BCE Elix Wins Two Awards for Most Innovative Web-Based Voice Technology Solution

BCE Elix received two first place awards for its 'Talk to Santa project at the fourteenth edition of Relationship Marketing Associations (RMAs) Flèche dor Gala: 'Best Application & Campaign and 'Best Interactive Initiative. The 'Talk to Santa project was a combined effort between BCE Elix and its partners CONCEPT S2i and Nü Echo using the internet, voice recognition, text-to-speech, and the VoiceXML and CCXML standards. The application enabled users to invite children and young-at-heart adults to experience an interactive and personalized telephone conversation with Santa Claus and Pixel, the automated elf.

Montreal, Quebec (PRWEB) July 30, 2004 -- BCE Elix, a specialist in contact center solutions, received two awards for its 'Talk to Santa project at the fourteenth edition of Relationship Marketing Associations (RMAs) Flèche dor Gala. The project won first place for 'Best Application & Campaign" in the Interactive Marketing category, and received a second special prize as the jurys favorite for 'Best Interactive Initiative from among all submitted projects. The RMA Flèche dor Gala is an annual event honoring the best relationship marketing initiatives in Quebec.

BCE Elix and its partners CONCEPT S2i and Nü Echo, combined their expertise to develop this unique project, using internet, voice recognition, text-to-speech, and the VoiceXML and CCXML standards. These applications enabled users to invite children and young-at-heart adults to experience an interactive and personalized telephone conversation with Santa Claus and Pixel, the automated elf. In order to personalize the conversation, a parent or other adult used the Web site (www.talktosantaclaus.com) to submit information about the recipient.

The Talk to Santa Claus project was an overwhelming success," says Rita Azrak, Director of Marketing and Communication at BCE Elix. It registered 130,884 visits on the Web site between December 8th and the 25th, 2003, and 72,000 users experienced a live conversation with Santa Claus. This innovative application demonstrated, in an amusing way, the expertise of BCE Elix and its partners in offering innovative solutions that can improve interactions with customers, whatever their age group."

This award-winning application is just another example of the innovative thinking of the people at BCE Elix and our partners," says André Gareau, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, BCE Elix. Using contact center expertise, BCE Elix can implement solutions that create value by helping companies, and even Santa Claus, better manage their customer interactions."

BCE Elix is another example of how Bell Canada is committed to providing end-to-end solutions that help its customers be more successful in their business operations.

About BCE Elix
With solutions installed in over 46 countries, BCE Elix, a Bell Canada company, is a leading specialist in multimedia contact center and business solutions. BCE Elix helps organizations understand and manage customer interactions more efficiently and increase agent productivity, resulting in both enhanced profitability and customer loyalty. Bell Canada owns a majority interest in BCE Elix.

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Information:
BCE Elix
Rita Azrak
Director, Marketing and Communications
rita.azrak@bceelix.com
Tel.: +1.514.768.1000, ext. 2323
Fax: +1.514.768.7680

Verrecchia Group Communications Inc.
Marlene Kovac
marlene@vergroup.com
Tel.: +1.514.935.0166, ext. 148
Fax: +1.514.935.0162

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