Bell set to Share the Joy this holiday season - National marketing campaign featuring unmatched product line-up highlights competitive annual dash for customers

Nov 1, 2007

MONTREAL, Quebec, Nov. 1 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell Canada marked the start of
the telecom industry's busiest and most competitive period today with the
launch of its "Share the Joy" holiday marketing campaign, featuring an array
of leading-edge products and services unmatched in the sector.
"The fourth quarter of the year, and particularly the holiday period, is
the most competitive time in what is already an intensely competitive
telecommunications marketplace. Bell is ready to step to the forefront this
season with a Share the Joy campaign highlighting an incredible array of new
products and services from across Bell's business lines," said Rick
Seifeddine, Bell's Senior Vice President of Brand Strategy.
Traditionally, more new mobile phone users sign up in the fourth quarter,
driven largely by holiday buying, than in any other period during the year.
Bell also sees significant spikes in demand for ExpressVu digital television
and Sympatico Internet services, as well as ramped-up long distance usage as
families make plans and touch base with loved ones during the holidays.
Last year, Canadian communications companies spent at least $100 million
in advertising and other marketing communications efforts in the fourth
quarter alone. "It's an extremely competitive business, and we continually
improve our offerings and the ways in which we tell consumers about them,
particularly at this time of year. But beyond the business aspects, this time
of year is indeed all about sharing the joy of the season with those closest
to us," said Mr. Seifeddine. "And that is what Bell and our broader industry
are all about - connecting people with their loved ones and with the
incredibly rich variety of information and entertainment we make available to
them."
Frank and Gordon, Bell's famous spokesbeavers, will headline the national
Share the Joy campaign, which will feature television, radio, print, outdoor
and online advertising. But the real stars will be the products on offer,
including many devices and services yet to be launched this season. At Bell
Mobility, for instance, new mobile data devices will continue to be a focus,
taking advantage of the Bell high-speed mobile network, the fastest and
largest network available across North America.
Bell is also encouraged that industry analysts predict people will buy
well over half a million High Definition television sets during the holiday
period this year: "We believe that will translate into a significant uptick in
demand for ExpressVu digital television which, with more than 60 HD channels,
is far and away the leader in delivering HD programming to Canadians," said
Mr. Seifeddine.

Among the services already available that will be highlighted:

<<
- The new 9242 High Definition Personal Video Recorder (PVR) from
ExpressVu digital television, which delivers the a Full HD viewing
experience with picture quality 10 times better than regular cable, and
the most High Definition channels available in Canada
- Sympatico Total Internet, allowing people to share digital music,
images and online games
- Fusion deals that include Halo 3 Xbox and Hewlett-Packard computers
- Facebook, Hotmail and Messenger on cool new Bell Mobility mobile phones
that enable users to share every day with friends and family, as well
as full-length mobile movies
- Unique and innovative rate plans such as Bell to Bell Calling, which
lets customers make unlimited local mobile calls to Bell mobile phones
and residential and business landlines, a pool of well over 15 million
numbers
>>

For more on Bell's products and services, please visit www.bell.ca.

About Bell

Bell is Canada's largest communications company, providing consumers with
solutions to all their communications needs, including telephone services,
wireless communications, high-speed Internet, digital television and voice
over IP. Bell also offers integrated information and communications technology
(ICT) services to businesses and governments, and is the Virtual Chief
Information Officer (VCIO) to small and medium businesses (SMBs). Bell is
proud to be a Premier National Partner and the exclusive Communications
Partner to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Bell is
wholly owned by BCE Inc. For information on Bell's products and services,
please visit www.bell.ca. For corporate information on BCE, please visit
www.bce.ca.

/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available on
the CNW Photo Network and archived at http://photos.newswire.ca.
Additional archived images are also available on the CNW Photo Archive
website at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited
members of the media/

For further information: For media inquiries: Pierre Leclerc, Bell, Media Relations, (514) 391-2007, 1 877 391-2007, pierre.leclerc@bell.ca