<<< Return

Monday, June 13, 2005
Aliant and Bell Canada officially open national SMB Innovation Centre

New Brunswick-based centre to develop next-generation Internet Protocol (IP)-based business applications for Canadian small and medium businesses

Atlantic Canada, June 13, 2005 – Aliant and Bell Canada today announced the official opening of the Bell-Aliant SMB Innovation Centre in Saint John, New Brunswick. Through the centre, Aliant and Bell Canada will develop and test next-generation Internet Protocol (IP)-based business applications and solutions, such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) for Canadian small and medium businesses (SMBs). The Honourable Margaret Ann Blaney, Minister of Training and Employment Development, Government of New Brunswick, also participated in the official opening.

“Today’s announcement puts us at the forefront of Internet-based products and service development and delivery for the SMB market,” said Jay Forbes, President and CEO, Aliant. “Approximately 99 per cent of Canadian business customers are small to medium-sized and this Innovation Centre is one of the many steps that Aliant and Bell Canada are taking to help make Canadian small and medium businesses more productive and more competitive.”

“Establishing a national development centre such as this in Saint John is a testament to the skills and technical aptitude of New Brunswickers and all Atlantic Canadians,” said Hon. Margaret Ann Blaney. “By working together, industry and government can propel Canada onto the world stage for the creation and use of Internet services.”

Through a collaborative approach, Aliant, Bell Canada and IP equipment vendors partner together to develop new business-focused communications services. The Bell-Aliant SMB Innovation Centre prototypes Internet-based services including: online collaboration tools, enhanced security features, business applications, and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).

“The Bell-Aliant SMB Innovation Centre is part of our nation-wide network of Innovation Centres,” said Eugene Roman, Group President Systems and Technology, Bell Canada. “Through a common vision of collaboration and idea exchange, this ecosystem enables customers and industry partners to work together in an interactive, dynamic and open environment for the rapid development and testing of new communications technologies and applications for Canadian consumers and business.”

About Aliant
From its home base in Atlantic Canada, Aliant delivers a wide variety of innovative and traditional communications services, including local and long distance telephony, wireless, Internet, e-commerce, interactive multimedia, data and managed network services, to more than two million consumers and over 80,000 enterprises. Aliant complements its industry-leading telecommunications business with strengths in information technology solutions and knowledge-services applications. Aliant’s approximately 8,400 employees build on Aliant's 100-plus year history by collaborating to deliver the highest quality of customer service, choice and convenience. Aliant has a market capitalization of approximately $3.5 billion. www.aliant.ca

About Bell Canada
Bell Canada, Canada's national leader in communications, provides connectivity to residential and business customers through wired and wireless voice and data communications, local and long distance phone services, high speed and wireless Internet access, IP-broadband services, e-business solutions and satellite television services. Bell Canada is wholly owned by BCE Inc. For more information please visit www.bell.ca.

Media representatives are encouraged to sign up for Aliant News Alerts.

For more information please contact:
Siobhan Dolan
Aliant Communications and Public Affairs
(506) 658.7784
siobhan.dolan@aliant.ca

Paolo Pasquini
Bell Canada Media Relations
(416) 581.4268
paolo.pasquini@bell.ca

<<< Return