Quadruple play is the grand slam of communication services and has been identified as the major differentiator in competing communications environments. Service will be available everywhere, at any time on fixed and mobile networks— this is known as unified communications.

While service providers compete with each other with quad play, this package might also become crucial in the battle against new Internet players that would like to see classical service providers move to pure broadband access service providers.

The session will address the ways of implementing the grand slam, considering network as well as service convergence. The advantages classical service providers (telcos) as well as the advantages of new Internet players are discussed and balanced during this plenary panel.

Stephan Scholz Chief Technical Officer and Head of Research, Technology, and Platforms Nokia Siemens Networks

Since 2003, Dr. Scholz has headed carrier development worldwide at Siemens and is responsible for all carrier products—including softswitches, gateways, and NG applications such as IPTV—and their respective network management. Before this, Dr. Scholz was senior vice president of wireline networks carrier convergence and vice president of product management at Siemens' wireline networks carrier switching division and held various sales, marketing, and business management positions at Siemens Information Communication Networks in the United States from 1997 to 1999. He joined Siemens in 1990.

Anette Schaefer Director, Consumer Research, Broadband, Media and Entertainment Strategies The Yankee Group

Ms. Schaefer manages all research and consulting. She extensively monitors consumer market developments and the competition in the media industry. Ms. Schaefer analyzes the technologies and the overall market convergence, strategies, and infrastructure. Prior to joining Yankee Group, she worked for 15 years as a management consultant in the United States and Europe. Ms. Schaefer advised clients from the cable, TV, media, and investment industry — including Disney, Universal, Bertelsmann, AOL Time Warner, and NBC — in market-entrance strategies, business planning, and marketing of new services.

Leping Wei Chief Technology Officer China Telecom

Mr. Wei's research interests are optical fiber communication, SDH, access network, NGN/NGI, and network evolution strategy. He has published more than 100 papers and eight books. Mr. Wei is vice chairman of science and technology committee of MII, chairman of the information network technical committee, vice chairman of the optical fiber communication technical committee, and a fellow member of China Communication Institution (CIC).

ZZ Zhang Communications Head and Designated Regional Head, China Nokia Siemens Networks

Mr. Zhang has been president and chief executive officer of Siemens (China) Communications Group since July 2006 after serving as the deputy general manager since October 2005, overseeing operations and government relations of Siemens Communications in China. Before this, he was president and chief executive officer of Siemens VDO Automotive China for seven years. In August 2006, Mr. Zhang was appointed chief executive officer of the Greater China Region of Nokia Siemens Networks, which is expected to start operations in the first quarter of 2007, subject to the official closure of the merger.

Craig Zimbulis President and Chief Executive Officer ANYTIME Pte

Mr. Zimbulis joined ANYTIME in November 2004 and is based at ANYTIME's headquarters in Singapore. Originally brought on as president and chief operating officer, he was promoted to his current position in February 2006, and as such he has complete responsibility for ANYTIME's growth plans. Mr. Zimbulis has lived in Asia for the past 12 years, where he has set up and operated a variety of businesses on behalf of major international companies and has held various senior managerial positions in some of the world's best-known consumer marketing organizations.