Telus 2015 Annual Report Download - page 13

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allows customers to add data top-ups when desired to have a set rate for additional
usage.
In 2015, we launched improved roaming plans for US travel, both for businesses and
consumers. Our consumer product, called Easy Roam™, allows our subscribers to
access their domestic plan for a flat fee per 24 hours. For businesses, we have
introduced Roam ReadyTM, a feature that offers competitive, flat-fee rates for voice, text
and data; only when the service is used. These changes improve billing transparency
and respond to our customers’ desire to use their devices anywhere, any time.
In 2015, we stopped charging the incoming short messaging service (SMS) fee for our
wireless customers roaming outside Canada. Our customers can now receive unlimited
incoming text messages free of charge while travelling abroad.
In October 2013, we ceased marketing our Mike® service and in 2016 we started the
staged decommissioning of our iDEN network that the Mike service operates on.
Throughout 2016, we will continue to support our Mike private network customers and
actively work with them to migrate their services onto our HSPA and LTE networks.
In early 2015, we redesigned our TV packaging to provide our customers with more
choice and flexibility, allowing them to select from a wide variety of theme packs or
customize their own, at competitive pricing. Furthermore, on March 1, 2016, we began
offering our customers a basic, low-cost TV package and pick-and-pay options for
additional channels.
In March 2015, we launched TELUS Business Connect™, an integrated business
communications solution for small businesses across Canada. This cloud-based solution
provides businesses with a full suite of communications tools for both office and mobile
use, including an automated attendant, call routing, teleconferencing, video-
conferencing, toll-free numbers and a wireless backup for office Internet access.
Business Connect allows users to use a single number across their mobile phone, tablet,
desk phone and computers through voice over IP (VoIP) technology.
In June 2015, we announced a free public Wi-Fi service available to both TELUS and
non-TELUS customers at more than 8,000 hotspots across B.C. and Alberta. Since early
2014, we have been actively expanding our public Wi-Fi network by working with
thousands of businesses and many major sports and entertainment venues. This public
Wi-Fi service is part of our network strategy of deploying small cells that integrate
seamlessly with our 4G wireless network, automatically shifting our smartphone
customers to Wi-Fi and offloading data traffic from our wireless spectrum to increasingly
available Wi-Fi hotspots.
As at December 31, 2015, Optik TVTM supported more than 700 channels, including
more than 230 high-definition (HD) TV channels and 74 Stingray music channels, while
OptikTM on the go provided access to thousands of on-demand shows and movies on
smartphones, tablets and laptop computers, at home or on the move. Some examples of
new features and capabilities we added to Optik TV in the past 3 years include:
• CraveTV, Canada’s newest on-demand TV subscription service, which complements
our extensive catalogue of TV and movie content available on the Optik TV digital
box, as well as on smartphones and tablets through Optik on the go.