Speaker:
Moderator:
Panelist:
Event Description:
According to Gartner, annual sales of mobile devices will surpass 1-billion units in 2009. With increased capabilities and a sub-2-year upgrade cycle, mobile devices are where the action is — information, collaboration, commerce, social networking, personalized/location-based services, and especially, multimedia entertainment! In this September forum, we will share the experience of early pioneers and vision of the mobile future, which is fast approaching.
Join VLAB moderator Rafe Needleman in a spirited exploration of mobile entertainment featuring Philip Alvelda, Chairman, CEO & Co-founder of MobiTV. MobiTV bravely launched its first service in 2003 with Sprint, at a time when cell-phone transmission rates were painfully slow. Fast forward to July 2006, a zippier world and a brand new $70 million “C” round of financing — MobiTV appears to be leading the pack in the U.S. Will it be enough? We will hear from Palo Alto-based mSpot, an industry analyst and a VC who has serious money on the table.
Every week, the potential field of competitors grows larger and more diverse (ranging from start-ups such as GoTV and Sling Media to Apple). Standards and alliances are forming; technologies are evolving from unicast to broadcast and multicast; and all contenders are looking for ways to accelerate consumer adoption. There is a lot at stake as new upstarts seek to move television from the big screen to one on-the-go. Join us in an exploration of the elements of risk and success in this highly sought-after space.
Speaker:
Philip Alvelda 
Chairman, CEO & Cofounder
MobiTV
Dr. Phillip Alvelda is a cofounder of MobiTV and serves as its Chairman and CEO. Since launching MobiTV in 2000, Alvelda has played an instrumental role in managing the company’s growth from a start-up to being the first and only global television network for cell phones.
Previously, Dr. Alvelda was the founding Chief Executive Officer and Chief Technology Officer of The MicroDisplay Corporation, a manufacturer of ultra-high resolution miniature displays for portable systems and low cost HDTVs. Prior to MicroDisplay, Dr. Alvelda was a developer of spacecraft hardware and software systems for image processing and data compression at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Dr. Alvelda holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Cornell University and received his Masters and PhD degrees in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Moderator:
Rafe Needleman
Editor-at-Large
CNET
Rafe Needleman is editor at large for CNET Networks. He writes about Web-based products and startups. Rafe has been a technology editor and writer since 1988. His experience and perspective makes him a keen judge of what works and what doesn’t, which he discusses in his blog posts on CNET.com and News.com, and his column, “Works for Me.” Previously, Rafe wrote “Catch of the Day” for Red Herring. He has written for Business 2.0, Always On, and Release 1.0. He has also edited several publications, including Byte Magazine, where he was editor-in-chief.
Panelist:
Seamus McAteer
Cofounder, Chief Product Architect & Senior Analyst
M:Metrics
As cofounder, chief product architect and senior analyst at M:Metrics, McAteer determines how services are shaped to match client needs. He is also the company’s primary evangelist.
McAteer has been analyzing the wireless industry since its inception and has been assisting clients in the wireless and portable computing sectors since the early 1990s. Most recently, McAteer was managing partner at Zelos Group, a boutique advisory services firm focused on wireless and voice applications. Prior to founding Zelos Group, McAteer was a director and research fellow with Jupiter Research, where he headed Jupiter’s coverage of new technologies and services. Before joining Jupiter, McAteer focused on wireless services and pervasive computing as a senior analyst with SRI International.
McAteer is frequently sought as a speaker and expert commentator. He has been quoted in numerous international media outlets, including: the New York Times, USA Today, Nikkei Weekly, Wired Magazine, the Associated Press and a variety of trade journals. He has made frequent TV and radio appearances, commenting on technology issues for CNN, Fox News, NPR and TechTV. McAteer often speaks at prestigious industry events.
He received an undergraduate degree at Trinity College Dublin, and a Diploma in Advanced Marketing Techniques from the Dublin Institute of Technology.
Scott Raney
Partner
Redpoint Ventures
Scott Raney is a Partner with Redpoint Ventures focusing on infrastructure and software investments in the enterprise, wireless, and consumer segments. Scott serves on the board of directors of LetsTalk and is involved with Redpoint’s investments in Caymas Systems, Cortina Systems, JumpTap, Mobilygen, MobiTV, and Kodiak Networks.
Prior to joining Redpoint, Scott served as Senior Manager of New Products with NorthPoint Communications, a data CLEC providing nationwide DSL services. Scott managed NorthPoint’s first consumer product and led product development of other new products. Prior to NorthPoint, Scott worked as a management consultant at Bain & Company, where he helped clients in the private equity and telecommunications industries. Previously, Scott was the Director of Engineering for VideoPort Technologies, a developer of videoconferencing hardware. Scott began his career at Andersen Consulting as a member of the Advanced Technology Group where he assisted clients in the telecommunications industry.
Scott holds a B.S.E.E., with high distinction, from Duke University and an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School.
Daren Tsui
Cofounder & CEO
mSpot
Daren is a cofounder of mSpot and serves as its CEO and a member of the Board of Directors. Daren has 16 years of entrepreneurial experience including 12 years of media business development. He is responsible for leading the overall vision of the company as well as planning the product distribution strategy.
Prior to mSpot, Daren was the vice president of business development at Enpocket, a global mobile media company providing integrated entertainment and marketing services, responsible for U.S. mobile carrier relationships and business development. In addition, he oversaw Enpocket’s Japanese operations including sales, product marketing and professional services.
Daren joined Enpocket as a result of the SkyGo acquisition, an early pioneer in mobile marketing funded by VeriSign, Vanguard Ventures and others. At SkyGo he was the president, cofounder and a member of the Board of Directors. Daren was responsible for building the global strategy to work with mobile carriers, multi-national brands and interactive agencies. As a part of that strategy, SkyGo won a highly competitive contract with Vodafone KK in Japan as the exclusive mobile marketing technology provider.
Prior to founding SkyGo, Daren was the vice president of data integration at AltaVista, where he worked with a variety of domestic and international media companies launching online portals contributed to the growth of the company to one of the ten most trafficked sites on the Web.
Daren came to Alta Vista from Pantheon, where he was cofounder and served as vice president of product marketing and development. In 1997, he led the merger of Pantheon and Zip2, creating the dominant technology provider in the local yellow pages, directions and mapping space.
Prior to founding Pantheon, Daren began his career at SPRY where he helped develop the company’s award winning software “Internet in a Box,” which won “PC Magazine Product of the Year 1994” and one of the pioneer products in the Internet browser market.
