eZine April 2008

Greetings from the Forum.

Please note: Members are welcome to contribute content for our “Member news” section. Email helen@wirelessforum.org.nz

This month’s articles:

Messages from the Editor (Helen Fisk)

Events:

- Convergence Oceania 2008

- Wireless Wednesday May 14th - John O'Hara

- PLATO

- South Island Hospitality Show!

- Next Generation wireless masterclass

- Technology Triangle

Member News - Aaron Davidson, CEO of SimWorks, reports on the Barcamp Mobile event held recently in Wellington

If you are a member of the forum, and would like to feature a newsworthy paragraph in our newsletter, contact me!! helen@wirelessforum.org.nz

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Messages from the Editor:

Welcome to our April Ezine issue. Due to a systems upgrade, this newsletter has been delayed, however, this year is marching along smartly, so make sure you visit our website, and read our event invitations so you don't miss out on the many events WBF is supporting and running throughout 2008.

Last month, Gen-i sponsored our Wireless Wednesday in Auckland! Our Sponsors' support is a welcome contribution and allows us to further empower the Wireless & Broadband Community.

Sponsors also allow us to run events otherwise only seen on the International circuit. Convergence Oceania 2008 is one of these events, so I hope you are all hyped up and ready for this year's major event on August 1st.

If you are a Business Decision Maker, you need to book the 1st August into your diary now! If you only have time for one event in your busy annual calendar and want to make the most out of it, then the Convergence Oceania 2008 is the one where you should be.

Details are posted within this newsletter and online, or contact helen@wirelessforum.org.nz for further details.

Coming up in just a few days - May 14th, our guest speaker is JOHN O'HARA. Many of you will already know John, and will know that this is an event not to be missed! Writer of Commercialising Innovation, John is definately a voice to be heard, and a speaker you don't want to miss. Read on for more details.

Members, please send me any news articles related to your business if you would like to have your business promoted in our newsletter (which goes out to over 3000 people!). Email helen@wirelessforum.org.nz

This month's Famous quote:

"Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?"
--H.M. Warner, Warner Brothers, 1927.

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Important Events

Convergence Oceania:

A big THANK YOU to all of those supporters of last year's Convergence events in Wellington (May) and Auckland (November). Feedback was very positive, and thanks to this feedback, we are making some changes this year.

Based on popular demand from our members, we are combining our usual Wlg and AKL Convergence Oceania events into one large showcase, to be hosted at the Alinghi base, Auckland Viaduct! With 100 Exhibitors, two speaker streams, International speakers and a topical flavour, this is an event not to be missed!

In the past, stands have been available stricly on a "member only" basis. This year, the Forum welcomes participants from other Associations, and non-members - so WBF members, contact me now to discuss your special rates and book your exhibitor space before it's too late! Pricing ranges from just $495. Contact helen@wirelessforum.org.nz.

View a video outlining the Convergence Oceania events : Download video or view video streaming

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Wireless Wednesday - 14th May 2008

Our new venue, the floating pavilion, has been well received.

This month's Auckland Wireless Wednesday features a very popular and well known Entrepreneur, John O'Hara. John spoke at the NZSA networking dinner last month and it was so well recieved, we asked him to run the same event again for WBF. Anyone in business will benefit from this presentation - click here to read more about John.

It's free to attend, but spaces are limited! RSVP online or email helen@wirelessforum.org.nz to secure your space. Canapes, drinks and networking are on the agenda, so don't miss out!!

This is a great opportunity to network over nibbles and drinks, with views across the harbour. Starting at 6pm, don't miss out! Click here to RSVP to this free industry event!

Wellington – WW, 28th May, Join us at 5.30pm at The Lonestar! Details will be posted online later this month.

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PLATO Programme

As part of the continued support for Auckland business, the Ministry of Economic Development, AucklandPlus, and WHK Gosling Chapman are collaborating to offer your business the chance to participate in the upcoming PLATO™ programme. Applicants are currently being sought.

What is PLATO™?

PLATO™ is a highly successful international business mentoring and peer support programme, which will be piloted in Auckland over the next 2 years. Working alongside some of NZ's leading corporate and industry expertise, the programme offers SME owner-managers an opportunity to share their business experiences with like-minded companies to collectively overcome barriers to growth. One of the key advantages of PLATO™ is that the overall direction of each network is determined by the participants.

The ICT PLATO™ network group will bring together 10-12 SME owners from the ICT sector with 2 group facilitators from larger businesses or corporate organisations who will provide training, mentoring and expert advice, and will also bring in guest speakers to address specific issues identified by the group. The facilitators will be Wayne Hudson, Partner of Hudson Gavin Martin technology and intellectual property lawyers, and President of the NZSA, and Mike Engle, General Manager of Software of Excellence.

CLICK HERE for further details and downloads.

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2008 New Zealand CIO Summit - 22nd & 23rd July 2008, Hyatt Regency, Auckland

IDC and Bright*Star jointly present the 2008 New Zealand CIO Summit - NZ's leading event for CIOs and IT executives in New Zealand.

CIOs are time poor. Hence, taking 2 days out of the office to attend an event can be a lot to ask for; unless of course, the content is valuable to you, your role, and your organisation.

Based on extensive market research and intimate conversations with CIOs in New Zealand through our CIO Advisory Council, we have designed and created an agenda that promises to deliver compelling value to you.

Broken down into focused topics, you will stand to gain from expert presentations on:

- Business and ICT alignment
- Championing ICT and its people
- Communicating and delivering value
- Innovation, creation and change
- Talent acquisition, management and retention
- Sustainability
- Governance
- Security
- Web 2.0 and Enterprise 2.0

View the full agenda online at http://www.brightstar.co.nz/nz/cio-summit-2008.html

For more information or to register contact Bright*Star on (09) 379 5892, info@bright*Star.co.nz

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South Island Hospitality Show

If your target market involves the hospitality industry then you should consider a stand within the Technology Zone at the South Island Hospitality show!

It has been eight years since the South Island last hosted a large broadly based hospitality show and in June of 2008 the region will once again play host to a show dedicated to the many facets of the industry. The South Island Hospitality Show aims to broaden the focus by showcasing the complete range of products and services that a rapidly growing hospitality industry utilises.

The Technology Zone will be the very first area that approximately 2500 visitors from the industry will see as they walk through the entrance of the Westpac Arena on the 18th & 19th June in Christchurch. This area will incorporate the latest in wireless and broadband, point of sale software and many other innovative products that have an application for the industry.

The South Island Hospitality show is a trade only event placing quality industry decision makers in front of leading suppliers.

There will also be a visitor promotion for the South Island Hospitality Show; one lucky visitor will get the chance to win either a kitchen worth $100,000 or the opportunity to spend the $100,000 within the exhibitor pool. The money must be spent within the exhibitors.

The lucky visitor will be given one hundred envelopes to choose from, if they pick the correct one they win the prize, if they don't they will win a supplementary prize, we believe this will be a large draw card for visitors to the show.

For exhibiting opportunities or additional show information please visit www.sihs.co.nz or contact Murray Chapman on 0800 3944248 (EXHIBIT).

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Next Generation Wireless Masterclass

The programme has been specifically tailored to the non-technical audience and/or professionals who may have formal education in a different discipline, but who need to gain a high level understanding of the next generation wireless technologies

With a techno-economic orientation identifying the capital costs to invest in, to use, and to apply these newer technologies, this 2 day masterclass is ideally suited to those who are either recipients of ICT services or seek to provide products or services (such as in finance or media/communications). It is also highly suited to MPs, Ministers, Civil Servants and other government officials or simply those seeking to understand and invest in the growth potential of these current and emerging technologies.

Sydney and Melbourne events have passed, however, the following events are about to begin:

Adelaide: 14-15 May Stamford Grand, Glenelg

Canberra: 21-22 May 2008, Hyatt Hotel Canberra

• Understand the current and emerging trends in Next Generation Personal Broadband Wireless systems
• Understand the trade-offs between Capacity and Coverage, Coverage and Frequency, Spectrum and Network System costs
• WiMAX® vs. 3G/HSPA: Where are we at?
• HSPA+, Long-Term Evolution and Ultra Mobile Broadband enhancements
• How will these trends and technologies impact the Telco, the competitive emerging wireless eco-system and your own organization?
• Deployment economics of various wireless technologies
• Learn what technologies are shaping the wireless future

For more information visit www.informa.com.au/nextgenwireless

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Attention NZ High Tech Exporters - are you seeking better results for your North American ambitions?

Do you feel like an explorer at times? Exploration is a risky endeavour; setting off into the junknown with high hopes of fame and fortune, aware that at any given time, the convergence of any number of factors can spell disaster or success. Still, its theis challenge - of taking life's unpredictablity head on with a determination to win - that drives explorers on to forge new paths;

Many New Zealand companies take up that challenge when they set out to carve a niche in the North American market. They will do some research, cram what they think might be useful into a suitcase and set off - alone. It's not too long before their meagre resources and energy have been sapped by the confluence of unfamiliar markets, aggressive competition and complex regulatory constraints. Disaster.

But what if a better, more promising reality can be forged? One that relegates this dismal, but sadly, typical export tale to the past.

Using Canada's Technology Triangle to ACCELERATE YOUR SUCCESS!

If you are an Export ready company visit Canada's Technology Triangle, June 23rd to 27th 2008.

To indicate your interest or for further information contact:

Neil Movold, neil.movold@canada-nz.org.nz

Canada New Zealand Business Association (CANZBA).

Telephone +64 21 749 893 or visit www.canada-nz.org.nz.

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Member News

• Aaron Davidson, CEO of well known mobile application developer SimWorks, reports on the Barcamp Mobile event held recently in Wellington

I recently had the pleasure of attending Barcamp Mobile in Wellington (http://www.barcamp.org.nz/barcamp-mobile-wellington). Before this I'd never attended a barcamp and didn't really know what to expect. To be honest, I wasn't exactly sure what a barcamp was but there was going to be free pizza so even if it was really bad it wouldn't be a complete write-off.

As it turns out, barcamp was great and definitely worth the trip.

So what is a barcamp anyway? Let me just say that the name is not a helpful starting place. For the avoidance of doubt, and there were numerous doubters, a barcamp has nothing to do with bars. The name is a play on an in-joke of a joke of a ... long story short, the name has no straightforward explanatory relationship to the event. A barcamp is a conference around a topic organised by the people attending it. You typically register your interest in attending and then at the outset of the event you collectively brainstorm the things that you'd like to talk about, arrange an agenda and then get into it. It sounds disorganised and it is, but it seems to work, at least it all came together on the day for us.

So was barcamp worth it? I thought so at least. There were lots of thought provoking interactive discussions around mobile in New Zealand, lead by and contributed to by people that live and breathe mobile. Fascinating stuff and ultimately very practical - I picked up a couple of development tips and learned of a service that between them will save us a lot of time and money.

I also had the chance to meet a ton of new people. The pizza was descent to boot.

If you'd like to dip your toes into the barcamp waters your next chance will be Barcamp Auckland (http://bca.geek.nz/) which is being held on 12 July at Botany Downs Secondary College. Unlike Barcamp Mobile, Barcamp Auckland is not focused on any particular topic so goodness knows how it will work out.

If you believe the organisers last years was smashing. As it's local I'll likely bowl along and check it out anyway.

My final word on barcamps would have to be that it is inherent in the concept that you get out of them what you put in. Wallflowers may not get as much value out of them as tall poppies!

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See you at the May event on the 14th!

Regards

Helen Fisk

Business Development Manager, NZ Wireless & Broadband Forum

Phone Cell: 027 428 2669 or email: helen@wirelessforum.org.nz