BroadSoft Connections 2007 - More Highlights

Have a chance now to post some photos from Day 1, courtesy of my Nokia N95. When the lighting conditions are good - the photos are very sharp, and you really get the benefit of the 5.0 megpixel lens. The N93 had something like 3.0 MP, but could never get quite this level of quality under ideal conditions. How's that for a nice Nokia plug?






Mike Tessler's keynote




Scott Wharton setting the stage for the conference






Guy Kawasaki - key takeaway - "don't let the bozos grind you down!". If that needs explaining, drop me a line.....




Panel sessions throughout the day. They were all well done, and what I really liked was the mix of customers speaking. Really speaks well to the breadth of coverage BroadSoft has in the market today.








The Biltmore. This place is Art Deco heaven. I had no idea it had so much history, and for architecture fans like me, the photo opps are endless. Am just sharing a few here.

On the topic of The Biltmore, I've got to say that I don't think the inspiration of this place has rubbed off enough on the event itself. I didn't catch all of Mike Tessler's opening comments yesterday, but from what I did see, there was no reference made to the setting of the event.

I don't know who's doing all the messaging and writing for this event, but I think there was a missed opportunity here. Lots of strong themes to draw on. Could have talked about the "jewel in the desert", much like BroadSoft is trying to lead the industry forward. Or, like Art Deco, we're in a golden age right now of innovation that's finding expression in society at large. A real sense of what's possible when man starts to master the machinery/technology around him. Maybe I'm thinking about this too much, but if you host your event in such a fabulous place, why not take full advantage of it?

Interestingly, on the topic of living well, last night's dinner event was held at the Wrigley Mansion, which is Phoenix's version of San Simeon. Just an incredible 1920's home - a villa, really - built at the top of a hill overlooking the city. Wow - what a view - even though there wasn't much to see at night.

Anyhow, the theme last night was very much the Roaring Twenties, and it was pretty hard not to have a good time. That said, as we all know, the 1920's did not end well - unless you were a Yankees fan - so I couldn't help but see some shades of the dot-com era here - which obviously, nobody wants to repeat. Great party guys, and let's just say hopefully I'm not reading too much into this.

I'll stop talking now - enjoy the photos. Lots more of these, but this will have to do for now.












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