(Street Life is a regular feature that profiles what's playing in the stock market.)

Act I: Can You Hear Me Now?

* The Player: Telus Corp. (TSX:T)

* Action: Trading down 10 percent on the day

* Recent Price: $35.50

* 52-Week High/Low: $48.87/$30.63 Some analysts suggest a recession may actually be good for the telecom industry, thinking people will make cuts elsewhere in their lives before they lose their phones, TV or internet.

But Telus, the Burnaby-based communications giant, is claiming the recession affects them too. Blaming lower-than-expected subscriber growth and reduced consumer spending, Telus warned that its financials (due May 7) will show more business customers are deactivating phones and that consumers are trending to lower-per-minute rate plans.

The company says its average revenue per wireless user dropped 5.6 percent to $58.39 in the first quarter (ended March 31), and wireless subscribers dropped 46 percent to 48,000 (compared to the same period a year ago.)

Telus shares had been slowly ticking up from hitting a 52-week low of $30.63 in early March, reaching highs of $36.50, but this announcement sent the shares down more than 10 percent, trading in the $31.80 range at press time.

Act II: Shaw Far, Shaw Good

* The Player: Shaw Communications (TSX:SJR.B)

* Action: Up 10 percent in a month (from $17.72 March 9)

* Recent Price: $19.45

* 52-Week High/Low: $24.20/$17.37 While some companies are forced to retract, others have learned the answer to what people cut in a recession, and are continuing full speed ahead.

Shaw Communications may actually be having one of its better years, says company CEO Jim Shaw. But it's no thanks to the wireless industry. Shaw Communications has wireless spectrum licences, but will do nothing with them for now - instead it will invest in its growth lines: Internet and cable services.

Calgary-based Shaw's financials showed a 10-percent jump in sales for the quarter, thanks mostly to a boost in digital TV customers who are happy to rent and not have to buy cable boxes.

So it appears that people may be willing to cheap out on their phone services when they're forced to make cuts, but leave their TV and internet alone.

Act III: Sign Here Please

* The Player: Wi-Lan Inc. (TSX:WIN)

* Action: Up 12 percent in a month (from $1.37 March 9)

* Recent Price: $1.53

* 52-Week High/Low: $2.43/$1.10 One Ottawa communications technology company has been signing deal after deal this year.

In the quarter ending March 31, Wi-Lan, the technology innovation and licensing company that has a portfolio of more than 300 issued or pending patents and has licensed to more than 170 companies, signed new agreements with 12 companies.

A financial release in March also revealed a 33-percent jump in quarterly revenue (for the period ending Jan. 31, 2009) to $6.3 million, compared to $4.7 million in Q1 a year ago. Net loss grew to $3.8 million from $1.9 million in Q1 2008.

In a statement, chairman and CEO Jim Skippen called the performance "solid progress," citing particular success in signing a six-year licence with Samsung.

Since the financials release, Wi-Lan continued its signing spree, announcing two new multi-year royalty agreements: One by Westinghouse Digital Electronics LLC for Wi-Lan's U.S. V-chip patent, and another by Hisense USA Corp. for Wi-Lan's Canadian V-chip patent.

Act IV: Old But Good

* The Player: Glentel Inc. (TSX:GLN)

* Action: Up 15 percent in a month (from $7.25 March 9)

* Recent Price: $8.35

* 52-Week High/Low: $11.69/$6.51 Age isn't always a good thing - especially in the telecom industry. But a 45-year old Burnaby, B.C., company is holding its own.

Glentel Inc., a telecom service and solutions provider founded in 1963, recently reported financial results for a successful 2008.

Sales increased to $87.5 million for the year, compared to $69 million in 2007. Net income dropped to $897,000 from $5 million the previous year.

Sales growth was thanks to a 39-percent jump in retail division sales.

Mobile phone and wireless device activations increased 17 percent year over year in existing stores, and the remainder came from the 24 new retail stores that Glentel opened during the year.

Glentel shares jumped $0.07 to $7.25 on March 12, the day of the news, and have continued to climb since.

NOTE: The above is not intended as investment advice to buy or sell any mentioned securities.

Investors should do due diligence before investing. Quotes are based on results through April 8, 2009.

(Nicole Strandlund can be reached at nicole@businessedge.ca)