Trent Johnsen likes “disruptive technologies.”

His last company, Offsite Data, was a world leader in Internet storage, changing the way companies manage their information.

“Now it’s time we quit using outdated voice networks to deliver data and shift to advanced data networks to carry voice. It’s 15 to 20 times more efficient, and the customers get the benefits.”

It’s not every day, he says, that a company lays out a rock-solid business plan to create a national telephone company to serve small business’s needs.

Trent Johnsen, CEO of Shift Networks, says customer service is the key to success in business.

But that’s exactly what Shift is positioned to accomplish, explains Johnsen, now the company’s chief executive officer.

“I have had a very successful career as an entrepreneur in the Calgary telecom market since 1986, but what I see here is the greatest opportunity I’ve been exposed to.”

Shift next month begins raising its profile in two significant ways: with a prospectus offering to raise $3 million; and the network “goes live” with customers.

The public offering is enjoying significant interest, says Johnsen. Wolverton Securities is leading a strong syndicate of brokerage houses in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver.

His optimism flows from a very strong management team and a unique business plan that will “break the rules on how small business is served today.”

“We will provide fast, friendly, affordable telecom services for small business and high-speed dedicated DSL Internet access included in the cost of their phone lines.”

Shift’s strategy is impressive.

It focuses on signing up customers who work in suburban multi-tenant commercial buildings where Shift installs its own state-of-the-art voice and data switching equipment.

The on-site technology allows Shift to become a single-source provider of telephone lines, Internet access, and manage all billings, sales and service to customers.

“We have the technology to enhance all the telecom services that businesses now have,” says Johnsen. “As we go in and perform audits for customers, we consistently find that we can provide the services at 20 to 40-per-cent less than businesses now pay.”

This April, Shift begins serving customers at its first building, Centre 70, in south Calgary. More promising, it has signed agreements with more than 40 other buildings to establish its on-site network. In five of those buildings, Shift has already pre-sold more than 100 lines.

Johnsen says landlords are recognizing that Shift enhances the building, providing essentially free dedicated high-speed Internet access to tenants. The company is in discussions with large suburban landlords in Vancouver and Toronto.

But Calgary comes first. And once the $3 million is raised, Shift switches into high gear.

“This is our headquarters, and it’s our intention to “Shift” 50 buildings within 12 months of completing the financing. Once that is tracking, we’ll announce our second city.”

Johnsen explains that the revenue generated from telecom service to small business is recurring and growing.

Companies today spend upwards of $70 per phone line, he says. A small business with 10 phone lines is spending $8,000 to $10,000 annually on telecom, Internet and related services.

“We’ll service 100 per cent of their spending. When you add up what small businesses spend on their suite of telecommunication services, the numbers are significant.”

The key to success will unquestionably be customer-focused service – fast, friendly and affordable, he adds.

Johnsen vows that Shift will build long-term customers by moving the complete functionality and capacity of the telephone network into the customer’s building, providing an attentive single-source provider with a regular presence in their building.

Earlier this month, Bank of Montreal chief economist Tim O’Neill declared that the telecom sector would lead growth in Canada through 2006. Of the 45 industry groups studied, it is expected to outpace the next fastest sector by 50 per cent.

Shift agrees with the forecast, and believes it has targeted the right group to cash in on growth and demand – businesses using one to 20 phone lines.

“We think small business is under served,” says Johnsen. “We have the technological capacity to enhance the service provided and reduce the costs at the same time.

“It’s recurring, growing revenue, and I believe the companies that will outperform the market over the next five to 10 years are the ones who focus on their customers as their greatest asset.”

For more information on Shift Networks, call 403.770.7443 or visit the website at www.shiftnetworks.com