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IFA 2006: Top-ranking speakers at IFA Convention 2006 - Common Life Technologies (1/8/2006)

Chris Deering, Justin Townsend and Andreas S. Weigend open the IFA Convention 2006

From 4 to 6 September the IFA Convention 2006 - Common Life Technologies -Ê the new congress format for decision-makers from the CE, IT and telecommunications sectors, will be celebrating its premiere at the IFA in the ICC Berlin. The event is organised by Computec Media AG, the IFA's exclusive business partner for congresses.

The main focus at the IFA Convention will be on digital topics of the future: among them are the challenges presented by digital convergence, the technology required for future innovations, as well as entertainment and advertising in the digital age. This congress format is aimed at members of the CE, IT and telecommunications sectors: CEOs, sales and product managers, decision-makers in marketing, members of the media, scouts and innovation managers, consultancies as well representatives from research and science.

A Premium Pass costing 1,299 euros grants interested persons from these sectors admission to any of these events, and to the lectures and panel discussions at the IFA Convention. Catering and conference material are included in the price. Application forms and additional information on the IFA Convention are available at www.ifa-berlin.de/convention.

Journalists carrying an IFA press badge will also be admitted to the IFA Convention.

On 4 September a group of outstanding speakers at the Opening Keynote Session will start up the series with The Next Dimension of the Digital Universe. Internationally well-known and top-ranking speakers Chris Deering, Justin Townsend and Andreas S. Weigend will map out their concepts and visions for a digital age, from the vantage point of the industry which they represent.

Chris Deering, a pioneer of the digital entertainment and gaming industry, is the former president of Sony Europe and responsible for the successful introduction of the Sony Playstation and PSP.

Justin Townsend is the founder and CEO of IGA Worldwide, the world's premier in-game advertising company, with branches in the USA, London and Berlin.

From 2002 to 2004 Dr. Andreas S. Weigend of Weigend Associates LLC perfected recommendation marketing at amazon.com. He is one of the world's leading pioneers of how to transform customer needs into internet services. Ê

On 5 and 6 September, following the Opening Keynote Session, industry experts at four so-called Knowledge Tracks will present and discuss new directions for the future of the digital world. The IFA Convention will close with a chaired Closing Super Session, presenting an evaluation of the results and trends at the IFA and the IFA Convention.

The Knowledge Tracks in brief

Convergence of technologies, markets and industries

Main topics: Who will be the providers and disseminators of information content? What strategies will the television industry develop? Trends and visions for 2010.

Speakers include:
Joel Berger, VP Marketing & New Business, MTV Networks
Dr. Willms Buhse, Director Products & Marketing, Member of the Executive Committee, CoreMedia AGÊ
Klemens Dreesbach, Unit Director Convergence, ID-Media
Dr. Rainer Hecker, Chairman of the Board of Loewe AG and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of gfu
Stefan Jenzowsky, Vice President, Siemens Com Strategy, Siemens AG
Thomas Kreuels, IPTV Product Manager, Microsoft TV
Martin Olausson, Senior Analyst, Digital Consumer Practice, Strategy Analytics (UK)
Marc Schršder, Senior Vice President T-Home, T-Online International AG
Lutz SchŸler, Senior Vice President Offer Management, Member of the Board, O2 Germany

Digital entertainment

Main topics: What does entertainment mean in the digital age? Is the gaming industry about to replace Hollywood? Where are community platforms heading?

Speakers include:
Stephan Brechtmann, Director Home Entertainment Divsion, Microsoft Germany
Frank Mackenroth, German Leader Entertainment & Media, PriceWaterHouseCoopers
Torsten Muth, Head of EMEA Marketing, MSN Europe
Arne Peters, Segment Manager Consumer Software & Solutions, Intel Corp.
Tim Renner, CEO, Motor Entertainment, MotorFM
Andreas S. Weigend, Ph.D., Weigend Associates LLC / formerly head researcher at amazon.com

Advertising in the digital age

Main topics: What challenges does InGame advertising have in store? How does brand management work in the digital entertainment age? How does ITV and peer-to-peer marketing affect advertising?

Speakers include:
Uli Bellieno, Managing Director, Bellieno Consulting
Chris Deering, a pioneer in digital entertainment and the gaming industry
Ronald Focken, Managing Director, Serviceplan Agenturgruppe
Markus Frank, Director Sales, MSN Deutschland
Gregor GrŸndgens, Director Marketing Communications, Coca-Cola GmbH
Dr. Andrea Malgara, Managing Director Marketing, SevenOne Media GmbH
Justin Townsend, CEO IGA WorldwideÊ

www.ifa-berlin.de/convention