Like most major events, Infocomm Media Business Exchange 2006 (imbX2006) launched not with a bang, but with esteemed words from the organizers and the guest of honor. Comprising three concurrent shows--CommunicAsia, BroadcastAsia and EnterpriseIT--over 2,000 exhibiting companies from more than 60 countries will showcase their latest and greatest to 60,000-odd visitors over the next four days.

Stephen Tan, chief executive of Singapore Exhibition Services and president of Allworld Exhibitions alliance, spoke of the twin themes driving technology today--convergence and mobility. Stephen Lim, chairman of Singapore infocomm Technology Federation, shared the way in which consumer technology will transform the workplace. Guest of honor Dr Lee Boon Yang, Singapore's Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, offered a peek on how the nation will transform into a connected community by 2015.

All for one, one for all

	Dr Lee Boon Yang, Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, looks at a map of Infocomm Media Business Exchange 2006.

The marriage between cameras and phones was only the beginning of the convergence wave. Then came the addition of Internet access with the likes of GPRS and UMTS technology. Soon, televised broadcasts will hop off your TV and into your phone with the coming of IPTV and video-on-demand for mobiles. Tan took note of the convergence and mobility trend, which has resulted in a tight integration of the three concurrent shows--CommunicAsia, BroadcastAsia and EnterpriseIT.

Forget about bringing work home with you. With the new prototypes on display at the show, you are basically putting the office and home entertainment room right into your pocket.

Death, taxes and change are certainties in life
Technology has pervaded the workplace for so long that it has been taken for granted. But with the convergence phenomenon going mainstream, Lim cautioned about the increasing impact of consumer technologies in the office. From blogs to instant messaging, new communication platforms are enablers and drivers for business partners to explore novel opportunities, though care must be taken that such conveniences are balanced against inevitable security vulnerabilities.

The dual nature of these advances is such an important issue that it formed the theme--ICT at work: Collaboration and peer-to-peer technologies--of the opinion leadership conference, iX 2006, for business and technology leaders to capitalize on new opportunities.

	Dr Lee shares a vision of the Singapore in the year 2015.

Singapore IT Masterplan: iN2015
Dr Lee shared that with the take-up rate of mobile subscribers hitting 4 and 5 million units per month in India and China, respectively, it is no surprise International Data Corp (IDC) has estimated that by 2010, IT spending will grow by 52 percent to hit US$162.5 billion (S$259.61 billion) in the Asia-Pacific region. Not one to miss opportunities, the guest of honor announced Singapore's IT Masterplan--Intelligent Nation 2015 (iN2015)--of which innovation, integration and internationalization form the keystones that will transform the island-state into a global city powered by infocomm by the year 2015.

The main initiatives of the Masterplan are to:

iN2015 strategies  

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