Details of Emergis' e-commerce business - from the Notice
7. THE E-COMMERCE BUSINESS
Bell Emergis was launched by Bell Canada in July 1997 to create, among other things, through its electronic commerce business leading edge communications and network applications, next generation multimedia and internetworking platforms and information technology solutions to meet the needs of Bell Canada's customers in Canada and internationally.
The growth of the internet has stimulated innovation and growth in research and development; the lead time for the development and introduction of new services, applications and software can be very brief. The mandate of the E-Commerce Business is to develop, on its own or in collaboration with co-developers, customer specific and/or industry wide electronic commerce services. Certain co-development initiatives include collaborations with universities and research facilities .
The main business lines of the E-Commerce Business are described below:
a) Advantage @Commerce
This is a fully integrated end-to-end network-centric solution for secure electronic commerce, which provides electronic procurement (buying, selling and trading) over different platforms. This solution supports business-to-business and business-to-customer electronic commerce transactions and is designed to fit the needs of every business size and type. It performs over a variety of networks including the internet, private intranets and more traditional networks.
b) Transportation TrackPro
This is a freight-tracking solution, comprised of software, hand-held bar code readers, computers and data communications equipment, which permit communication over mobile, satellite or land transmission lines. Information about a client's freight is transferred to a dispatcher who consults the various databases to automate the dispatch decision making process and to improve the routing of the freight.
c) Advantage Intemet
The Advantage Internet" portfolio provides its business customers with direct access to the internet via a variety of connectivity options and offers both dial-up
internet access and dedicated access. The E-Commerce Business also offers its business customers specific services such as e-mail, web hosting and security options .
d) Advantage Intranet
An intranet is a private internal network linking employees, departments and offices within an organization. It includes firewalls, hardware, software, routers and support services. Advantage Intranet offers customers tailor-made intranet solutions namely exchange e-mail, search directories and databases, and enables several people to work on the same project online, complete electronic order forms or conduct electronic commerce via the internet.
e) Advantage Extranet
An extranet is a secure, managed network that connects communities of interest. It is based on the same protocols as the internet. An extranet connects a business with its "community of interest" and business people with their suppliers, clients and partners. Advantage Extranet services include e-mail, form processing, electronic data interchange (EDI), conversion of fares to EDI format, enhanced fax, electronic file transfer services and electronic funds transfer.
f) Automotive Network Exchange ("ANX")
ANX is a managed, virtual private network for companies that do a significant amount of business with one of the big three automakers. The E-Commerce Business has created a flexible electronic business solution to market this product in Canada and to be a major provider of the solution for the automotive industry. ANX offers the customer a customized solution for its network and application needs, an implementation plan and installation services.
g) TraveLinx
TraveLinx is a destination management system, an environment used by government entities and tourism industry associations to promote the marketing of their industries and their products, as well as to stimulate growth and to increase revenues. The TraveLinx solutions collect, organize and publish comprehensive tourism product information (such as brochures and promotional materials) and integrate the information with reservation and offer transactional
capabilities (such as room assignments, merchandising, meal plans and other tourism related products). Web sites aimed at specific segments of the tourist industry are also managed through this solution.
h) OnWatch
OnWatch is a security solution that stores, distributes and manages encryption and authentication keys through the internet, intranet or extranet to enable companies to transmit private information securely. The OnWatchlY solution is derived from software developed by Entrust Technologies Limited. The OnWatch Certificate Authority prints unforgeable, digital certificates for employees or agents of a particular business or organization, to enable the business or organization to benefit from a complete security infrastructure based on the accreditation given to a particular employee or agent.
i) Teamroom
This is a collaborative software that allows customers to create an on-line "teamroom" instantaneously. Teamroom enables people from different companies to form a collaborative environment, to share information and files, and to have on-line discussions. Teamroom is based on the Lotus Domino" 6 application.
j) E-Messaging
This portfolio of services is composed of two main lines of business. The first line of business, referred to as the "Legacy E-mail, EDI mailbox and e-mail connectivity services", provides the facility to carry EDI-formatted documents and the ability to exchange messages. The second line of business is a fax mailbox and broadcasting service. This service has been operated by the E-Commerce Business throughout Canada on behalf of the member companies of Stentor Canadian Network Managementú A separate service is Fax OnDemand, a high volume fax broadcasting facility, which is offered directly to customers.
The E-Commerce Business has also entered into various significant partnering arrangements and alliances based on E-Commerce business solutions, namely:
(i) The E-Commerce Business has entered into a joint venture with the Centre Inter-Universitaire de Recherche en Analyse des Organisations to develop a software application specializing in commodities auctions for smart markets .
(ii) The E-Commerce Business has an agreement with Medcomp.net Health Systems Inc. to market jointly in Canada a network-centric disability management and absenteeism management application for businesses.
(iii) The E-Commerce Business, through its alliance with financial and other institutions, is providing electronic commerce services to the Commission de la Sante et de la Securite au travail.
(iv) The E-Commerce Business is working with the Regie de l'assurance-maladie du Quebec to offer interactive electronic commerce services to pharmacies.
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