Expanded event to highlight Middle East converging telecom opportunities

Unsurprisingly, interest in fast growing market areas such as the Middle East is increasing rapidly and many of these organisations are eager to showcase their latest products and solutions in such a fertile market. NSIGHTS, the Dubai-based organisers of the Middle East Computer Telephony 2004 (MECT 2004) show from May 30 - 31, are therefore predicting their biggest turnout ever.

Slated to take place for the first time at the Dubai International Convention Centre, the annual MECT 2004 show is celebrating its 10th
anniversary. Over the years MECT has become the main forum for the Middle East community interested in taking advantage of the convergence of computers and telephony systems.

The emergence of IP-based communications as the de facto standard for this fast-developing overlap of these two massive industries in proving to be the catalyst and agent for change in this field of opportunity. These burgeoning new areas are characterized by cheaper and more efficient ways to communicate and a cornucopia of innovative and compelling services.

According to Dominick Keenaghan, President of show organisers INSIGHTS, the Middle East is on the verge of an explosion of communications options. He said: "On one side you see the drive towards the liberalization and deregulation of the individual country markets where the push is to give customers lower prices and a wider variety of services. However, from a practical standpoint, the only way a service provider will be able to effectively compete on equal terms in the long run, will be to adopt an IP Communications-based approach. We see this in the drive by encumbent operators to migrate to IP based, Next Generation Networks and the emergence from the Internet of popular IP-based applications such as Instant Messaging, Presence and IP Telephony."

Over the years MECT has focused on helping the regional community understand IP-based communications concepts, implementation strategies and optimum business strategies. MECT 2004 remains true to these principles and this time around is offering an expanded Conference programme to cover all the latest technological developments and standards, and, for application-specific purposes, separate meeting tracks for both enterprises and service providers.

Educating the reseller community has always also been a primary goal at the MECT shows and this year resellers are in for a special treat with the co-location of the Intel "Build Your Own" Telecoms Solutions Seminar series at MECT. Here resellers will not only be able to stay up-to-date with the latest Intel technical and marketing issues, but they can also explore a host of new business applications and opportunities at the accompanying Intel Solutions Day events.

The free-to-attend MECT 2004 Exhibition commences Sunday May 30 at 10.00 am and is open until 6.00 pm, repeated on May 31.