personal health record solution for the province’s
residents. TELUS Health Space, powered by Microsoft HealthVault, is a secure and
confidential online consumer platform that enables patients to access and manage their own
health information, and is expected to improve the flow of personal health information
among healthcare providers, regardless of where the patient is located. This is consistent
with our vision of helping transform healthcare in Canada through communications
technology to reduce costs and errors, better connect patients and help prevent illness.
In 2011, we acquired control of Transactel (Barbados) Inc. through a series of
transactions that increased our equity interest to 95% from 29.99% at the beginning of
the year. Transactel (Barbados) Inc. is a business process outsourcing and call centre
company with facilities in Guatemala and El Salvador. In 2011, we increased our
ownership interest for $80 million, with a view to enhancing our business process
outsourcing capacity, particularly regarding Spanish-language capabilities and acquiring
multi-site redundancy in support of other TELUS facilities.
In 2011, we announced that we are partnering in a residential, retail and commercial real
estate redevelopment project in downtown Vancouver, TELUS Garden, which will transform
a city block that includes our current national executive offices. It will feature a 46-storey
residential condominium tower and a 22-storey office tower, as well as renovations to