Is IPTV vitally important to ensuring broadcasters' success? Or are they more dependent on service content? Or in-home network technical capabilities? Amid a diverging set of options, a panel of executives from technology, broadcast, service, and content providers will discuss what has happened in the "connected" space and share their visions of what constitutes a successful service. While attendees might expect that there are neat categories such as wireless broadband, IPTV, or digital home, what we find is that the overriding focus is on enabling the consumer. These panelists will show and debate how the market is being transformed and what the new enabling technologies are likely to be.

Christine Heckart General Manager, Marketing, Microsoft TV Microsoft

Ms. Heckart is responsible for worldwide marketing and partner business development activities. In her role, she manages the teams responsible for market and competitive research and analysis, strategic and business planning, product management and planning, marketing communications, and customer and partner co-marketing activities. Ms. Heckart also significantly contributes to the overall vision, strategy, and execution of the business, overseeing the success of Microsoft TV's products with network operators, content owners, application developers, hardware manufacturers, and other partners. Prior to joining Microsoft, Ms. Heckart was vice president of marketing for Juniper Networks. In her three years in this role, she worked closely with the executive team to expand and diversify Juniper's market focus and global customer base.

Kenneth Frank Senior Vice President Alcatel-Lucent

Mr. Frank heads the strategy, marketing, and technology functions for the global services business group of Alcatel-Lucent. Previously, he was senior vice president of strategic solutions and CTO of Alcatel North America, where he was responsible for aligning Alcatel's technology strategy and vision with customer requirements and business opportunities and fostering the company's IPTV relationships.

Michael Khalilian Chief Technology Officer and Board Member, VoX Communications, Pervasip Communications Chairman and President, IMS Forum

Mr. Khalilian was previously chief technology officer at Volo Communications (VoIP Inc.), chief technologist/advisor to NTT business groups and head of technology/senior director of technology, architecture, applications, and business development with Time Warner Communications' business groups. Mr. Khalilian previously chaired both Softswitch Consortium (VoIP standards group) and IP multimedia Carrier Coalitions (IPCC).

Ray Sokola Chief Technology Officer, Connected Home Solutions Motorola, Inc.

Mr Sokola leads technology and innovation leadership, intellectual property creation and timely integration of new technologies that create new business opportunities. A 25-year Motorolan, he previously held the position of corporate vice president and chief technology officer of the Integrated Electronics Systems Sector of Motorola. Prior to that role, he was general manager of Motorola's Telematics Group, which supplies the in-vehicle equipment for OnStar and other security and information services for drivers. In addition, he was general manager of the ceramic filter business, and spent his first 10 years at Motorola developing cellular mobile and handset technology.

Jim Strothmann Director, Product Strategy and Management, Home Entertainment Initiatives Scientific-Atlanta, A Cisco Company

Mr. Strothmann is responsible for managing and charting the future course of the digital video delivery platforms, which include the Explorer 8000™ and 8000HD™ Home Entertainment Servers and the MCP-100™ DVR with DVD player and recorder. Prior to coming to Scientific-Atlanta in 2004, Jim held various engineering and marketing positions at Thomson Consumer Electronics (RCA, GE, and ProScan brands), including hardware design manager for RCA DVD Players and system engineer for DirecTV video decoders.

Mark Weiss Solutions Executive, IPTV/Triple Play IBM

Mr. Weiss has more than 20 years of experience in the cable and telecommunications industry. In his current role, he has responsibility for developing broadband solutions employing IBM's ecosystem of ISV partners. He works with industry-leading OSS/BSS and network equipment providers (NEP) in the crafting of end-to-end solutions around triple and quad play. Mr. Weiss joined IBM through its acquisition of ROLM in 1986; at that time he was managing a technical sales team and sold ROLM's (and later IBM's) portfolio of telecommunications products to large enterprises in the Midwest. Over the years he has held a variety of management and marketing roles at IBM, all focused in the telecommunications and networking areas. In the early 1990s, he spearheaded IBM efforts for "video dial tone," broadband networking, and interactive television.