Contents and applications have long been claimed to be the key to success to telecommunications, including broadband, in the long run. However, where to find contents and applications and how to package them in a convenient way for users to enjoy them and pay for them? This session, through the case studies and analyses of the likes of operators, analysts, and suppliers, will provide audience some of the insights into this area. Services for both consumers and businesses, including VoIP, P2P, mobile, and IPTV; ICT applications; converged office applications; etc., will be examined and exemplary stories will be presented to justify the importance of contents and applications. Finally, technical architecture to better support the demands from contents and applications will be discussed.

Michael Philpott Practice Leader, Consumer Practice Ovum

Mr. Philpott is a principal analyst specializing in broadband access strategy and technology. He is also manager of Ovum's broadband and ConnectedHome teams and is responsible for all of Ovum's consumer broadband research. Mr. Philpott's contribution to this research includes reports in areas of broadband technology, operator strategy, and broadband markets, as well as detailed broadband network cost modeling and service-demand forecasting. He is well known on the conference circuit, providing his analytical view on broadband markets and technologies on behalf of Ovum or its clients.

Jari Ala-Ruona Co-Founder and CEO Movial Corporation

Mr. Ala-Ruona oversees Movial's worldwide strategic growth and development and manages all core business functions. Since helping establish the company in 2001, he has spearheaded Movial's rapid international expansion to meet the changing needs of today's Internet-based communications and wireless technology marketplaces. Under Mr. Ala-Ruona's leadership, Movial has expanded its global business to become a leading, award-winning provider of client software and creative technology solutions for a broad range of operators and network equipment manufacturers, including KPN, Ericsson, Siemens, and Telefónica.

Nuno Afonso Unit Coordinator, Digital Home Business Unit Portugal Telecom

Currently, Mr. Afonso is responsible for the analysis and implementation of connected home (or digital home) projects at Portugal Telecom. Mainly, those projects concern the deployment on the large-scale real state market of digital home solutions. He also identifies future trends of the digital home and coordinates the development of new products together with the main manufacturers for home automation and home security. In 2004, Mr. Afonso was awarded the Portuguese Youngest Entrepreneur Award for the development of new solutions for the digital home environment.

Weijun Lee Vice President, Network Architecture ZTE USA

Mr. Lee is responsible for global technical marketing of ZTE's core network solutions, including VAS, IMS, NGN, and IPTV. He has more than 15 years of extensive industry experience in multiple areas of telecommunications, including switching, wireless, optical, IP, VoIP, and network management in the functions of system design, software development, network planning, and business case analysis. Prior to joining ZTE in 2005, Mr. Lee was a system architect in the CTO office of Santera Systems.

Horst Melcher President, Country Manager, Japan Deutsche Telekom K.K.

Dr. Melcher assumed his current position in April 2001. He represents and oversees all interests Deutsche Telekom AG is pursuing in Japan. Dr. Melcher started an international management career path with the German chemical/pharmaceutical firm Boehringer Ingelheim, from Toronto, Canada (1981-85) to Buenos Aires, Argentina (1985-89) and Osaka, Japan (1996-98). In addition, he worked for international corporations in Germany, as Emerson Electric's European Controller and chief financial officer in Berlin (1989-91) and Wuensche AG's executive board member in Hamburg (1991-93).

Andreas Mueller-Schubert General Manager, Global Solutions, Microsoft TV Microsoft

Mr. Mueller-Schubert brings more than 12 years of telecommunications experience to his current role. In this position, he is responsible for the deployment of all worldwide customer projects using Microsoft's TV solutions platform. Mr. Mueller-Schubert is responsible for directing approximately 170 solution experts worldwide and for managing Microsoft TV's internal and external system integrator partners within their customer deployment sector. Prior to joining Microsoft TV at the end of 2006, he served in several senior management positions within Siemens' telecommunications division in Germany and Canada.