Vancouver, BC, December 14, 2006 –

Alcatel-Lucent, Nokia and TELUS Re-Join as Key Sponsors for Fourth Annual Contest

“We continue to focus on accelerating wireless adoption and celebrating the impact wireless technology is having on all kinds of sectors,” says Shana Korotash, Executive Director of WINBC and producer of WIC’07.  “This contest is an opportunity for companies, organizations and innovators to showcase how their leading-edge wireless solutions have changed people’s lives and improved organizational efficiencies.”

The contest will recognize organizations and innovators whose wireless deployments are already making a difference or have the opportunity to change the way we do things, benefiting our communities and generating profit.

“We recognize how essential it is to celebrate wireless innovation across North America and are proud to continue to support this unique challenge," says Chris Langdon, TELUS vice-president of Network Services.

The contest is open to Canadian and American wireless developers and solution providers that have deployed a wireless solution in one of six categories:
• Taking Care of Business:
o Public Sector: a solution that showcases new processes or models, improves productivity and/or saves money in the public service (utilities, health, government, fire or police services).
o Private Sector: a solution that showcases new processes or models, improves productivity or facilitates commerce in the private sector.
• Taking Care of Yourself:
o Home & Entertainment: a solution that entertains or facilitates life at home.
o Sports & Recreation: a solution that showcases wireless in a sport, recreation, fitness or wellness setting.
• Taking Care of the Community:
o Community & Citizenship: a solution that helps raise the bar for the disenfranchised (disabled, elderly, illiterate, immigrants, non-profits).
• Student:
o Students submit in any category but are judged against other student entries.
WIC’07 entrants will be expected to provide a proven return on investment for their deployment of wireless technologies in any of the above categories.  Interested parties are invited to visit www.winbc.org/wic to enter.

A panel of independent judges will examine, evaluate and choose a winner and runner-up in each WIC’07 category.  A benefit valued at $100,000 WIC’07 winners are rewarded with targeted exposure in media and at trade shows, inclusion in a special case study publication and a one-hour mentor session with the panel of judges during CTIA WIRELESS 2007.

Entries from over 20 states and provinces across North America entered the third annual Wireless Innovation Contest in 2006, including Illinois, Ontario, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Florida, Texas, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Washington and New York.  Winners of last year’s contest were: 
- Taking care of business – private sector: Gearworks – Eagan, MN
- Taking care of business – public sector: Elster Electricity, LLC – Raleigh, NC
- Taking care of yourself – home and entertainment: Digital Chocolate – San Mateo, CA
- Taking care of yourself – sports and recreation: MedicTouch – Georgia Deer Park, TX
- Taking care of the community: Mobile Voter – San Francisco, CA
- Student: mobSKY – Montreal, QC

WINBC, the producer of WIC’07, is supported by key industry leaders Alcatel-Lucent, Nokia and TELUS, and marketing partners CTIA WIRELESS 2007, RCR Wireless News, FierceWireless.com, Wireless Industry Partnership, Outlook4Mobility, CCNMatthews, SymbianOne and Forum Nokia.

About WINBC
WINBC (Wireless Innovation Network Society of BC) is the producer of WIC’07.  WINBC is the focal point for wireless in BC and a leading industry association in Canada.  British Columbia has a 25-year history of successful wireless design and innovation and has grown to over 250 wireless companies representing all areas of the wireless value chain from infrastructure and devices to enabling software, enterprise applications, games and peer-to-peer solutions.  Companies include Sierra Wireless, Nokia, Digital Dispatch, Colligo, Air G and others.  To find your wireless partner go to: www.winbc.org.  To see if you are eligible for the contest go to www.winbc.org/wic

Alcatel-Lucent
Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) provides solutions that enable service providers, enterprises and governments worldwide, to deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users.  As a leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications, and services, Alcatel-Lucent offers the end-to-end solutions that enable compelling communications services for people at home, at work and on the move.  With 79,000 employees and operations in more than 130 countries, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with global reach. The company has the most experienced global services team in the industry, and one of the largest research, technology and innovation organizations in the telecommunications industry. Alcatel-Lucent achieved proforma combined revenues of Euro 18.6 billion in 2005, and is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in Paris. [All figures exclude impact of activities to be transferred to Thales]. For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on the Internet: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com

About Nokia
Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia is dedicated to enhancing people's lives and productivity by providing easy-to-use and secure products like mobile phones, and solutions for imaging, games, media, mobile network operators and businesses.  Nokia is a broadly held company with listings on five major exchanges.  To learn more about Nokia, please visit www.nokia.ca.

About TELUS
TELUS (TSX: T, T.A; NYSE: TU) is a leading national telecommunications company in Canada, with $8.4 billion of annual revenue and 10.4 million customer connections including 4.7 million wireless subscribers, 4.6 million wireline network access lines and 1.05 million Internet subscribers.  The company’s strategic intent is to unleash the power of the Internet to deliver the best solutions to Canadians at home, in the workplace and on the move.  TELUS provides customers with a wide range of wireline and wireless communications products and services including data, Internet protocol (IP), voice, entertainment and video services.  For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com.

For further information, please contact:
Asa Zanatta, WINBC media relations
Tel: 604 408 1389/(cell) 604 724 7755
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