Here is latest news from NBTel that might interest some. Sorry a little late.
newswire.ca
NBTel's LivingLAB innovations environment attracts international leaders: Hits 1000th mark with BellSouth and
Willow CyberCenter Network
SAINT JOHN, NB, July 7 /CNW/ - Today, NBTel announced that visitors from
two American multinational companies -- BellSouth and Willow CyberCenter
Network -- marked the 1000th visit to NBTel's industry-recognized
LivingLAB(TM) innovations environment.
The LivingLAB environment combines the power of customer trials and
feedback, with employee ingenuity and partner dedication. The VideoActive
Development Centre is its cornerstone, where all of these elements come
together to test new products and services in a true-to-life setting.
''The LivingLAB environment is really spread across the whole province of
New Brunswick and linked through Aliant to the other Atlantic provinces. It
gives us opportunities to research and develop new innovations and work
hand-in-hand with our customers to improve the technology. We can then export
these new products and services to global markets, in collaboration with our
industry partners,'' said Gerry Pond, NBTel's president and CEO, Executive
Vice President of Aliant, NBTel's parent company, and President, Information
Technology and Emerging Business, Aliant.
Since February 1996, the LivingLAB environment has hosted international
visitors from locations such as Argentina, the Philippines, France, Senegal,
the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States. Over 50 per cent of our
visitors come from outside of Canada and represent the telecommunications
industry, the information technology sector, the business community and
varying levels of government. They come from such world-recognized companies
as MicroSoft, Oracle, Netscape, SwissCom, Global Online Japan, GTE, Texas
Instruments, and Motorola.
Over the past three years, NBTel has invested in excess of $100 million
in the LivingLAB and has been recognized in the top 20 per cent of Canadian
companies that invest significantly in research and development.
''We're pleased to be able to contribute to our province with world-class
technology by involving our customers, hands-on, and by paying close attention
to their everyday requirements and business needs,'' said Mr. Pond. ''We're
very proud to employ creative New Brunswickers who work to meet new challenges
and push the limits of innovation.''
The LivingLAB is home to many innovations, including Vibe(TM)
extreme-speed Internet service; EVOD -- a video-on-demand technology for
educators; Internet VPN, the latest edition to Intellis, NBTel's e-commerce
suite of services; and the Wellness network -- a virtual private network for
New Brunswick's health care industry. In this environment, and in partnership
with industry leaders, NBTel has also developed state-of-the-art call centre
technology that has been instrumental in attracting over 60 call centres to
the province, creating over 8,000 new jobs for New Brunswickers.
Currently, NBTel's interactive television services are being tested and,
in partnership with Nortel Networks, NBTel is trialing Centrex IP in its
VideoActive Development Centre as one of just three test sites worldwide.
Mr. Pond explained that this latest development is only one example of
the ongoing innovation that takes place in the LivingLAB. ''Centrex IP is like
placing a telephone call over the Internet, through your computer,'' he said.
''This cutting-edge technology will revolutionize the way people communicate
and we're proud to be leading the way with Nortel Networks.''
NBTel and Nortel Networks recently renewed a partnership until the year
2002 for the research, development, testing and marketing of new products and
services. The agreement - valued at $6 million each year - will increase the
use of the VideoActive Development Centre as a physical test site and will
bring increased opportunity to New Brunswick and to NBTel customers through
the LivingLAB innovations environment.
NBTel is an acknowledged world leader in telecommunications. It provides
a full-range of services including local and long-distance telephone,
wireless, Internet, e-commerce, interactive multimedia, data and managed
network services and information technology solutions. NBTel's people use
their expertise to deliver advanced customer-contact and self-serve
applications that provide a competitive advantage to businesses and enable
consumers to do everyday things better(TM). NBTel is a wholly owned subsidiary
of Aliant TSE: AIT. (www.nbtel.nb.ca)
With offices throughout Canada and the United States, Aliant delivers
expertise in the areas of local, long-distance, wireless, data, Internet,
information technology, managed network services, and mobile satellite
communications. Its customers include public and private enterprises,
governments, businesses and consumers. Aliant's structure includes four lines
of business: telecommunications, information technology, mobile satellite
services, and emerging business. (www.aliant.ca)
This release may also be found by visiting NBTel at www.nbtel.nb.ca
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