14:00 – 15:30 | Wednesday, 16 July

How Converged Messaging Can Help Broadband Operators

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Subscribers look for fast and easy access to content that is integrated across the many information silos that presently exist. Broadband operators' success depends on building a multi-channel approach to premium content and services. The converged approach ensures users can access what they want, when they want it.

According to Martijn Blanken from Openwave, getting users back to an operator's portal is an age-old problem in terms of driving revenues through upselling additional services. But as broadband and messaging evolve, new opportunities arise that extend the reach of operator content from the traditional desktop for subscribers to non-subscribers and mobile devices.

Mr. Blanken will explore the messaging opportunity for broadband and how operators can launch additional services within voice and e-mail to create personalized services such as advertising tightly targeted to the user and create new revenue streams. Mr. Blanken will cover topics pertinent to broadband operators.

Martijn Blanken Vice President and GM, Asia-Pacific Region Openwave Systems, Inc.

Mr. Blanken is focused on working with the regional sales and services teams to improve sales and services execution, as well as to strengthen relationships with key Openwave customers in the Asia-Pacific and Japan region. Prior to this role, Mr. Blanken served as Openwave's area vice president for South East Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Before joining Openwave, he was with KPN Royal Dutch Telecom, where he held a number of senior-level positions. Mr. Blanken also served as managing director of the Customer Care division for the business. He's also served in several other leadership roles for KPN. Mr. Blanken holds an M.B.A. from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands.

Peter Cook Vice President of Mobile Networks StarHub Ltd.

Mr. Cook has enjoyed a successful and dynamic international career in infocomms and telecommunications engineering, operations, and product and service management. He has worked in senior management positions involving engineering, operations, product management, customer service, network design and verification, project implementation, supplier management, negotiation, and financial control.

Serene Fong Industry Analyst ABI Research Asia Pacific

Ms. Fong devotes her energies to broadband and networking research and is tasked with the challenging role of establishing and reinforcing ABI Research's presence in the Asia-Pacific. She brings with her extensive qualitative and quantitative research experience from her previous engagements in the telco and transport industries. Prior to joining ABI Research, Ms. Fong was part of the Customer Insights team at telecommunications service provider StarHub Ltd., where she was responsible for providing market intelligence and customer analytics related to the company's leading-edge deployment of HDTV, video on demand, cable television, and broadband data services. Ms. Fong holds a B.A. with merit in statistics and sociology from the National University of Singapore.

David Poole Technical Director, APAC Openwave Systems, Inc.

Mr. Poole leads a team responsible for designing solutions and managing consulting service delivery for product deployment, solutions deployment, and value-added services for carriers such as Telstra, Maxis, T-Mobile, Sprint, and AT&T. Prior to Openwave, Mr. Poole worked for international airline manufacturer and systems integration company Boeing Australia Limited, where he contracted as a special project director, specializing in directory services, e-commerce, messaging, and Internet technologies. Earlier in his career Mr. Poole held senior-level technical positions for Enterprise Solutions Ltd., where he served as vice president of technical services and as technical director. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Newcastle University.

Dave Williams Senior Vice President of Wireless Technology Comcast Corporation

Mr. Williams is responsible for the evaluation and strategy of wireless technology options. Additionally, his expertise serves the boards of the GSM Association and Vantage Point. Most recently, Mr. Williams was Telefonica O2's chief technology officer, where he merged Telefonica and O2's networks. His experience has included running all the technological operations for Cingular Wireless and involvement in several mergers. As vice president of operations, he was involved with the merger of BellSouth Cellular and SBC Wireless' network build-out in the Western Region. Mr. Williams had joined SBC Wireless following the company's acquisition of Pacific Bell Mobile Services, where he was key to the integration of their two networks.

Geoffrey Yuen Vice President, Emerging Technology PCCW

Dr. Yuen is responsible for identifying and championing new business opportunities in emerging technologies. He has been involved with creating the applications and service infrastructure for Network of the World Asia and the Business Support System re-platform initiative. His most recent work relates to the commercialization of fixed-mobile convergence and digital home services. Prior to joining PCCW, Dr. Yuen supported several start-ups, serving as a consultant for companies such as Sears and saleshound.com, eventually becoming chief technology officer for Renren.com. Dr. Yuen holds a B.S. from Wheaton College and a Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University.