Telus 2013 Annual Report Download - page 13

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members and devices. As a result, we added unlimited nationwide talk and text to the
new plans, as well as data plans that are shareable among multiple devices in the same
household. Customers can simply select an unlimited talk and text plan for their
device(s), and then add a data plan that is shareable across all devices on the account,
including tablets.
In October 2013, we launched TELUS Link™ our next generation of push-to-talk (PTT)
service over our 4G LTE and HSPA networks and Wi-Fi. TELUS Link provides direct-
connect, instant voice communication with an individual or a team, as well as standard
wireless voice and data service, enabling members of a work team to connect in less
than one second. Customers can also roam in the U.S. and around the world with
enhanced PTT over Wi-Fi. TELUS Link is Canada’s only PTT service over Wi-Fi and is a
natural evolution of Mike® service, which we currently operate on our iDEN network.
With the launch of TELUS Link, we have ceased marketing our Mike service and will be
turning it down over the next year as we migrate our Mike customers to the new service.
However, we will continue to maintain our iDEN network to support our Mike private
radio customers for the foreseeable future.
We launched Optik TV™ services in B.C. and Alberta in mid-2010, and in Eastern
Quebec in April 2011. Optik TV is based on the Ericsson Mediaroom platform. In 2011
we expanded the South Asian channel line-up and added a Facebook application
enabling customers to view and use Facebook while watching TV. In 2012, we further
expanded Optik TV to over 550 channels, including more than 135 HD channels and 50
commercial-free music channels. We expanded the selection of commercial-free TV On
Demand shows and movies for Optik on the go, providing customers with the capability
to view these programs on their mobile devices, tablets and laptops on 4G LTE wireless
network or Wi-Fi. When our customers travel outside of our 4G LTE network coverage
area, the service moves seamlessly onto our existing 4G HSPA+ network.
In 2012, we also introduced a number of applications (apps), including: the free Optik Smart
Remote app that Optik TV customers can download to their mobile phones or tablets,
allowing customers to navigate the interactive program guide on the mobile device without
interrupting the show they are watching on the TV; Multi-View on Optik TV, which allows
customers to watch up to four channels at once on the same screen; The Weather Network
app on Optik TV, which allows users to check weather at any time; capability to control both
live and recorded TV with hand gestures and voice commands with the addition of an Xbox
360 Kinect sensor for our customers who use an Xbox 360 as their set-top box; and a free
Twitter app that provides access to Twitter features and content while watching Optik TV. In
addition, in March 2013, we launched TED app Optik TV, which allows users on-demand
access to a well-respected series of lectures from world renowned speakers.
At December 31, 2013, Optik TV supported more than 650 channels, including 188 high-
definition (HD) TV channels and 74 Galaxie music channels, while Optik on the go
provided access to thousands of on-demand shows and movies on smartphones, tablets
and laptop computers, whether at home or on the move. In the fourth quarter of 2013,
we enhanced our Optik on the go service by launching live TV on smartphones and
tablets to complement the library of over 5,000 video-on-demand selections already
available on this mobile and PC platform. Some other examples of new features and
capabilities we added to Optik TV include: