Top Drivers of Convergence Recognized as IEC Announces Finalists of the Convergence World Awards

U.S. Contact: Lisa Reyes
Phone: +1-312-559-3325
E-Mail: lreyes@iec.org

European Contact: Howard Jones
Phone: +44(0)115 948 6901
E-Mail: howard@gbcspr.com

Convergence World Contact: Lydia Oakes
Phone: +44 (0)1799 543909
E-Mail: lydia@convergenceworld.net

CHICAGO – March 14, 2007 – In association with Convergence World magazine, the International Engineering Consortium (IEC) today announced the finalists of the Convergence World Awards. As the C5 World Forum approaches in Milan this 26–29 March at the Fiera Milano Congressi, industry interest in the awards was reflected in the high level of entries, which included many from the convergence sector's leading companies.

"The IEC is delighted to be associated with the Convergence World Awards," said IEC President John Janowiak. "The C5 World Forum is the premier event showcasing the convergence of fixed and mobile communications, broadcasting and entertainment, and the awards will recognize the companies driving this convergence forward."

The Convergence World Awards are presented by Convergence World magazine in association with the IEC. The awards are endorsed by leading industry bodies, including the Moriana Group, the Fixed-Mobile Convergence Alliance, MobileIGNITE and the Wi-Fi Alliance.

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony to be held in Milan on the evening of Tuesday, 27 March as part of the IEC's C5 World Forum.

The independent judging panel for the Convergence World Awards comprised Tom Costello, vice president of conference development at the IEC; Rodrigo Donazzolo, program director at the Fixed-Mobile Convergence Alliance; Frank Hanzlik, chief executive at the Wi-Fi Alliance; Mac Taylor, managing director of the Moriana Group; John Williamson, editor at Convergence World; and Ian Channing, senior editor at GSM Publications.

Convergence World Awards Finalists

Best FMC Product or Service
BT Movio, Huawei, Kineto, Outsmart, TeliaSonera

Best Converged Voice/Data Product or Service
Alcatel, Aruba, BT One Voice, KEYMILE, Nokia

Best IPTV Innovation or Service
Centillium, Glowria, Huawei, Microsoft, Seachange

Best VoIP Product or Service
Broadsoft, Comverse, Corebridge, Italtel

Best Converged Billing Product
Amdocs, Comverse, Highdeal, Martin Dawes

Best Ethernet Product or Service
Adva, Juniper, Orange, RAD, Tellabs

Best IMS Innovation or Service
Operax, Spirent, Tekelec, Tilgin, Xeround

Outstanding Contribution to the Convergence Industry by an Individual or Organization
BT Retail, Convergin, ECI, Simmin, Thomson

An additional award will be made at the awards dinner: the C5 Award, presented by the by the IEC, which will recognize a significant contributor to the success of C5 networks and technologies.

Stuart Willett, publisher of Convergence World magazine and organizer of the Convergence World Awards, said, "I am extremely pleased that the industry is being so supportive of these new awards, which I believe will go from strength to strength in the future. The vision of a world of growing convergence that encouraged us to launch Convergence World magazine is now being realized."

Convergence World magazine has been the premier publication in this sector since 2005 and is widely recognized as the voice of the industry. The Convergence World Awards are designed to recognize those organizations and individuals that have made a significant contribution to the evolution of fixed-mobile convergence.

Focused on networks and technologies, including convergence and lessons learned from next-generation deployments, the C5 World Forum will present 200 information and communication technology (ICT) leaders to speak in more than 50 educational sessions at the Fiera Milano Congressi this 26-29 March with Telecom Italia as the official host sponsor.

For more information on the Convergence World Awards, contact Lydia Oakes at + 44 (0)1799 543909 or lydia@convergenceworld.net.

For more information on the C5 World Forum, visit www.iec.org/events/2007/c5/ or contact Lisa Reyes at lreyes@iec.org or at +1-312-559-3325.

About the Convergence World Awards
Convergence World magazine, a proud media sponsor of C5 World Forum and premier publication for the telecommunications industry, is widely recognized as the voice of the industry. Making its debut in association with the C5 World Forum 2007, the Convergence World Awards 2007 will recognize organizations that are making the greatest contribution to this exciting marketplace and those that are leading the way in reshaping the world of communications. The Convergence World Awards program is designed to not only reward those who have excelled, but also explain how and why they won to a worldwide audience.

In association with the International Engineering Consortium (IEC), the awards are also endorsed by the Moriana Group, the Fixed Mobile-Convergence Alliance (FMCA), the Wi-Fi Alliance and MobileIGNITE. The awards will be presented at a ceremony held in Milan on Tuesday 27 March as part of the IEC's C5 World Forum. To reserve individual tickets, or to book a table to attend the Convergence World Awards, visit www.convergenceworldawards.com.

About the C5 World Forum
The C5 World Forum (Customer-Centric Converged Communication and Content), focused on networks and technologies, emerged from the need to move beyond the digital networked economy to focus more intently on the implications of network convergence of communications and its role in shaping personalized content and communications for customers.

Previously known as the 21st Century Communications World Forum, the forum premiered in 2005, drawing more than 2,000 registrants eager to discuss the latest advances in the move toward customer-centric information and communications technologies. The 2006 show in London, England, which saw a 75 percent increase in registration over the 2005 forum, analyzed the business and technology requirements for making convergent IP communications a reality in today's world on a carrier scale.

The premiere of the C5 World Forum will take place in the Fiera Milano Congressi in Milan, Italy, from 26–29 March 2007. Telecom Italia will be the forum's official host sponsor. For more information, visit www.iec.org/events/2007/c5.

About the IEC
A nonprofit organization, the IEC is dedicated to catalyzing technology and business progress worldwide in a range of high-technology industries and their university communities. Since 1944, the IEC has provided high-quality educational opportunities for industry professionals, academics, and students.

In conjunction with industry-leading companies, the IEC has developed an extensive, free, on-line educational program. The IEC conducts industry-university programs that have a substantial impact on curricula. It also conducts research and develops publications, conferences, and technological exhibits that address major opportunities and challenges of the information age.

More than 70 leading high-technology universities are IEC affiliates, and the IEC handles the affairs of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Heads Association and Eta Kappa Nu, the honor society for electrical and computer engineers. Visit www.iec.org.