THIS ISSUE'S STREAM:
+++ CAB Offers Opportunity to Interact with Broadcasters
+++ Canadian Government Committed to High-Speed Internet
+++ Is Canada Falling Behind in E-Government?
+++ First Canadian Car Sold Over Internet
+++ Canadian Virtual University Created
+++ US Venture Firm Invests in Ottawa
+++ SMART Toronto Names MMSG Winner of Chair's Award
+++ Crimequest Scores at Wanadoo Talent Show
+++ AGF Invests in Convergence Company
+++ SUMmedia.com Offers PDA Coupons
+++ HyperWallet Puts Cash Online
+++ Canada Payphone and GSI Form Venture
+++ Info Touch and Future Shop Offer In-Store Kiosks
+++ Anti-Censorware Winners Announced
+++ Understatement of the Day: Email Usage On the Rise
+++ CAB Offers Opportunity to Interact with Broadcasters
+++ Toronto Webgrrls on the Move
+++ Digital Media Innovations Conference
+++ CAB Online Business Exchange at Broadcasting 2000
+++ How To Do Business With Broadcasters Workshop
+++ New Media Business Conference
+++ Taking It to the Screen: Creating New Media
+++ Rush Job: New Employment Opportunities
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[-- AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE PUBLISHER --]
If you're looking to connect with key players in the
Canadian broadcasting industry, then the following item
will be right up your alley!
+++ CAB Offers Opportunity to Interact with Broadcasters
In response to Canadian broadcasters' expressed desire to
learn about interactive media, the Canadian Association of
Broadcasters (CAB) has created the "Online Business
Exchange". The Exchange allows interactive companies to
display and demonstrate their cutting edge technologies
and services to 1,500 Radio, Television and Specialty
Broadcast delegates. This premiere professional business
development event is showcased within CAB's annual
conference, Broadcasting 2000, taking place at the Telus
Convention Centre in Calgary from November 12-14. Plenary
platforms include: Charting a Course for Interactive
Profitability; Doing Business with Broadcasters; The Net
and its Impact on Broadcasting; Digital, Interactive and
Internet Advertising Trends; Digital, Interactive and
Internet Technology Trends. The Online Business Exchange
is just one of the many ways that the Broadcasting 2000
convention will help Canada's interactive community
develop new business partnerships with Canada's leading
broadcasters. For more information about the Online
Business Exchange and Broadcasting 2000, contact Stefanie
Siska at ssiska@cab-acr.ca or visit the CAB Web
site at http://www.cab-acr.ca.
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[-- NEWSPEAK: MULTIMEDIA INDUSTRY NEWS --]
+++ Canadian Government Committed to High-Speed Internet
John Manley, on his last day on the job as Minister of
Industry, has announced the government of Canada's
commitment to achieving the goal of high-speed broadband
access to all communities. Manley, speaking at Softworld
2000, said the "National Broadband Task Force will be
established to advise the Government of Canada on how best
make high-speed broadband Internet services available to
businesses and residents in all Canadian communities by
the year 2004." The Task Force, to be chaired by Dr. David
Johnston, President of the University of Waterloo, will
map out a strategy and advise the Government, by March 31,
2001, on best approaches for achieving this commitment.
"Through the Connecting Canadians initiative, and a
dynamic private sector, more and more Canadians are
realizing the benefits of the Internet and information and
communications technologies," said Minister Manley. "With
today's announcement, the Government is taking the first
step to expand on maximizing these benefits by providing
access to the necessary tools - high-speed broadband
networks -- which will allow all Canadian communities to
reap the rewards of the 21st Century economy."
http://www.ic.gc.ca
+++ Is Canada Falling Behind in E-Government?
The Ottawa Citizen has quoted two US officials as
expressing concern that Canada might be falling behind
"the e-government pace." Thomas Paese, Pennsylvania's
secretary of state, and Steve Kolodney, the chief
information officer for Washington state were attending
the federal government's GTEC technology show. Kolodney
expressed concern that "Canada's government is moving so
slowly because of security concerns, saying the amount of
personal data required by e-government applications is
minimal." He went of to say that the benefits of
e-government "overwhelm the potential problems and
estimated that his state saves as much as 100 percent of
service-processing costs and also saves money through
e-business partnerships and auctions." (Source: Edupage)
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+++ First Canadian Car Sold Over Internet
cars4U.com made history recently with the delivery of the
first new Canadian car sold over the Internet. The company
delivered a Volkswagen Golf to the home of the proud new
owner, who also received a $1,000 rebate cheque for being
the first Canadian to buy a new car online. cars4U.com is
billed as Canada's first edealer, "offering consumers the
ability to purchase or lease a vehicle at highly
competitive prices completely online -- from research to
pricing to payment and delivery." "cars4U.com is changing
the way cars are bought in Canada," said Barry Shafran,
President and Chief Executive Officer of cars4U.com Ltd.
"We've put the consumer in control, allowing them to buy a
car from work or home whenever they want, without any
pressure. For the first time, consumers can buy a car
without ever visiting a dealership."
http://www.cars4U.com
+++ Canadian Virtual University Created
Seven Canadian universities have banded together to create
Canadian Virtual University. The VU will allow students to
transfer credits from one member school to another, but
according to the Chronicle of Higher Education Online
"students will continue to receive degrees from their home
university." Students will also have the flexibility of
picking and choosing the courses they want. Participating
institutions include Athabasca University, Brandon
University, University of Manitoba, Laurentian University,
Open University, Royal Roads University, and University of
Victoria. (Source: Edupage)
http://www.cvu-uvc.ca
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+++ US Venture Firm Invests in Ottawa
The Ottawa region has attracted the attention of one of
the most powerful venture capital firms in Silicon Valley.
Sensing that the region is about the blossom, the
investments will likely total hundreds of millions of
dollars over the next few years. The Globe and Mail
reports that "Mohr Davidow Ventures alone plans to put
about $150-million in the Ottawa region over the next 18
months to three years." Mohr Davidow also invested USD$6.5
million in the Ottawa area in late August, making an
injection into Trillium Photonics Inc., a fibre-optics
technology startup that was founded in April as a spin-off
from Canada's National Research Council. (Source: The
Globe and Mail)
http://www.mdv.com
+++ SMART Toronto Names MMSG Winner of Chair's Award
On October 19, SMART Toronto named MMSG the winner of the
first annual SMART Leader in Technology Chair's Award. The
award was created to recognize an Information Technology,
New Media or Communications company or organization that
has demonstrated innovation, productivity, talent and
creativity and is setting the standard on the world
technology stage. "MMSG exemplifies what we look for in a
SMART Leader. They set the gold standard in providing
total interactive solutions through their many service
companies. The partners have led the industry for many
years and by forming MMSG two years ago, they became an
unbeatable force", said Mitzie Hunter, President SMART
Toronto. Dave Wharry, Chair of the SMART Toronto Board
added, "What sets MMSG apart, is not only their astute
business people and industry experts, but the fact that
they have contributed an incredibly huge volume of
benefits and services for the industry". Incorporated in
1998, MMSG (parent company of MultiMediator) is a fully
integrated interactive brand solutions company helping
clients grow their business and their brands using the
power and potential of interactivity. SMART Toronto is a
collaborative, not-for-profit member-based association
whose mandate is to build Toronto as a centre for
digitally-enabled creation and distribution.
http://www.sto.org
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Reach thousands of Canadian Internet professionals
with just one buy!
Advertise in MultiMediator's BitStream.
It's fast, easy, and effective!
For rates: (416) 364-1455 Ext. 100 or
mailto:sales@multimediator.com
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+++ Crimequest Scores at Wanadoo Talent Show
Toronto's Primitive Entertainment has placed second at the
MIPCOM cyber pitching competition in Cannes, France. The
competition, called the Wanadoo Talent Show, featured
seven finalists chosen from over 100 entries from around
the world. They were each given five minutes to present a
multimedia pitch for a Web-based rich media project to a
panel of seven judges. Primitive introduced the concept
for an online interactive mystery game called
Crimequest.com, a Web site currently in development with
the view to launching in summer of 2001. "The prize is a
recognition and endorsement of the strategy we've been
developing for our new media projects which is to create
Web programming based on the understanding that the
Internet is a different experience from any other medium,"
says Ian Kelso, a principal in Primitive Entertainment and
head of their new media division. "Preparing for a public
pitch really makes you hone your ideas. When you realize
you have to get up on stage and answer to an expert panel,
you tend to be quite honest -- even brutal -- with
yourself in challenging your assumptions. It was very
clear from the conference that broadcasters and producers
worldwide are taking their Internet strategies seriously."
MIPCOM, Europe's largest television and media content
market, is held twice a year in Cannes, France with an
average attendance of over 10,000 television producers,
broadcasters and distributors from around the world.
http://www.primitive.net
+++ AGF Invests in Convergence Company
AGF Management has taken a major stake in Moneyworld, a
company set to launch an "integrated financial media
property that combines an innovative television series to
be broadcast around the world with dynamic online presence
at themoneyworld.com." Blake Goldring, president and CEO
of AGF, has stated that moneyworld represents a strategic
tool designed to build the AGF brand. "This is a growth
strategy and business investment that harnesses AGF's
belief in the potential of media convergence," he said.
Moneyworld television and themoneyworld.com launched
October 15 in Canada on CanWest Global network and in Asia
on CNBC Asia and Nikkei Japan. themoneyworld.com has
signed content deals with companies such as Stockpoint,
TheFinancials.com and features streaming video updates
from the floor of major stock exchanges as well as
breaking news, interviews and financial news from around
the world.
http://www.themoneyworld.com
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+++ SUMmedia.com Offers PDA Coupons
Vancouver's SUMmedia.com has announced the introduction of
the first SUMmobile application: coupons for handheld
devices (PDAs) using the Palm OS platform. Now on-the-go-
consumers "can synchronize their handheld devices to their
personal computers and download their favourite coupons."
Users will also be able to store coupons on the PDAs for
easy access when they want to purchase everything from a
meal at their favourite restaurant or a new pair of shoes.
The PDA coupons will first hit the streets in the Seattle,
Washington area where merchants will be able to list
eCoupons on the www.savingumoney.com eCoupon portal.
http://www.savingumoney.com
http://www.summedia.com/news/001003news.html
+++ HyperWallet Puts Cash Online
Vancouver's Twin Lion has created a new "virtual cash"
system that will allow users to shop online without "using
a credit card or providing any personal information." The
system allows users to transfer money from their
HyperWallet account, including "person-to-person"
transfers. The system, currently only available in Canada,
will be introduced in the US by early 2001. "It's
difficult to talk about having an e-commerce marketplace
if you don't have the most elemental part of transacting,
which is cash, in place," said Jennifer Cameron, co-
founder and chief executive officer of Twin Lion Systems.
(Source: Globe and Mail)
http://www.hyperwallet.com
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+++ Canada Payphone and GSI Form Venture
Canada Payphone has formed a joint venture to integrate
GSI Technologies' state-of-the-art video display screens
into Canada Payphone's AT&T Canada branded Grapevine
Network Terminals and Public Internet Kiosks. This will
allow companies to advertise to "passing traffic," the
revenues from which are estimated to reach $500 million
over the next five years. "There is tremendous revenue
potential from this type of advertising medium," said
Bruce Clark, President and CEO. "We are pleased to be able
to partner with such an innovator in the advertising
industry. This agreement reflects our commitment to
providing our customers with the most revolutionary and
relevant products in the Internet age."
http://www.canadapayphone.com/newsreleases/2000-10-03.html
+++ Info Touch and Future Shop Offer In-Store Kiosks
Future Shop is preparing for the forthcoming roll-out of
178 e-commerce-enabled Kiosks to all its stores across
Canada. The agreement enables "co-capitalization of
kiosks" from the two BC-based companies. Each Future Shop
store will have a minimum of 2 kiosks located in key
departments, which customers can use to obtain additional
product information or make a purchase online at
futureshop.ca.
http://www.infotouch.net/frame/press_Oct02_00.html
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+++ Anti-Censorware Winners Announced
The Digital Freedom Network has announced the winners of
its Foil the Filters Contest. As reported in BitStream
#28, entrants were urged to search for ways in which to
trip up Internet content-filtering software, also known as
censorware. The Grand Prize went to Joe J., a high school
student who complained that he could not even access his
own school's Web site since the school's filtering
software blocked the word "high" as a drug-related word.
The runner-up went to a woman named Hillary Anne who was
prevented from obtaining a Hotmail account with the name
"hillaryanne" when the censorware detected the letters
"aryan" in the name. "We hope our contest will help
convince governments and organizations around the world to
stop using filters that hinder freedom of expression,"
said Bobson Wong, Executive Director of the Digital
Freedom Network.
http://www.dfn.org/Alerts/contest.htm
+++ Understatement of the Day: Email Usage On the Rise
Think you're having trouble getting through your e-mail?
Just wait. A new report from International Data suggests
that the number of e-mails sent on average will reach 10
billion this year and rise to 35 billion by 2005. This
growth "can be a blessing or a curse depending on how
prepared our environments are for them," says IDC's Mark
Levitt. Talk about an understatement. In Western Europe,
which accounts for 20 per cent of e-mail usage, the number
of e-mails sent annually is expected to reach 1.6 trillion
(yes, that's trillion) in 2005, up from the current 511
billion for the year 2000. (Source: Edupage)
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[-- PLUG: INDUSTRY ANNOUNCEMENTS --]
+++ Toronto Webgrrls on the Move
Toronto Webgrrls have announced plans to move their
organization to DigitalEve Women on the Web, Canada's
newest community for women in technology. The Toronto
chapter expects the move to be completed by mid-November.
The move is said to "signal the chapter's transformation
from its initial roots into a progressive organization
with the mandate to address the fast changing needs of its
growing, Web-savvy membership and booming demand for high
tech networking, learning and teaching opportunities for
women." The Toronto DigitalEve chapter will be a non-
profit and membership-based collaborative organization
community of women offering regular workshops, monthly
networking events and discussion forums.
http://www.torontowebgrrls.com
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[-- DIGERATI DATEBOOK: UPCOMING INDUSTRY EVENTS --]
+++ Digital Media Innovations Conference
October 26 - 28, 2000 at Sheridan College in Oakville, ON
Join Canadian and international researchers and experts in
the fields of animation, 3D visualization, interactive
multimedia, telecommunications, film and television
production, digital journalism, virtual reality and
enterprise technologies for three days of intensive
discussions.
Contact: bernice.fehr@sheridanc.on.ca
+++ CAB Online Business Exchange at Broadcasting 2000
November 12-14, 2000 in Calgary, AB
Display and demonstrate your cutting edge technologies and
services to 1,500 Radio, Television and Specialty
Broadcast delegates.
Contact: Stephanie Siska, ssiska@cab-acr.ca
http://www.cab-acr.ca
+++ How To Do Business With Broadcasters Workshop
November 12 & 13, 2000 in Calgary, AB
This workshop, part of the CAB's Broadcasting 2000
convention, is designed to give you the inside scoop on
how to pitch your interactive media concept or services to
broadcasters.
Contact: Stephanie Siska, ssiska@cab-acr.ca
http://www.cab-acr.ca
+++ New Media Business Conference
November 20-21, 2000 in Toronto, ON
Sponsored by MultiMediator, this practical two-day
conference is full of valuable information and insights to
help you run a profitable new media business in Canada.
For more information, contact The Canadian Institute
directly by phoning (toll-free) 1-877-927-7936, faxing
(toll-free) 1-877-927-1563 or surfing
http://www.multimediator.com/info/nmconference.shtml.
+++ Taking It to the Screen: Creating New Media
Canadian Screen Training Centre (CSTC)
November, 2000 in Ottawa, ON
This weekend workshop focuses on creating interactive
products for CD-ROM and the Web. To register call the CSTC
office at (613) 789-4720 or (800) 742-6016. Complete
course information is available at the CSTC Web site.
http://www.cstc.ca
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[-- RUSH JOB: NEW EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES --]
JUMPSTART YOUR CAREER WITH MULTIMEDIATOR PIXELSCOUT!
You work hard. You play hard. You know your stuff.
Now all you need is to take your career to the next level.
MultiMediator PixelScout is here to help. Simply register
yourself in the PixelScout New Media Database and one of
our recruiters will do their best to match you with the
right job. Rest assured, your information is not shared
with anybody without your prior approval. Register today!
http://www.pixelscout.com/seekers
The following job openings were posted to MultiMediator's
Betaville Classifieds in the last few days:
Director of New Media MARCOM (Toronto) (10/26/2000)
Database Administrator (Toronto) (10/26/2000)
Producer - Entertainment Channel (Toronto) (10/26/2000)
Jr. Web Designer (Toronto) (10/26/2000)
Web builder (Toronto) (10/26/2000)
Flash Animators Needed (Toronto) (10/26/2000)
e-Business Sales (Toronto) (10/26/2000)
Sr. & Jr. Linux Systems Technicians (Toronto) (10/26/2000)
Web Designers (Toronto) (10/26/2000)
Sales / Account Rep (Kitchener) (10/26/2000)
HTML Coder Fluent in Arabic Needed (Toronto) (10/25/2000)
Senior Web Designer Required (London) (10/25/2000)
Sr. Graphic Design Production Artist (Toronto) (10/25/2000)
Flash Developers Wanted (Toronto) (10/25/2000)
For details (or to post a job opening for FREE) visit
http://www.multimediator.com/betaville
RUSH JOB is sponsored by
MultiMediator PixelScout
Great People Great Careers
http://www.pixelscout.com
Evolved from the extensive participation of MultiMediator
and MMSG in the new media industry and their respective
job placement activities, MultiMediator PixelScout is a
recruiting company pleased to devote itself exclusively to
the new media industry. For more information, call (416)
410-7704, e-mail recruiting@pixelscout.com, or surf
http://www.pixelscout.com.
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Reach thousands of Canadian Internet professionals
with just one buy!
Advertise in MultiMediator's BitStream.
It's fast, easy, and effective!
For rates: (416) 364-1455 Ext. 100 or
sales@multimediator.com
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[-- ABOUT MULTIMEDIATOR'S BITSTREAM --]
MultiMediator's BitStream is a FREE e-mail newsletter
published every two weeks by MultiMediator - Canada's
Multimedia Guide. Each issue features news, announcements,
job listings, and other items of interest to the Canadian
multimedia community. Send your multimedia industry news
and information to mailto:bitstream@multimediator.com.
(Please do NOT send attachments.) If you contact
companies or individuals mentioned here, please tell them
you saw them in MultiMediator's BitStream.
Since 1995, more than a million people have turned to the
MultiMediator Web site for information about Canada's
multimedia industry. Find out why at
http://www.multimediator.com/.
Reach thousands of Canadian Internet professionals
with just one buy! Advertise in MultiMediator's BitStream.
It's fast, easy, and effective!
For rates: (416) 364-1455 Ext. 100 or
sales@multimediator.com
Copyright 2000 MultiMediator. All rights
reserved. "BitStream" is a trademark of MultiMediator
Partnership. The content of BitStream may be reproduced
in any medium for non-commercial purposes as long as
proper credit is given.
No electrons were harmed in the making of this newsletter.
