- First provider in Canada to
bring Toronto Raptors fans together using Snapchat's gamified
in-arena 5G AR Lens
- Bell and Snap to introduce new immersive fan experience at
Toronto Raptors game tonight (January
6, 7:30 p.m. EST)
TORONTO, Jan. 6, 2023
/CNW Telbec/ - Bell and Snap Inc. today announced they have joined
forces to bring together the best of 5G technology and AR to create
a unique immersive experience for Toronto Raptors fans. Together,
Bell and Snap are unleashing the next generation of live
entertainment experiences and are introducing the first ever 5G
multi-user AR basketball experience on Snapchat.
Fans in Scotiabank Arena with a 5G device will be able to join a
shared AR experience for the first time, where they can team up and
compete against each other, shooting hoops like the pros in real
time. The Bell 5G Shot Clock Challenge on Snapchat leverages the
unprecedented speed, latency and bandwidth capabilities of 5G
enabling several thousand players to connect at once.
Join the Bell 5G Toronto Raptors
Lens experience on Snapchat
The Bell 5G Toronto Raptors AR Lens will be available for a
limited time during four upcoming Toronto Raptors Welcome
Toronto games at Scotiabank
Arena.
Snapchatters in attendance will access an exclusive Snapchat
gamified 'pop-a-shot' style Connected Lens experience leveraging
Snapchat's AR technology. Participants will choose a team to play
for in real time, shooting baskets simultaneously to contribute to
a collective score. The team with the highest score wins.
Welcome Toronto games amplify
diverse voices and talents within the city, highlighting a
different selected creator each game. Tonight (January 6), creators and fans alike can
experience the Lens for the first time while watching the Toronto
Raptors take on the New York Knicks. Games to follow include:
January 21 against the Boston
Celtics, February 10 against the Utah
Jazz, and March 18 against the
Minnesota Timberwolves.
5G users attending the game can participate in this experience
by opening the Bell 5G Shot Clock AR Lens in Snapchat or scanning
the Snapcode presented on the Jumbotron. Those without a 5G
device can still take part in the fun with a single player version
of the Lens on a 4G or LTE network.
Today's announcement is the latest innovation leveraging Bell 5G
technology and follows the launch of TSN 5G View / Vision 5G RDS,
another unique immersive experience Raptors fans can enjoy. Bell
continuously works with partners like Snap, leveraging the superior
capabilities of Bell 5G to deliver a broad range of enhanced
digital experiences.
Quotes
"We're excited to partner with Snap to bring together Bell's 5G
network leadership with a world leader in augmented reality. With
the power of 5G, Snap can offer Snapchatters new, fully immersive
fan experiences, starting with live sporting events. This is just
another example of our commitment to Canadians and how we're
delivering the latest technology and best experience."
- Claire Gillies, EVP
Marketing and President Consumer, Bell
"We are proud to work with Bell to showcase the unprecedented
capabilities that AR and 5G can bring to consumers across Canada.
We know that sports brings people together and that connectivity
whether at home or in the stands is integral to the overall fan
experience – and we look forward to unlocking more of the magic of
AR together."
- Anne Laurenson, Senior
Director, Global Carrier Partnerships, Snap Inc.
"There is a highly engaged community watching and talking about
sports on Snapchat – and with our more than 6 billion AR Lens plays
per day, we see a demand for more immersive experiences to
complement and enhance the real world. We are thrilled to be
able to join forces with Bell to bring our Canadian Snapchat
community closer to the action and enable new ways for Raptors fans
at Scotiabank Arena to be part of the game."
- Matt McGowan, General
Manager, Canada, Snap Inc.
Quick facts
- Bell and Snap have inked an innovation partnership, leveraging
the best of 5G technology and AR to create a unique immersive
experience for Toronto Raptors fans
- Bell is the first Canadian telecommunications company to
leverage 5G to support Snap's best-in-class AR technology in this
way
- Bell and Snap introduce the first ever 5G multi-user AR
basketball experience on Snapchat; Toronto Raptors fans in
Scotiabank Arena can shoot hoops together in real time throughout
the duration of the game
- Players will need to have access to a 5G device and use their
rate plan to access the Lens experience; data charges may apply
depending on a player's rate plan
About Bell
Bell is Canada's largest communications company, providing
advanced broadband wireless, TV, Internet, media and business
communication services throughout the country. Founded in Montréal
in 1880, Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. To learn more, please
visit Bell.ca or BCE.ca.
Through Bell for Better, we are investing to create a better
today and a better tomorrow by supporting the social and economic
prosperity of our communities with a commitment to the highest
environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards. This includes
the Bell Let's Talk initiative, which promotes Canadian mental
health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell
Let's Talk Day and significant Bell funding of community care and
access, research and workplace leadership initiatives throughout
the country. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
About Snap Inc.
Snap is a technology company. We believe the camera presents the
greatest opportunity to improve the way people live and
communicate. Snap contributes to human progress by empowering
people to express themselves, live in the moment, learn about the
world, and have fun together. The Company's three core products are
Snapchat, a visual messaging app that enhances your relationships
with friends, family, and the world; Lens Studio, an augmented
reality platform that powers AR across Snapchat and other services;
and its AR glasses, Spectacles. For more information,
visit snap.com.
Media inquiries
Bell
Jessica Benzinger,
jessica.benzinger@bell.ca
@Bell_News
Snap Inc.
Tonya Johnson,
tjohnson3@snapchat.com
Investor inquiries
Bell
Richard Bengian,
richard.bengian@bell.ca
SOURCE Bell Canada