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May 25, 2005
VON Europe 2005 Recap
VON Europe 2005 has proven to be perhaps the most representative VoIP event in the History of the Galaxy, if not the Universe (I understand that there was once, a long, long time ago in a Galaxy far, far away a comparable event when the innovators rolled out the first real-time holographic, voice-enabled IPv6000.1 R2D2 units to much applause -- sorry, I'm still a little hung up on Star Wars III -- maybe because I've been battling regulatory Siths for the past few weeks.)
Admittedly, VON Europe with a community of more than 2,500 people is still less half the size of the Spring VON '05 in San Jose, CA, USA, at last count, we had more than 1,000 companies and at least 65 countries represented. This diversity is even more than that in our largest North American VON. The attendees even included reps from some countries just joining the communications revolution, but perhaps soon to surpass some of the increasingly backward-looking, allegedly first-world, early movers of VoIP. In a few years, who knows which of these countries might take what they've learned here and enable their countries to emerge as the havens for innovators and entrepreneurs?
In any event, it's been a remarkably full 3 days so far. I'm experience the satisfied exhaustion that I've come to love and identify with VON. Substantively, the discussion was about as advanced and worthwhile as I've known at VON. The corridor buzz reached new heights. I particularly loved the fact that, for the first time, more than a handful of attendees were using their VoIP-enabled PDAs in the corridors. That alone was most satisfying and a demonstration of just how far we as an industry and a community have come.
The VON buzz reached crescendo levels last night with the kick-off reception for the VON Europe 2005 Expo. The show floor opened to the crowd a little before 6:30, and at the official closing time of 8:30 it was still humming at maximum volume.
Over the course of the evening I managed to make my way around the entire Expo floor a couple of times, talking to many of the vendors represented. Spirits were quite high, and the early take on the traffic and customer interest was enthusiastic to say the very least...it seems that folks are here in Stockholm to do business!
Anyway, rather than continuing to describe last night's events I will instead share a few images from the VON Europe 2005 reception. Enjoy!
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Posted by jeff on May 25, 2005 11:38 AM | Permalink
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Comments
Did any of you guys get to see the Viseon Visifone (at the TI booth)?
If so, how did it look/sound?
Posted by: ben at May 25, 2005 01:25 PM
Jeff,
This is very reminiscent of the early days of VON and Streaming Media. The enthusiasm I'm sensing all the way here in San Diego is most encouraging for the industry. Like you I believe we are in a Global Telco era, and that one country is not the center of anything, and Voice is leading that movement.
Thanks for always being the guiding light of VoIP.
Posted by: Andy Abramson at May 25, 2005 01:21 PM