Investing in an IPTV platform can be an excellent triple-play strategy. Interactivity is the key differentiator that IPTV services providers will want to play out. Adding interaction will create a unique user experience. By utilizing an interactive portal, telecom operators are able to quickly and cost-effectively deploy interactive services on their IPTV platform. Game portals, magazine sites, user-generated content portals or interactive sponsorship and advertising sites can be created using template tools.

Interactive IPTV is an area of consumer interest, and it enables service providers to achieve their retention goals and grow their market. This session will show how this is working in the U.K. market and how it can easily be adapted in other markets.

A key focus of this discussion will be the software implications. Via a product demonstration, feature effectiveness and benefits of interactivity with IPTV will be highlighted.

Carl Rijsbrack Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Fixed Solutions Division Alcatel-Lucent

Prior to this position, Mr. Rijsbrack was marketing director for the service delivery environment. For the last four years he has been involved in the rollout of data networks for Alcatel, including xDSL, ATM, and IP. In this role Mr. Rijsbrack took care of the business strategies, solutions design, and operational implementation of these networks. He started at Alcatel as a project engineer. Mr. Rijsbrack holds a master's degree in computer science from the University of Antwerp and an international M.B.A. from the EM-Lyon/Alcatel.

Antony Carbonari Director of Interactive and Commercial Media BT

Mr. Carbonari is responsible for all interactive services on BT Vision, including advertising sales, gambling, T-commerce, participation media, communications, and games, which will form an important part of the BT Vision offering. Prior to this he worked for Disney, heading up its European broadband business. Mr. Carbonari also headed up Disney's European mobile-content distribution business, which included ring tones, wallpapers, and Java games. Prior to Disney, he worked in a number of roles for the Financial Times, including heading the new-media sales team for FT.com.

Sanjay Mehta Senior Director, Product Marketing Oracle

Robert Payne Vice President of EMEA Verimatrix

Mr. Payne specializes in conditional access and content protection. He has more than 20 years experience in international pay TV, video, and voice and data communications. Prior to Verimatrix, he was European vice president of Next Level Communications, program and business development director for Tektronix in its Video Networking division, and sales director for Irdeto Access. Mr. Payne has a bachelor's degree in economics and business studies and is currently studying for an M.B.A. at the University of Wales.

Terri Richardson Group Marketing Manager Microsoft TV

Ms. Richardson drives advertising product strategy for the Microsoft Mediaroom IPTV and multimedia platform and works with advertisers, agencies, content owners, and network service providers to advance television advertising. She was previously vice president of product and market management at C-COR and vice president of product and market management at nCUBE, and she held management positions at Oracle Corporation's Interactive Television division and at Digital Equipment Corporation. Ms. Richardson holds a bachelor's degree in economics and management sciences from Duke.