International networking forum First Tuesday and leading cellular network operator Vodacom have conceptualised and designed a 'wireless technology extravaganza`, to be held at the Sandton Convention Centre on 6 May.
The event, named 'Vodacom Mobile Connect`, is free to attend and is aimed at showcasing and encouraging the development of mobile technology in SA. The event will feature a key address from Tomi Ahonen, the world`s leading authority on making money with advanced wireless services.
"Vodacom Mobile Connect" will be attended by the country`s key mobile technology players, mobile entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and marketers. Using the First Tuesday networking format, interaction among these groups will be encouraged with the aim of creating excitement and interest in mobile application development.
"This is the first time an event of this nature has been held in SA, bringing together all the necessary people required to launch value-added services over a cellular network," said Chris Ross, Director of Vodacom Connect.
Vodacom Connect is focused on enabling wireless application service providers (WASPs) to run mobile services using the Vodacom network. Based in Midrand with its own staff and resources, the unit operates as a division of Vodacom (Pty) Ltd.
The key event on the programme is the address by Ahonen. An author and business consultant in the emerging areas of advanced mobile data services, also known as UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) cellular services, Ahonen chairs or delivers the key note address at most major UMTS and mobile Internet events internationally.
Kicking off the event`s activities at 15h30 will be a series of workshops that are aimed at educating attendees on cutting-edge technology in various sectors. The first of these is 'Interactive Marketing` which will look at the success of using mobile technology within marketing campaigns - two specifically that will be showcased are the recent Hunters Dry and Sony Music campaigns. In addition, attendees at this workshop will leave with a better understanding of how to maximise mobile technology opportunities in their marketing campaigns as both Grapevine Communications and Starfish Mobile, who managed the Hunters Dry and Sony Music campaigns respectively, will be giving real insight into the potential of using mobile technology in marketing campaigns.
The 'm-commerce` workshop will cover mobile payments, authentication and security and will be hosted by Leon Perlman from cellular.co.za, and the 'consumer application` workshop, which will be hosted by Gavin Penkin of Exactmobile and Mike Hainebach of I-Touch will cover games, ringtones, logos and overall content. Lastly, a workshop hosted by Pieter de Villiers of Clickatell aimed at entrepreneurs will be held to assist them in getting started in the mobile industry with guidance on how best to make ideas a reality.
In addition, many of the industry`s key players are taking stands at the event and will be showcasing their current technology and equipment to attendees. Some of these exhibitors include Clickatell, Exactmobile and Radiospoor, Nokia, World Online and Motorola.
In conclusion, Ross says: "Using the First Tuesday networking model that has proven so successful in bringing like-minded people together to share ideas and advance technologies in the past, Vodacom Mobile Connect promises to be THE place to find out more about new mobile technology and related business opportunities."
Potential attendees can register by logging onto www.firsttuesday.co.za and detailing which workshop they would prefer to attend.
To attend this event, RSVP to carly@redcube.co.za or contact (011) 268-5704.
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