Benny,
don't think I'm really qualified to answer your 3 questions but will try anyways- if someone else knows please respond.
1.>>. Does BCE have a pay anyone engine? (I think yes, but could you confirm)
I don't see why not, I do know they are partners with RoyalBank for years called Canact, but I suspect this is more like cheque clearing as they do in Britain and S. Africa and(?). Since last summer they bought the e-financial division of Newstar giving them the bill presentment/payment aspect of e-bill. Newstar were already associated with Transpoint. Emergis bought in for e-bill.
BCE Emergis also has 'Buyway' for purchasing which may be closer to your question 'pay anyone'(?).
2.>>How many electronic connections to billers does BCE have?
I believe none, they supply the means to connect and transmit the data. ie let the banks(or whoever) build the data base.
3.>>How many subscribers are on their platform today?
if subscribers means consumers then none, if you mean banks then there is a consortium of financial institutions including 4 national banks(out of six). The remaining 2 national banks are going to have there own system.
I assume all the above were pointed towards e-bill, relatively a new avenue for Emergis. They are well into e-com; 6 platforms, EDI, Auto(1st to be certified by the big three), Mortgage(FrediMac),Merchant enabling(CPQ ClubWeb),sports,BCE family.
To get back to e-bill:
The National banks I suspect are very protective of there customers(I can pay bills anywhere but not between banks...hmmm) and want to maintain complete control. Who controls the database.This maybe the reason that Checkfree didn't win in Canada not CKFR's capabilities of processing.
Thats the best I can do, above is just my opinion, can anybody add to it? |
