Day 1 Summary

The show kicked off with Skype's Chief Strategy Officer Christopher Dean giving an overview of industry goings on with relation to how Skype is getting into the business market and will be launching a channel program. The presentation was a bit dry at times but JAMMED with very useful statistics regarding smartphones & wireless growth. I got it all on video and will share the video and statistics next week.

The kind folks at Phone+ then presented their awards for Top 50 Channel Programs, Top 15 Channel Managers and then recognized their 2009 & 2010 advisory boards. Congrats to all the award winners. Visit www.PhonePlusMag.com to see who won.

After that the seminars began. I sat in on the "Business Development Track".

The first seminar was "Sorting Through Social Media". The presenter, Mike O'Neil of Integrated Alliances was a professional trainer who basically gave a 45-minute "freebie" of what their companies 3-hour paid session was all about. I'm pretty big with LinkedIn, Twitter & Facebook myself and I learned a thing or three - his "freebie" overview was worth the time. I'm going to follow up with him to see if he can do the 3-hour session for TA. I'll share the video of this next week

I then sat in on the "Start-up Strategies for Agents" session by Bill Taylor of Corporate Ladders. Bill seems to be a "business coach" for master agents as well as providers that want to roll out an agent program. He gave an overview of his firm's "MAPPS" success program. Common sense stuff and well documented. I'll share video of this session next week.

Then it was opening night of the trade show floor which is always the best 3-hour segment because everyone's still fresh. I shot a lot of video booth pitches which I'll publish here as soon as possible.

Now I'm off to catch the rest of the "Business Development Track" - "Bullet Proofing Your Business", "Exit Stage Right" & then a general session on "Hidden Charges". Then back to the trade show floor followed by the "Peer-to-Peer" mixer before ending the day at WTG's "Miami Roof top Party".

Check out our "video walk-a round" of the opening night on the exhibit hall: