The schedule is now full. In fact, there is a double-digit waiting list of accepted talk proposals. It filled a blistering speed; it even caught me off guard. What amazed me this time around was few people had not heard of the conference and many had been eagerly planning to get on for sometime. Day 3 which is a special day this time around (mobile augmented reality) is now a 12 hour day and there are still great proposals to be added.
I'm not prepared to extend days 1 and 2 beyond 9 hours each; we're approaching audience exhaustion levels and must have planned social networking opportunities.
Another extraordinary fact is that ticket sales are up 75% on last year. This is particularly great since there are no marketing and sales people. It's a lean setup, primarily focused on research and content. I rely on word-of-mouth marketing. (Register before regular pricing kicks-in soon)
At the end of last week the very first sponsors were added: Voxeo (Platinum), Global IP Solutions (Gold) and MetaSwitch (Gold). I'd expect by the end of this week more sponsorship opportunities to be taken. Lanyards have already been taken by a privately held company, one not wishing for acquisition (my guess). This will break the nice run we had - the debut America 2008 lanyard sponsor Ribbit was acquired months after for 105 million by BT; America 2009 lanyard sponsor JaJah was acquired months after for 207 million by Telefonica.
Anyway, by attending you'll be part of an extraordinary three-day conversation. A conversation that will help you and your company grasp more accurately - and critically, much more quickly than any other possible means - the challenges, technologies, key people and opportunities ahead in the emergent communications space.
Please spread the word. Maybe pass along some key points, for example it's the only industry event which:
I'm not prepared to extend days 1 and 2 beyond 9 hours each; we're approaching audience exhaustion levels and must have planned social networking opportunities.
Another extraordinary fact is that ticket sales are up 75% on last year. This is particularly great since there are no marketing and sales people. It's a lean setup, primarily focused on research and content. I rely on word-of-mouth marketing. (Register before regular pricing kicks-in soon)
At the end of last week the very first sponsors were added: Voxeo (Platinum), Global IP Solutions (Gold) and MetaSwitch (Gold). I'd expect by the end of this week more sponsorship opportunities to be taken. Lanyards have already been taken by a privately held company, one not wishing for acquisition (my guess). This will break the nice run we had - the debut America 2008 lanyard sponsor Ribbit was acquired months after for 105 million by BT; America 2009 lanyard sponsor JaJah was acquired months after for 207 million by Telefonica.
Anyway, by attending you'll be part of an extraordinary three-day conversation. A conversation that will help you and your company grasp more accurately - and critically, much more quickly than any other possible means - the challenges, technologies, key people and opportunities ahead in the emergent communications space.
Please spread the word. Maybe pass along some key points, for example it's the only industry event which:
- Focuses on communications innovation
-
Straddles telecom, mobile and Internet communications (which is ever more critical as the demarcation lines erode, increasing both challenges and opportunities)
- Takes a multi-disciplinary approach (a telecom exec can be followed by say an anthropologist; all pre-designed to help you brainstorm new ideas and company innovation)
- Sets a very high content bar, ignores job titles and is "brains to play" rather than "pay to play" (thus it attracts the most innovative sponsors and you don't have to sit being force-fed tradeshow style industry brochureware)
- Promotes honest and intelligently driven conversations (rather than political/sponsor agendas, orchestrated by event marketeers)
- Helped pioneer what some are now calling the "conference 2.0" format (very short, marketing free short speaking slots without the gloss and fluff)
-
Knows your time and attention is valuable
Remember that the event is a free 10 minute shuttle ride from San Francisco Airport. The venue is very comfortable and is perfect for conversations that go on late into the evening. However the hotel has only reserved 400 room nights for the event (we used more last year) and the cut off date is in 14 days (to get the 159.00 rather than 239.00 room rate). Hotel details here, so I'd act quick (online booking including group discount here).
There is a lot of exciting news on many fronts but I'll save that for future posts starting later this week. In the meantime please do help spread the word. Together we'll build the communications innovation community, bigger, better and stronger.
Regards,
Lee S Dryburgh (Founder)
