Business visionaries, Government leaders, policy regulators and professionals will be congregating at this year's Infocomm Media Business Exchange (imbX) to discuss emerging Convergent issues and applications in the infocomm and Internet industries. imbX2007 is Asia's largest infocomm and media event and will take place from 18-22 June 2007 in Singapore.
The topic of choice for 2007 is 'Digital Convergence in Reality', which will be explore in depth by the international ICT community. The New Media Conference will examine the impact of user-generated content and its influence on traditional broadcasters and the media sector. The IPTV Forum will feature insights from operators, technology and content providers on the deployment and marketing of IPTV services in Asia. The Mobile TV Forum will showcase case studies and business models from successful mobile TV trials from different parts of the world, as well as addressing standardisation and content delivery issues.
For the third consecutive year, imbX will also host the Ministerial Forum on ICT Ministerial forum, a closed-door meeting for Ministers and senior government officials throughout the Asia-Pacific and Middle Eastern regions. This year, these dignitaries will discuss the impact of new technologies on socio-economic developments and public policy. The theme will be "Web 2.0: Rise of the Empowered User".
June 2007 marks the one-year milestone for Singapore's ICT master plan, iN2015, which was announced at imbX last year. The iN2015 master plan lays the groundwork for a seamless, secured and intelligent infocomm infrastructure that empowers the various vertical sectors such as healthcare, financial services, tourism, education, media and government with the opportunity to tap into the global networked economy. The master plan seeks to bridge the digital divide, and to create opportunities for all in Singapore, including the elderly, less privileged and people with disability.
"imbX was indeed a fitting platform for us in launching Singapore's 10-year infocomm masterplan in June last year. This year, as we mark the first anniversary of iN2015's launch at imbX 2007, I am happy to share that we are beginning to realise the infocomm benefits of the masterplan," said Mr Chan Yeng Kit, Chief Executive Officer, Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA).
imbX will also be the venue for a series of thought leadership forums and inter-government meetings, including the iX2007 Conference, CommunicAsia2007 Summit, BroadcastAsia2007 International Conference and the Asia Pacific Media Regulatory Roundtable. This is in addition to the established exhibitions of CommunicAsia, EnterpriseIT and BroadcastAsia. Taking up a total of eight halls at Singapore Expo, 2,320 exhibiting companies will be demonstrating cutting-edge technologies in the telecommunications, networks, enterprise solutions and entertainment arenas.
CG Overdrive (or Computer Graphics Overdrive) will also be held in conjunction for the first time - a reflection of the exploding interest in animation and demand for made-in-Asia animated content. One of the key highlights of CG Overdrive is a knowledge-centric conference that will address topics such as character animation techniques, character modeling and production of CG cinematics for gamers. High-definition (HD) TV studio will be a much-anticipated highlight at BroadcastAsia this year. The fully-functional 100 square metre studio is equipped with state-of-the-art HD equipment that showcases the end-to-end technology of this emerging new application.
Innovations in key enabling technologies such as Broadband/Wireless, Fixed-mobile convergence, 3G/HSDPA to be showcased at the CommunicAsia exhibition will bring visitors closer to Digital Convergence. Among the technologies taking centre stage at BroadcastAsia will be compelling content geared for non-traditional screen outlets (such as the mobile and other handheld devices); while content leveraging the latest in computer graphics know-how will further enrich the Convergent experience. Enterprises seeking to sharpen their competitive edge can look towards EnterpriseIT for emerging Convergent IT solutions to support staff mobility, enhance network security and optimize operational efficiencies.
"CommunicAsia, BroadcastAsia, EnterpriseIT, InteractiveDME have established a firm reputation as the go-to trade shows for ICT and broadcasting industry professionals looking for the latest, critical technologies that are driving the world forward and changing the way we live. We have built the ideal platform for exhibitors from the telecommunications, broadcasting and the computing industries to showcase their leading-edge enabling technologies on Digital Convergence to the global market," said Mr Stephen Tan, Chief Executive of Singapore Exhibition Services.