By VSM News Staff

published: Thursday, May 08 2008

Alberta Economic Boom Prime for Remote Managed IT Services with a Local Touch.

May 8th, 2008 - Ottawa, Canada - The Utility Company, a single-source provider of technology, communications and business management solutions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMB) today announced its expansion into the hottest growth market in North America, with its partnership with The Phone Experts Communications Ltd., of Calgary and Red Deer, Alberta. In addition, The Utility Company recently opened new owner-operated franchise locations in Fort McMurray and Lethbridge, Alberta.

The Alberta economy, which is dominated by the oil and gas industry, continues to grow at a staggering pace even despite slowdowns in the world economic outlook. Labor shortages remain the biggest challenge for businesses in Alberta ranging from fast food to the energy sector to knowledge-based jobs like information technology (IT). Wages and opportunities for employees make the hiring of an IT professional prohibitive for the typical small and medium-sized business.

Already a very successful name in telephony for 16 years, The Phone Experts recognized the need to focus more on data networking, data services and potentially offering managed IT services to their customers. The key objective was to address the SMB's complete technology needs in a proactive managed services model with over 90% of the services delivered remotely, evolving away from break/fix onsite service calls.

"For us, the addition of The Utility Company is all about better serving our existing customers and being equipped to address their growing technology needs. Small and medium-sized businesses' reliance on technology has never been greater, but fulfilling those needs is becoming more and more challenging. This is exacerbated in Alberta with the difficulty of attracting and retaining IT staff," stated Clint Oakley, President of The Phone Experts. "The Connected Office service portfolio addresses all types of SMB customers with basic remote computer support like the 1-866-My-Utility Per Minute Live Helpdesk, to proactive fixed-fee managed services leveraging 24x7 remote monitoring and management, to more strategic technologies like unified communications and hosted CRM and accounting."

The Utility Company's Connected Office Technology-as-a-Service Program focuses on the five main areas of technology for business: IT (network, desktop, security, and storage), business applications, Web/Internet, copier/printer and telecommunications. The Phone Experts are now the single-source business-technology provider for SMBs in Calgary and Red Deer.

"We are pleased to partner with an organization of the size, quality and reputation of The Phone Experts, particularly in such an important market - where the hot economy is putting a lot of upward pressure on salaries and skilled labour is in scare supply," stated Mark Scott, President and Founder of The Utility Company. "The fact that The Phone Experts are one of the top TELUS® dealers in Canada and have a large business phone install base, will allow us to extend our services to these customers, plus acquire new customers that can't find the requisite IT resources in this hyper-growth economy."

For more information on our Connected Office services please call 1-866-My-Utility or, in Calgary or Red Deer, call The Phone Experts at 1-800-467-2849. Hear what small and medium-sized businesses across North America are saying by viewing success stories at www.theutilitycompany.com/success or by subscribing to our monthly newsletter, The Utility View, providing business executives advice and realworld case studies on how to evolve technology from a "necessary evil" to a key profit-driver for their business. Listen in to hear real world Connected Office customer stories on our next webinar entitled "What Type of Technology Consumer Are You?" on May 22nd To register, please visit www.theutilitycompany.com/events.

About The Utility Company

The Utility Company is a single-source provider of technology, communications and business

management solutions for small and medium-sized businesses across North America. Our Connected Office Technology-as-a-Service program provides a single point of contact for ALL things technology delivering the required hardware, software and service for a monthly fixed fee per user. Customers are supported by local Utility Service Providers delivering on-site service and business-technology consulting to reduce spending and increase utilization - our Beyond Managed Services franchise opportunity is available by prospectus only. Learn how to make technology work for your business today at

www.theutilitycompany.com.

About The Phone Experts

The Phone Experts is one of Western Canada's largest telecommunications dealers offering business phone systems, data networking, security, cellular and now managed IT services. We are a team of almost 150 highly motivated individuals dedicated to the implementation of quality solutions for our customers. Our solutions always represent superb quality and value and we strive to provide ongoing service to our customers that is second-to-none. The Phone Experts has deep experience in voice and data solutions, both wired and wireless - so much more than just phones!