E-Solutions

Electronic solutions are bringing people together in simpler and faster ways than ever before while helping to protect the environment. Solutions such as voice mail, e-commerce, teleconferencing and telework help reduce travel, air pollution, energy and material consumption. The solutions are also attractive from a business perspective: meeting and travel costs are reduced while productivity is increased through better time management.

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)

Bell uses Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) in all types of transactions with customers and suppliers, significantly reducing paper usage and mailings. More than 671 million records were exchanged with Bell Canada business partners in 2005, a 6.7% increase in transactions over 2004. The rapid growth since 2000 is mainly due to the increasing number of customers and suppliers who are choosing to receive their bills electronically.

Bell's EDI relies on a business-to-business data gateway, which enables the secure exchange of billing, finance and sales & marketing data between Bell Canada affiliates and their external partners. Technological improvements in 2005 have reduced the costs of adding new partners and has enabled faster speeds to market.

On-line Billing

Bell's on-line billing service allows residential customers to view and pay their bills via the Internet at their convenience, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The service is also available through Bell's Integrated Voice Response (IVR) system, which automates routine requests and transactions, or through the Vista† 350, 390, 450, Cybiolink 2000 or Cybiolink 8000 telephones.

Bell business customers have the convenience of on-line billing with Online Bill Manager. This web-based service provides customers with easy online access to view and pay statements, analyze billing data using the many pre-defined reports, create customizable reports and allocate expenses.

At the end of 2005, 1.3% of our customers had signed up for our paperless billing services. This percentage is based on the total number of residential customers who receive One Bill for all their services.

Moreover, for every Bell ExpressVu^TM customer who signs up for on-line billing, Bell donates $1 to the Nature Conservancy of Canada, which works to protect Canada's most threatened natural habitats and the endangered species that live there. In 2005, Bell donated $50,000 to the Nature Conservancy of Canada.

Conferencing

Bell Conferencing Inc. provides a host of conferencing solutions such as Teleconferencing, Webconferencing, Videoconferencing and Webcasting that help companies reduce air emissions, save money through reduced meeting and travel costs, as well as increase efficiency and productivity through better time management.

*2003 and 2004 data were adjusted to present the number of teleconferences that occurred as opposed to the number of conference participants.

Telework

Bell helps customers connect to the office from a remote location by providing the technology and equipment to work from their home, a satellite office, on the road or elsewhere. Bell also offers consulting services to customers who wish to implement telework programs in their organizations. Our expertise includes program design, policy development, training for employees and managers, and change management.

Smart Meters

In 2005, Bell announced a collaboration with Capgemini and Hewlett-Packard (Canada) to offer Smart Meter technology to hydro consumers. The technology will provide meter reading capabilities, advanced billing, outage notification and will link meters to other energy conservation management programs to help consumers manage their energy use, encourage energy conservation and save money. Bell and its partners will combine their business and technology skills and best practices to support the installation of smart meters in homes and businesses.