Lots in store for 2004

We here at Network World Events and Executive Forums officially wrapped up our 2003 seminar series. What a great year we had – I’ll share some of the highlights.

Responding to the need for education about data centers, we launched our New Data Center Technology Tour. Keynoted by Johna Till Johnson, chief research officer and founder of Nemertes Research, this tour went in-depth on how to consolidate, automate and “virtualize” all your data center resources. From storage to servers to applications, we looked at all elements of the finely-tuned data center.

We also welcomed Johnson to our Voice over IP Technology Tour where we coupled fresh-off-the-presses research with case studies from the leading voice over IP vendors. The result was unbeatable insight for IT managers. Several wrote me later to say that what they learned helped them roll out their own converged voice/data networks.

Our Wireless LANs Technology Tour also struck a chord. Attendees got a first-hand look at how crowded the field has become and what choices they have in store. They appreciated the chance to sample solutions from the hottest names in wireless networking. And many commented that they felt they got the knowledge they needed to create a wireless environment matched to the needs of their own enterprise.

And these were just the highlights. We also had seminars on storage, service-level management, security and LANs. It was a busy, busy year.

2004 is shaping up to be even more packed with educational seminars geared to your needs. We’ll kick off the year with our updated Voice over IP Technology Tour. Armed with fresh research, Johna Till Johnson will join an incredible lineup of companies, including 3Com, Concord Communications, Shoreline Communications and Sprint.  Titled “IP Telephony from Dollar One to Dollars Won,” this tour will show you how to move from considering voice an investment to touting it as a corporate investment. To register, head to https://www.nwfusion.com/events/voip/index.html

Then we launch our Network Management Technology Tour. Keynoted by expert Jim Metzler, vice president of Ashton, Metzler and Associates, this tour looks at all aspects of managing your network resources. From bandwidth to applications to servers, you’ll get an inside look at the latest products on the market to help ease your network headaches. To register for this tour, visit https://www.nwfusion.com/events/itseminars.html

And a sneak peek at March shows our Messaging in the Enterprise Technology Tour. Expect to get a clear view of the challenges ahead in combating spam, legal issues, regulatory issues and more. Keynoted by Mark Gibbs, author of Network World’s Backspin and Gearhead columns, we’ve got the leading e-mail filtering and gateway companies on hand to help you create a foolproof messaging strategy.https://www.nwfusion.com/events/itseminars.html to register for this and other upcoming tours.

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And as always, I’ll keep you updated in this column on what seminars we have available. Thanks for another great year.