Another Contract for Calian
Saskatchewan high-tech companies collaborate on export sales
opportunity
Calian Technology Ltd.'s Saskatchewan-based subsidiary, SED
Systems Inc., has been awarded a contract from SaskTel
International to design a Work Management System for
telecommunications companies and other industries with mobile
customer-service staff. The Work Management System will use
standard telephone lines, trunked radio or cellular radio to carry trouble calls and work order updates between SaskTel's offices and special laptop computers carried by service personnel in the
field. The Work Management System will be integrated with other SaskTel office computer systems, giving field personnel ready
access to the information they require to do their jobs faster and more effectively. This improved communication will keep SaskTel
ahead of its competition in responding to customer needs.
This project combines SaskTel International's extensive knowledge of the telecommunications industry with SED's expertise in
developing specialized communication systems. The development
will be managed by SaskTel International, with most of the work
being carried out in Saskatoon at SED's facility. The project
will provide employment for about 15 staff at SED during the
initial system development.
The Work Management System is intended for worldwide application in the telecommunication and other service industries. Concurrent with the SaskTel project, SaskTel International will market the
system to telecommunication companies in North America and
overseas. SED has committed to provide product support for these systems.
Both SED and SaskTel International see this project as the
beginning of a long term relationship between the companies. Each company has won numerous jobs on the international front over the
past few years, but this is the first time the two organizations have worked together.
SED's President Dugald Buchanan said: "SaskTel has earned a solid
reputation as a technology leader in the telecommunication world.
We are delighted to be working with them on this exciting new
development."
"SaskTel is constantly looking at ways to further enhance the
level of service to our customers," said Gord Farmer, Vice
President, Customer Services. "This Work Management System will
improve our ability to communicate with our mobile field service
personnel, resulting in better service to our customers."
"With SED's experience in the high-tech industry, I believe they
can contribute some unique capabilities to our export activities,"
said Dale Bassen, President, SaskTel International. In addition
to consulting, design and installation contracts overseas, SaskTel
International has found success marketing its telecommunications
software internationally and is expanding its current software
products line. SaskTel International continues to develop and
improve its two main products, the MARTENS (TM) and SwitchGate
(TM) systems.
Calian Technology Ltd. and its subsidiaries provide advanced
technology services, systems and products to industry and
government worldwide. SED Systems Inc. designs and builds
electronic systems for custom applications in commercial and
defence markets. Calian's shares are publicly traded on The
Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol CTY.
SaskTel International is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SaskTel and
is currently working in the Philippines, United Kingdom, United
States, Korea, Jamaica and Canada.
SaskTel, a provincially-owned Crown Corporation, is the leading
full-service communications company in Saskatchewan, providing
voice, data, Internet, text and messaging services over a
fully-digital network, as well as cellular, paging and FleetNet
800 service through its SaskTel Mobility Division |
