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Communications, Technology and Entertainment Execs Converge on Center Stage at NXTcomm 2007

Posted on: Wednesday, 20 June 2007, 18:00 CDT

Today a heavy-hitting line-up of communications, technology and entertainment industry executives outlined their visions for the future of the rapidly evolving industry from NXTcomm's keynote stage. NXTcomm, the only venue where the business and technology of communications, information and entertainment meet, runs through June 21, 2007, at Chicago's McCormick Place.

Verizon Chairman and CEO Ivan Seidenberg led off the morning session offering a clear picture of how the company's investment in cutting-edge networks will forever change consumers' communications and entertainment experiences.

"Communications technologies are the disruptive force in the 21st century economy. All of the defining experiences of the digital lifestyle -- social networking, media sharing, e-commerce, mobile media -- depend on our advanced networks and the practical applications that deliver their power to customers," Seidenberg explained. "Together, our broadband, mobile and global IP networks comprise a powerful delivery system for the media-rich, interactive content that is transforming television, the Internet, commerce, medicine and education."

Seidenberg pointed to the fact that more than 50 percent of Americans will have a broadband connection this year and more than 75 percent will have wireless phones to illustrate how consumers are demanding broadband and mobility.

"We have barely begun to imagine all the ways that rich graphics, two-way broadband and virtual reality will transform medicine, education and creative industries. This surge in visual, interactive content -- delivered to any screen, anytime, anywhere -- has changed our industry forever," Seidenberg stated. "It has taken many years of investment and innovation to prepare our wireless, wireline and global IP networks to handle this exponential growth in demand for broadband and mobility, but now, it is our industry that is pushing the envelope on speed and providing a pathway to the future."

Seidenberg announced that Verizon has just signed up its one-millionth FiOS customer, a family in Massapequa, New York that is already benefiting from the company's fast broadband speeds and innovative video offerings.

Motorola Chairman and CEO Ed Zander also addressed NXTcomm attendees, sharing his perspective on what convergence means for the industry and consumers. Zander said that consumers want their content mobile, personalized and ready to share and companies have to keep up. "Today it's about fast, affordable broadband Internet. Tomorrow I believe it's about wireless and broadband media platforms. And we as an industry have to work together, software and platforms, the content players and the carriers, as well as the equipment suppliers like ourselves, to bring this vision of this broadband media platform to a reality."

Zander demonstrated for the audience a new Motorola product, 'Follow Me TV,' which allows you to move recorded programming from room to room, television to television.

General Electric Vice Chairman and Executive Officer Bob Wright also addressed the crowd to share the entertainment industry's views on the future for communications.

"We are entering a golden age of media, where consumers have easy, affordable and legal access to a wealth of news, information and entertainment content on every imaginable platform and on platforms that are still being invented," Wright stated. "What could not even be dreamed of a few years ago is now either real or close to it. So it's a very exciting time."

To maximize these opportunities, Wright pointed to three areas where the communications and entertainment sectors must work together, including developing new advertising models to ensure that telecoms and content owners benefit from mobile, interactive and IP-based video; defining technological standards to spur investment in interactive and enhanced video services by allowing for national scale; and protecting content from illegal distribution.

The morning session concluded with a lively panel discussion moderated by Maria Bartiromo, host of CNBC's "Closing Bell" and the host and managing editor of the nationally syndicated "Wall Street Journal Report with Maria Bartiromo."

The panel discussed how national and international communications policies affect investment and innovation and featured three top communications policy makers including Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information John Kneuer who manages communications policy for the U.S. Commerce Department, Ambassador David Gross who oversees international communications policy for the U.S. State Department and Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein from the Federal Communications Commission.

"Today's session really showcased the potential for communications, technology and entertainment companies to work together to ensure that consumers have access to the most innovative technologies and opportunities," said NXTcomm Executive Director Wayne Crawford. "From the top executives to the key policy makers, this session gave NXTcomm attendees a great glimpse of what the future holds for our industry."

NXTcomm, the only venue where the business and technology of communications, information and entertainment meet, runs June 18-21, 2007, in Chicago. The show brings together top executives from every segment of the global industry to exhibit, explore new business opportunities and buy the latest technologies driving the converged communications and entertainment industry. Showcasing hundreds of new and innovative products, the NXTcomm exhibit floor will reflect the dramatic changes in the industry. NXTcomm also features a broad range of educational programming. For more information, go to www.NXTcommShow.com.

NXTcomm, the new industry venue co-owned by the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) and the United States Telecom Association (USTelecom) that will feature the business and technology of communications, information and entertainment, comes to Chicago's McCormick Place June 18-21, 2007. NXTcomm will unite the premier information and communications technology (ICT) industry supplier and technology companies with the world's leading communications and entertainment companies that are together driving broadband-based innovation around the world. For more information, go to http://www.NXTcommShow.com/.

Source: Business Wire

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