Evoshift launched its new business-oriented wireless service on Wednesday in downtown Victoria's Atrium building — and right next door to rival communications giant Telus.

The new company is targeting small- to medium-sized businesses located within five kilometres of its base station at the top of St. Andrew's Square, which spans the 700 block of Yates and View streets, said Evoshift Communications Inc. chief executive Ryley MacKenzie.

He is taking on the big players in the wireless market, figuring Evoshift can compete on price for smaller businesses. Evoshift services include automatic attendants, conference calling and directing callers to a number within a company.

Under Evoshift's system, an Internet connection is set up between the base station and a customer's office. Because the service is wireless, that Internet service can be moved to another site.

Evoshift monthly plans using the WiMax Internet access system have starting prices of $29 to $129, the company's website states.

The company was announced at a press conference in the Atrium but it is not located there. MacKenzie, a majority owner among a number of investors, works out of a home office. Evoshift has five employees who will install services for between 10 and 20 customers in the coming week, he said.

MacKenzie, who worked in Norway and Australia, said when he returned to Canada for visits it was "disconcerting to see the state of telecommunications in this country."

WiMax is a technology that enables delivery of both fixed and mobile broadband wireless access, according to Communications Research Centre Canada, an agency of Industry Canada.

Many Canadian manufacturers are taking part in WiMax product implementation.

Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin praised the arrival of a new high-tech company in the region and received a WiMax demonstration call from MacKenzie during Wednesday's press conference.