Telus 2015 Annual Report Download - page 12

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our customers first, in addition to our previous changes that removed activation and
renewal fees. Research and customer feedback indicated that consumers wanted
unlimited Canada-wide talk and text, and the capability to share data among family
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 2014, we introduced Your Choice™ plans based on our customers’
feedback and added new options to provide enhanced flexibility for voice and data
usage. Your Choice plans maintain the option of sharing data with up to four additional
devices.
In late 2014, we introduced two new solutions aimed at leveraging cloud-based
technology to enable Canadian businesses to deploy a range of unified communication
and collaboration tools and help their employees work more efficiently and effectively, no
matter where they are. Our Cloud Collaboration services include voice mail, integrated
messaging, and voice and video-conferencing. Our Cloud Contact Centre, a contact
centre for customer service calls for marketers, salespeople and customer service
representatives, is an end-to-end enterprise-grade solution that can support up to
several thousand agents and allows those agents to connect from the office, home or
almost any remote location. In late 2015, we announced the expansion of our cloud
portfolio with the offer of a full suite of managed infrastructure as a service (IaaS)
solutions that include public, private and hybrid cloud options. This expansion of our
cloud portfolio, paired with our Internet data centres (IDCs) and expertise in managed
services, allows us to meet the growing storage demands of Canadian businesses that
are being driven by mobile, social, Internet of Things (IoT) and big data applications, as
well as their growing IT security concerns.
Also in 2014, we launched the TELUS IoT Marketplace, an online space offering a suite
of turnkey IoT solutions for Canadian businesses. The IoT refers to technologies
designed to make it simpler for businesses to incorporate Internet-connected devices
and deploy solutions that can help reduce costs and enhance efficiency, productivity and
profitability. The IoT also comprises machine-to-machine communications as it usually
involves one device connected with another, which is controlled through the Internet.
Examples of IoT devices include connected cars and connected utility and security
services. In 2015, we expanded our offerings to include 53 more solutions and 23 new
partners. For example, we partnered with Jasper Technologies Inc. to implement the
TELUS Control Centre, a self-service platform aimed at simplifying the deployment and
management of IoT services by offering automated device provisioning, real-time
diagnostics, integrated billing and cost-management features. Furthermore, in
September 2015, we introduced the TELUS Global IoT Connectivity Platform, which
enables businesses to scale their IoT operations globally. Through a network of more
than 70 carriers, we can offer a global SIM card that delivers connectivity in nearly every
country around the world.
In 2015, we further extended our leadership in our clear and simple approach, providing
customers with improved visibility to their data usage, both with Your Choice and Share
Plus plans. Customers can now access real-time rating information, receive notifications
when they are at or approaching billing thresholds and control usage through our data
manager, accessible through our website or app. This improves billing transparency, and