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After a very successful first Mobile Jam Session during Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Caroline Lewko of the Wireless Industry Partnership (WIP) and myself are ‘jazzed’ about working together again to bring you the second Mobile Jam Session at the Las Vegas Convention Center – N255 on Monday, March 31, 2008 (9:00 am - 6:00 pm).

The event is free of charge for all participants, coffee breaks, lunch and networking cocktail included. We’re looking for passionate, exciting and talented developers. If you’d like to participate, let’s us know why you’d like to attend and add your name and suggested topic to the invitation list. Candidates who sign up for Mobile Jam Session before March 15 will receive a free CTIA pass!

What’s it all about…

• Infused with the spirit of the early days of Jazz, the Mobile Jam Session is a day to inspire new ideas and innovate solutions to existing challenges. The purpose is focused, but the agenda is improvised along the way.

• It all starts as we open up the mobile ecosystem and connect experienced and talented developers, with industry experts and decision makers. We all know this is often difficult at big conferences, but the Mobile Jam Session makes it possible. We propose an invitation and referral only to get the right mix of participants.

• Most importantly this event is driven by developers – what they want to hear, who they want to talk to, what they want to say. It’s no secret that the industry needs the emerging companies to lead with innovation, to leverage resources and to help change the game. With the right beat, let’s get ready to listen!

Speakers & Topics & Format

Topics are chosen ahead of time by the participants when they register. We match that to industry leaders and include developers as discussion leaders too, to get the right mix of big company expertise and hands –on experience.

The format includes a mix of developer only mixing; an interactive panel; and our unique “Improv” sessions where 5-6 discussion leaders facilitate small groups of participants.

See the agenda and pictures from the session in Barcelona. Jam on!

The Mobile Jam Session event - focused on developers - I’m organizing with Caroline Lewko of the Wireless Industry Partnership (WIP) during the Mobile World Congress, is taking its’ final shape. Hosted by MyStrands in their new MyStrands offices, the event takes place on Tuesday, February 12, 2008. It is a day to inspire new ideas and innovate solutions to existing challenges.

The event is free of charge for all participants, coffee breaks, lunch and networking cocktail included. Check the attendants list, we’re quite surprised and happy with the enthusiastic reactions and feedback we got so far!

Attendants include developers from companies like Admob, Accenture, Access, Bango, Vodafone Betavine, Bebo, Kyte.tv, Dell Mobile, Facebook , Future Platforms, GetJar, Google Inc., Idean, Intrinsyc, Kimia, LemonQuest, mBricks, Mippin, Mobile Complete, Mobile Distillery, MyStrands, Nokia, OpenID, Peperoni, PixSense Inc, Qualcomm, Reuters, scanR , Seesmic, Six Apart, Shozu , Skyhook Wireless, Sun Microsystems, Telecom Italia, Telefonica I+D, Truphone, Trutap, UIQ Technology, Vertu, Vodafone, W3C, Wavefront, WURFL and Yahoo! to name the most prominent. It’s a great combination of big and small companies; carriers/operators, device manufacturers, content aggregators, platform and developer programs reps and some great start-up companies with a lot of experience in mobile and web convergence.

You can still sign up here if you’d like to attend the morning and/or afternoon sessions or want to join us for our closing networking cocktail.

Check out the Speakers and Topics designed on feedback we received by participants:

• OPENING PANEL
• IMPROV SESSIONS
• CLOSING ENCORE PANEL

Check out the Topics and Speakers:

1. Open ID
2. Mobile Web Development Frameworks – Widgets/Ajax etc
3. Mobile OS / Platforms
4. Usability / UI / Localization / Mobile Interfaces
5. Mobile media / Web Convergence
6. Open Source in Handsets

10:30am – 12:00 noon
Pre-Session for Developers Only

Come early to grab some talk time, croissant and coffee with your peers about what you are developing and your important issues. These will then be brought forward for the rest of the day.

12:00 Noon – 1:00pm
Registration, Lunch, Networking

OPENING PANEL – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
We have a complete line-up of players to open up our Mobile Jam session. A great combination of big and small companies; a carrier, a device manufacturer, an aggregator, a platform, reps from developer programs and two great small companies with BIG experience. What a great way to get started – don’t miss this one!

The Players:

• Daniel Appelquist, Senior Technology Strategist at Vodafone Group
• Carl Uminski, CTO, Trutap and formerly of Yahoo!
• Souheil Gallouzi, CTO, Intrinsyc and formerly of Qualcomm
• Terrence Barr, Technical Evangelist, SUN Microsystems
• Tom Libretto, VP of Forum Nokia
• Ray Anderson, CEO, Bango

IMPROV SESSIONS 2:30pm – 4:30 pm

The Six (6) Improv discussions are designed for more one-on-one discussions and a deeper dive on topics. Also a better way for you to meet the speakers and your fellow participants.

Note: As this is about improv and flexilbity, so the speaker list still has room for some last minute additions!

1. OpenID
Discussion Leaders:

TBC

2. Mobile Web Development Frameworks – Widgets/Ajax
Discussion Leaders:

• Representative from Forum Nokia
• Dominique Hazael-Massieux, W3C

3. Mobile OS / Platforms
Discussion Leaders:

• Vincent Berge, Co-Founder & General Manager, Mobile Distillery
• Rich Killmer, Sr. Sales Director, Mobile Complete
• Oscar Gutierrez, Vodafone Betavine
• Terrence Barr, Technical Evangelist, SUN Microsystems

About this topic:
From Mobile Java to other platforms like Symbian, BREW, FlashLite, Android, PalmOS, Access Garnet and Windows Mobile.

4. Usability / UI / Localization / Mobile Interfaces
Discussion Leaders:

• Mikko-Pekka Hanski, Idean
• David Mery, Editor - Developer Program, UIQ Technology
• Morten Hjerde, Senior Interaction Designer at mBricks

5. Mobile Media / Web Convergence
Discussion Leaders:

• Carmen Sales - Product Development Coordinator, Kimia
• Jakub Danilewicz - Alembik project architect

About this topic:
Return of Prometheus: bringing the web to mobile devices. Giving the power of free media transcoding and web rendering to the mortals.

6. Open Source in Handsets
Discussion Leaders:

• Bill Lee, Developer Relations, ACCESS
• Luca Pasani, Admob and founder of WURFL

CLOSING PANEL: MOBILE JAM SESSION - ENCORE 4:45pm – 5:30pm
We’ll start off with some closing remarks from our panelists and then add in other players from the audience to ‘jam’ with them.

The Players:

• Fabio Ricciato, Mobile Handset Evolution, Telecom Italia, Mobile (TIM) Access and Terminals in Technology Division
• Bill Lee, Developer Relations, ACCESS
• Karel De Beule - co-Founder, Kimia
• Open seats to rotate audience members.

Jam - gather and play without extensive preparation or predefined arrangements.

5:30pm – 7:30pm
Reception
Let’s end the day raising a toast – Salut! Other player’s will join us.

Rudy and Caroline will choose their favorite Jazz picks for a perfect cocktail mood.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at Torre Mapfre in Barcelona.

Infused with the spirit of the early days of Jazz, the Mobile Jam Session is a day to inspire new ideas and innovate solutions to existing challenges. The purpose is focused, but the agenda is improvised along the way.

Caroline Lewko of the Wireless Industry Partnership (WIP) and myself are ‘jazzed’ about working together to bring you the first of - hopefully - many Mobile Jam Sessions. The idea emerged to open up the mobile ecosystem and connect experienced and talented developers, with industry experts and decision makers.

Most importantly we want this event to be driven by developers – what they want to hear, who they want to talk to, what they want to say… Any mobile developer can propose a hot topic he would like to to discuss with other mobile value chain players in a workshop and productive environment, simply add your name and topic to invitation list. Be prepared to be an active participant in the sessions.

The event is free of charge for all participants, coffee breaks, lunch and networking cocktail included. We’re looking for passionate, exciting and talented developers. We have confirmed participations from Telefonica, Vodafone Group, Telecom Italia, Nokia, Sun Microsystems, Yahoo!, Mystrands, Mobile Distillery, Trutap, Kimia, …

The event is hosted in the new MyStrands Barcelona offices in the Torre Mapfre at the Villa Olympica. MyStrands generously offers us the superb 350 square meter space on the 20th Floor of the building with a breathtaking view on all Barcelona, the city, the Olympic port and its beaches.

New tunes often come from unlikely associations, so… Jam on!

Caroline invited me to write something on online branding and PR of emerging companies in the mobile market space for this months’ newsletter of the Wireless Industry Partnership (WIP). Many people ask me if they should use a PR company to get their message and brand out there and I often reply - it depends at what stage the company is. There’s a lot of good ideas out there that can be turned into real business and easily promoted on the Internet in technology channels, but I see mobile as a very specific market due to it’s roots in telecoms. It’s only in the last 2-3 years we see a lot of convergence happening in different areas, so depending where your market focus is, you can target specific groups to communicate to.

Read my 3 key tips and stuff to avoid using PR in the mobile industry at WIP Connectors website or download the newsletter directly here (pdf).

Today is International’s Women’s Day, a perfect occassion to refresh the Women in Mobile interview series I started in October 2005. Many people during 3GSM asked me why I stopped doing the interviews… I have to admit I never really stopped doing them, but time just lacked since my last interview with Yasmine Abbas last September. But I’ll do my best, so expect some more interesting interviews here soon again

So with all those enthusiasts asking for more, here I’m back with a second series of Women in Mobile, taking off again with the superb and unique Caroline Lewko. I met Caroline the first time at the first Gathering of the Mobilists last year, a mobilistnetworking cocktail event she basically organised on the other side of the ocean during CTIA Wireless (some pictures of these events here).

I admire Caroline for ther entrepreneurial spirit, her business common-sense, her analytical and networking skills, all flavored with the experience she build through the years in the mobile and wireless sector. She demonstrated also her exquisite Master of Ceremony (MC) and moderating skills during the MobileMonday Global Peer Awards in Barcelona, but let’s hear it now from Caroline herself.

- Can you explain a bit about your background and your work?

I’m a consummate connector. If I can make an introduction for someone that helps accelerate their business – that’s what makes me smile. I’ve been in the industry for over a decade and have both technical and business knowledge. For those reasons I started WIP, the Wireless Industry Partnership, so I could be more helpful and efficient in helping making connections. I created the WIPConnector, a business and partnership directory specifically to find connections in our industry.

I’m also really keen on industry associations having started or been involved in many. WIP is also works with these groups to give them better profile and enhance the services they can provide to their members.

- Are you more social, business or technical oriented?

More Social, with a lot of business and with a technical twist (I have coded in the past, but the thought of doing it again makes my eyes cross)

- What brought you into mobile?

I’m really a wireless purist who accidentally fell into the Communications sector when I was recruited by Anderson Consulting (now Accenture) 12 years ago. I say wireless purists because I deal with all wireless related technologies and all parts of the value chain from satellite systems to base stations to provisioning systems to mobile applications. Not all wireless is mobile nor visa versa.

- How does mobile technological progress influences your daily routine in your work?

Advantagees and loves – great to be connected on the go, will never travel in a strange place without GPS ever again - although no more excuses for being late either

Problems – its hard to turn it off. I’ve been known to check and send email with my blackberry at all hours.

- Which tools you use to publish, blog or moblog your work?

Currently on blogspot and evaluating various mobile blogging tools.

- Which applications and services do you use regulary on your phone?

Email, address book, calendar, sms, alarm/clock – even though I understand the technology I’m not what you’d call an early adopter

- Would you use your device to interact with other machines?

Absolutely. City parking is the best feature right now

- Which machinery can you think of would be handy to interact with?

My home/office alarm system, bank machine, gas fireplace, car, gas pump, atm/pos systems. I can’t wait until we can use it at the airport. It’s fine to print off a board pass when you are at your office, but not so easy when your at a hotel. My patience gets tested in airport lineups.

- Do you download mp3 tunes on your phone?

I’m not much of a music junkie, still buying CDs.

- What about Mobile TV?

No desire for this right now. I can’t think of anything I need to ’see’ on demand.

- How do you experience the Mobile Internet? Which mobile browsers do you use?

I use the browser on my blackberry, and use if several times a month to search for things, look at websites while I’m on the road. It’s not a great experience yet, but certainly getting better all the time.

- Web 2.0? Do you use it? What does it mean to you?

I really like some of the social networking tools that are out there and the community generated content. I’ve actually licensed a social networking tool (introNetworks) for my website but use it as a business directory because it’s such a powerful and cool visual way to profile and list.

- What are your favourite mobile user-generated content projects?

I like some of the tourism/spots of interest sites available in some cities, and others to help find local restaurants etc.

- Do you develop technology yourself?

I’m better at helping others develop technology. The development is only 10% of the battle, 90% is getting the right product, having the right partnerships and commercializing it.

- How do you see the future of mobile?

Wireless is in Progress, so stay tuned for more ways it changes the way we work and play – a bit of a cliché, but it really is the most pervasive technology. Consumers are getting it now via the cell phone, but wait until industry catches on to all the ways to make business faster and smarter.

- What do you think about the Fixed-Mobile-Internet convergence?

The service providers need to be much more agile to deal with this move from being fast followers to early adopters. A friend of mine recently got involved in a company called JaJah – this will turn a few more business models on its head as it eliminates the need for extra equipment – something my parents could figure out!

- 3G vs. Wi-Fi?

Software-defined Radio isn’t too far behind, then it will know what we want, when and where we want to be connected. Will make Muni wifi much easier to setup.

- What is gonna be the next *big thing* in mobile?

I’ve totally in love with sensors.

- The mobile trend for this year?

I’ve got my hopes for A-GPS / location based services.

- Who inspires you professionally?

Technical entrepreneurs – those who are willing to go out on a limb, create a business, see the future of technology whilst keeping their fingers crossed.

- Your favorite mobile technology blog?

There are more and more great mobilists out there. As a networker, I’d have to go with who I know – m-trends.org (you are here!), Mobhappy and Mobilecrunch (with Oliver Starr!).

- Your favorite mobile device?

Tough choice between the Blackberry and Garmin Streetpilot

- Favorite mobile application/service?

It’s got to be the Mobile GPS apps for roadmaps – it’s profoundly affected the way I do business travel – relaxed!! I can easily figure out where I am going and get their on time. Can’t wait for bigger deployment of A-GPS – as securing the GPS coordinates in a downtown core can be a bit tricky.

- Your ultimate dream scenario including mobile?

I’m keen on contextually aware applications integrating with the mobile advice – knowing my interests, who I want to/not want to talk to, helping me to figure out activities, places to go/stay when I get to a new place.

- Which links would you like to be included?

The Wireless Innovation Network Britich Columbia (WINBC)

- Anything else you would like to add?Something the big players are missing?

There is some great technology and applications coming from emerging companies. They may not promote it as hard/sophisticated as some of the bigger companies, but the are worth spending time to evaluate.

- Who else could you recommend to be interviewed next?

I recently met Elizabeth Riegel of the Gold Standard Group, and thought she was a really cool business women, not sure she is a blogger, but I’m certain she’d have interesting content.

On my way, thanks Caroline!

If you want to know what’s sparkling these days in the mobile & wireless market, you have to be at Cicada’s for our 2nd CTIA gathering this time during CTIA Wireless 2006 in Los Angeles.

Caroline Lewko from the Wireless Industry Partnership will be your host that evening. Our Canadian mobilist is quite stoked about the venue - a really cool Art Deco restaurant, I love it! It’s about 12 blocks from the Convention Center and close to many of the CTIA hotels (according to the Manager - New Yorkers would walk it, LAers will take a cab!)

“From the 30-foot ceiling to the plush custom-designed bar and lounge, Cicada has combined 1920s Art Deco with contemporary design elements to create an extraordinary atmosphere.”

If you always wanted to mingle with the mobilist ones like Carlo Longino and Russell Buckley from MobHappy, Oliver Starr from MobileCrunch, Justin Oberman from MoPocket, and other fellows and fellines in a mix with mobile value chain players, fresh mobile startups, venture capitalists, journalists, etc., here’s your chance!

Send an email explaining a bit about yourself and your company to Caroline Lewko - caroline(at)wipconnector(dot)com - with “CTIA-Mobilist Reception” in the subject line.

Here are the details of the event:

Tuesday September 12, 2006
Cicada Restaurant - Bar Area
617 S. Olive Street
Los Angeles
5:30pm - 7:30pm

Invitations are limited due to the limited available bar space so don’t hesitate to confirm, just as for the previous events, we will accept invitations on a first come, first served basis.

This event is kindly sponsored by Wireless Industry Partnership and Gramercy Ventures.

If this is the first time you hear about us, you might want to check our history at the mobili.st website. More about previous gatherings we organised here, here, and here.

Here some Flickr pictures tagged with mobilists from previous events.

Check the latest issues of the Carnival of the Mobilists, the Carnivals are kindly sponsored by Khosla Ventures.

nr. 40 at Abiro
nr. 39 at Mobile Entreprise Weblog
nr. 38 at Smart Mobs
nr. 37 at Mobile Opportunity
nr. 36 at Mobile Jones
nr. 35 at Xellular Identity

NOTE: we’re planning another unique event during 3GSM World Congress 2007; if you would be interested to sponsor one of our future vents, please contact me or Russell Buckley.