Technology, Innovation & Telecomm

So, SuperComm 2005 has officially come to a close. In a way it’s kind of sad, since this is the last one.

For the last 18 or so years, SuperComm was the collaboration of USTA (U.S. Telecom Association) and TIA (Telecommunications, Industry Association) and held in a few places, including Chicago and Atlanta. The two organizations have decided to go their own ways over differing views of the direction the show should be headed in general.

As a result, there will now be two shows, one put on by TIA and the other hosted by USTA. TIA will continue to use Chicago and will be run at about the same time next year, while USTA will be hosting its new show in Las Vegas. It should be interesting how this shakes out for vendors that are used to showing at SuperComm. It was the biggie of the year for Telecom vendors and now that it’s being split up, one wonders how different equipment and service providers will divide their efforts…if they do. It used to be that vendors would use SuperComm as *the* show for introducing new products and services and just being there was practically an implicit “must do”. Now, folks will need to decide if their budgets will support two shows, or if in fact one or the other is more targeted towards the markets they serve. I don’t know what my company plans to do. It’ll be interesting.

It goes without repeating that the focus of this year’s show was IP everywhere. Specifically how voice, video and data can be efficiently implemented in the telecomm vendors’ space. It’s seen as a battle against the cable MSO’s, but I really wonder:

> It seems that the Telco’s are in an excellent position to capitalize on the wireless infrastructure, as they’ve done so well to date. One kind of wonders why they feel the burning need to have the video side too…

> The cable folk on the other hand have long had the video side of things handled really well and have been continually improving their networks. Why would they feel the desire to take voice business from the Telco market?

It almost seems to me that these guys want to play in the wrong sandbox. Mind you, I’m not against competition in principal and I suppose that it helps to drive technology. But, you have to wonder if the end user really makes out at the end of the day. Either way, it’s good for me and my industry and God knows I’ll try to make the best products for our target as I can.

It was a good show. I enjoyed the classes and I think that it was worthwhile attending. Oddly though, I always feel like I’m in another world during these things, what with all the shiny new tech and glitter and fanfare. In the end, I miss my wife and home and reality begins looking really good after about 3 days. I’ll be happy to be back.

Now it’s time to apply what we learned.