TIF tackles emerging technologies


20 Oct 2005

The rise of voice over internet protocol (VoIP), the emergence of WiMax and a flurry of activity in the Irish market that has made 2005 a watershed year has prompted the Telecommunications and Internet Federation (TIF) to make the new landscape the focus of its annual conference.

The half-day event, entitled Telecoms: Emerging Technologies and Services, takes place at Dublin Castle on Wednesday, 26 October. A heavyweight list of speakers includes Taoiseach Bertie Ahern TD, chief executives from leading fixed and mobile service providers as well as a telecoms expert from the US. Walt Mossberg is a high-profile author and weekly technology columnist in The Wall Street Journal, regarded as someone who wields enough influence to make and break emerging technologies and services.

TIF director Tommy McCabe explains the conference focus: “A lot of the new technologies are starting to move from the hype level to real implementations. While members of the telecoms industry would have a good knowledge of these areas, we feel many business users are still trying to get a fix on them.”

VoIP and a new generation of networks and services are hot topics for the business market while the impact of Skype and tariff avoidance-type services will also be addressed at the conference. The fee is €423.50 per delegate and €302.50 for second and subsequent delegates. For a full list of speakers and to book online visit www.tif.ie/0/conference05.

By Ian Campbell

Pictured are: Dr Philip Nolan, CEO of Eircom; Gerry Fay, director of strategy at Vodafone and vice-chairman of TIF; Gary Keogh, CEO of Colt Telecom; Tommy McCabe, director of TIF; and Dr George Young, chairman of TIF