Shaw Communication Inc. has launched its VoIP phone service in Vancouver today. Though Shaw Communications didn’t comment officially on Tuesday, it sent out an advisory that its Shaw Digital Phone service would be launched ‘with operations officially commencing’ today.



This means that Shaw is bringing its phone war with Telus Corp. to Vancouver with its VoIP service in what is the biggest local phone market in western Canada.



With this Vancouver becomes the fifth market to receive the service following:



i. Edmonton,

ii. Calgary,

iii. Winnipeg and

iv. Victoria.



Shaw’s VoIP in other markets are priced at $55 a month that includes the standard features available nowadays which are:



a) unlimited long distance in North America,

b) voicemail,

c) call forwarding,

d) call waiting,

e) call display,

f) call return and

g) 3-way calling.



This package is dearer than Vonage ($40 per month) and Primus ($50). Anyway, at its Victoria debut, Shaw president Peter Bissonnette said his company could offer a dedicated phone network and 24-hour technical service. This would mean pretty good service can indeed be expected from Shaw.



By Oct end last year Shaw claimed that it had signed up 56,000 subscribers for its phone service.



Now as the heat is turned on Telus, Jim Johannsson said that the company is, what it termed as - ‘very prepared’ for the open battle in Vancouver having already dealt with the Edmonton and Calgary launches.



Read more on The Vancouver Sun.