Business-to-business (B2B) show Internet World Australia has opened its
doors for the sixth year in a row in Sydney today, with a range of companies
choosing to use the reach of the show as a vehicle for company
announcements.
Multimedia and Internet services provider Access1 will add further depth to its
channel line-up after securing a deal with financial news services
broadcaster Bloomberg television.
Under the agreement, Access1 will run the US news network’s Bloomberg
Television Asia Pacific through its broadband channels, adding to a range of
channels which includes Network Seven’s pay television station C7, scheduled
to deliver three channels of Sydney 2000 Olympic Games coverage.
“With 53 per cent of Australians now owning shares we want to enable
everyone to keep in touch with the local and global market,” said Access1
chairman, David Spence.
Also at the show, exhibitors St
George Bank in partnership with the NSW State Chamber of Commerce, has
announced the development of a new Web site –
www.thechamber.com.au – which
enables SMEs to access the Chamber’s key services, network and trade online
in an independent business environment.
St George Bank managing director Ed O’Neal, said the aim of St George’s
SME strategy is to work in conjunction with the Bank’s partners to provide
total e-commerce solutions for small to medium enterprises.
“The philosophy behind our plan is to free up owners of SMEs from the
administration of their business to spend more time developing their core
business,” he said.
In another first for Internet World, the US-based HotJobs Fair opened
today, providing a direct link between employers and job seekers. The fair
is divided into sections for each of the companies that have signed on to
meet prospective employees, including Microsoft, Cisco, Sapient, PeopleSoft
and Cable & Wireless Optus.
The sixth annual IW2K conference and exhibition was opened by sponsors
News Interactive executive general manager Bruce Dover, and Penton Media’s
Asia Pacific managing director Michael Westcott, before Charmed Technology
models previewed the latest collection of Internet-enabled wireless
wearables which will be seen daily at the Internet World technology fashion
show, Brave New Unwired World.
With over 11,000 expected visitors, 110 local and international speakers
hosting forums and seminars over three days, the focus falls on online
issues, new applications and latest technologies.
International keynote speakers covering the hot topics began on the
opening day with Kevin O’Connor from Doubleclick and Dimitri Boylan of
HotJobs.com. Over the next two days, WAP forum board vice chairman and
executive president of phone.com Chuck Parrish will cover WAP, followed by
Australian-based Peter Moore, of Microsoft Australia, and the man behind the
fashion show, Alex Lightman of Charmed Technologies.
