Tuesday, March 28 10:45 AM - Noon Track III: Mobile Video & Music Make-Over – As Mobile and Entertainment Industry Merge – TV, Music and Movies Who would have suspected that the world of mobile – that cell phone phenomena of a few years ago would emerge as the most powerful force in the entertainment industry, rivaling TV and DVD as the front runner in consumer choice. Mobile as a communications device has now been superceded by mobile as a fully functional entertainment provider, emerging as a primary source of music, sports, music, news and video. And video is now only beginning to take shape, from the mobile device as a video phone player to distributor of video clips, sporting events and TV shows specifically designed for mobile delivery. In this session, we will bring together a group of executives from the TV, music and mobile industry who are on the front line of investment and development in the key mobile and entertainment projects in the world. Video, music and mobile are our future – in this session we will get a glimpse of what that future will look like. Rio Caraeff, Vice President & General Manager, Universal Music Mobile US Lauren de la Fuente, Vice President, Strategic Programming & Media Alliances, G4 VideoGame TV David Britts, General Partner, ComVentures Ian Blaine, CEO, The Platform Gary Yentin, Vice President, Business Development, Ki-Bi Mobile Technologies Limited James Finn, Head of Business Development, Content and Applications, Ericsson Mobility World NA Ralph Simon, Chairman, Mobile Entertainment Forum – Americas & President/CEO, The Mobilium Group, Moderator Rio D. Caraeff, VP and general manager, Universal Music Mobile: Rio is VP and general manager of Universal Music Mobile – US (UMM-US), the newly established domestic division of Universal Music Group (UMG) created to complement Universal Music Mobile International (UMMI). Rio oversees all areas of UMM-US, liaising closely with UMG’s broad array of labels as well as the company’s eLabs division to coordinate mobile music and non-music related initiatives with current and emerging wireless technologies and platforms. He leads all UMM-US initiatives, working with wireless carriers, device manufacturers and infrastructure providers to maximize mobile opportunities, create new products, and enable new distribution channels for UMG content. Rio's background is concentrated, yet diverse, having worked in new technologies in virtually all areas of entertainment including film, television, music and games. He was most recently VP, Wireless Services for Sony Pictures Digital, where he established and operated the worldwide mobile entertainment publishing & licensing division of Sony Pictures Entertainment. Prior to that, he was VP of business development and investments at Sony 550 Digital Media Ventures, having begun his tenure at the company as senior director, New Technology Business Development. In between his stints at Sony, Rio served as managing partner and co-founder of Fabric, a consultancy firm whose client roster included Sony, Miller Brewing Company and Music Match. His 11 years in the industry also include positions at Capitol Records Group, Propaganda Films/PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Generator Digital Post, and Crunch Media Group. He was featured in Hollywood Reporter’s "Next Generation: Class of 2003," as one of the top 35 executives under 35 in Hollywood. David Britts, General Partner, ComVentures: David Britts has extensive experience advising, building and investing in leading communications and digital media technology companies, an increasing number of whom have significant operations and markets in China. His most recent investments focus on emerging technologies that are solving some of the broadcast and entertainment industry's toughest problems. For example, infrastructure company Exavio has completely redefined the real-time post-production process for editing uncompressed HDTV, and is enabling new methods for distributing personalized TV and other video content over IP. David focuses his investments on early-stage communications and digital media companies. He is currently on the boards of Celestial, Exalt and Exavio.His past investments include HotRail (acquired by Conexant) and PortalPlayer (Nasdaq: PLAY). David joined ComVentures from JPMorgan Partners, where he was a General Partner and the global head of the firm's communications, semiconductors and storage technology venture investment group. Previously, David was a member of the founding team of Deutsche Morgan Grenfell (DMG) Technology Group, which later became a part of Credit Suisse First Boston. There, he established the global communications equipment practice, advising and investing in numerous early-stage companies. David holds an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a BA in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley. Lauren de la Fuente, Vice President, Strategic Programming & Media Alliances, G4: As Vice President, Strategic Programming and Media Alliances, de la Fuente leads strategic and creative marketing initiatives for G4. In this position, she develops branded programming as well as directs positioning, creative and promotions. In addition, de la Fuente heads up the VOD strategy and has led G4 to be a top ten content provider for Comcast where customers view more then 1MM pieces of G4 content each month. Prior to G4, de la Fuente served as Vice President, Creative for USA Network and Sci Fi Channel where she established an in-house "creative shop" responsible for all advertising, design, production and collateral. She also oversaw the repositioning and rebranding efforts for both television networks. Previously, de la Fuente was the Vice President, Marketing at MTV where she spearheaded all marketing, advertising, communication and promotional activities for MTV’s ad and affiliate clients. Additionally, she was part of the launch team for MTV2. de la Fuente also ran Creative and Regional Marketing for Nike, where developed a national outreach program for the Sundance award-winning film, Hoop Dreams, and worked at Chiat/Day on the Teddy Ruxpin account. de la Fuente’s achievements in branding-building have won her numerous awards including Promax, BDA and CTAM’s Mark. She is a graduate of the University of Colorado, Boulder and her favorite video game is Ms. Pac Man. James Finn, Head of Business Development, Content and Applications, Ericsson Mobility World North America: James Finn heads up business development for Ericsson’s mobile content and applications business in North America. Prior to joining Ericsson, Mr. Finn served as Vice President of Business Development with Zingy. During his time at Zingy he secured a variety of new contracts with operators such as Verizon, Alltel, T-Mobile, Rogers, Fido (Microcell) and Cingular. He was also responsible for extending existing relationships with Sprint PCS, Nextel, Telcel and Boost. Additionally, Mr. Finn was tasked with content licensing, which required him to license the best content from a variety of sources such as game companies, major and independent music labels, music publishers and sports leagues. Mr. Finn has also worked in the mobile Java multimedia space creating new markets and technologies while working with the leading players in the industry; including Real Networks, Sprint, AT&T Wireless, Motorola, Nokia and Emblaze. Mr. Finn served as a consultant in the mobile segment for Boston-based technology consulting firm, Braingem, building and deploying wireless applications. He has a Bachelors of Science in Marketing and Information Systems from Babson College and is fluent in English and Spanish. Gary Yentin, Vice President, Business Development, Ki-Bi Mobile Technologies Limited: Gary has a proven track record in taking top media companies wireless. Working with clients in entertainment, sports and finance , Gary has built wireless programs and opened distribution channels for companies including Reuters, Virgin Mobile Canada, Rogers,Lifetime, Planetout and iVillage. With over ten years of experience in media, entertainment and technology, Gary ensures that each brand's wireless experience is unique, fun and exciting while respecting the its' core values. At Ki-Bi Mobile Technologies, Gary is responsible for managing the North American market, working with carriers, brands and retail distribution channels Ralph Simon, Chairman, Mobile Entertainment Forum – Americas & President/CEO, The Mobilium Group: Ralph Simon is recognized as one of the founders of the modern mobile music and entertainment business in the USA and Europe. He is chairman of the Mobile Entertainment Forum – Americas, the leading advocate for the Mobile Entertainment industry and principal global trade association established to represent the commercial interests of content, application and service providers, and telco operators. Privately, Mr. Simon is President & CEO of The Mobilium Group, the respected mobile strategic advisory firm that guides US and international media companies, networks and brands to grow revenues and market share from mobile content, mobile entertainment properties and technologies. Prior to his involvement in the global mobile entertainment and content business, where he has taken a leading role since its inception, he had a distinguished career in music, music publishing and mobile technology industries. Mr. Simon has proven expertise in strategic company development, content & copyright usage, mobile rights architecture, super-distribution, mobile platforms, copyright usage and mobile business development. He is in a unique position of being able to apply vast knowledge and experience to a nascent industry that is daily expanding existing business paradigms and creating new frontiers. Currently, he advises prominent companies, entertainment properties and artists (including U2) in the US and internationally, on ways to maximize and develop their mobile businesses and create opportunities globally. Last year, he conceived the mobile strategy and organized the mobile messaging layer for the Live 8 world concert event that took place during 11 hours and across 10 cities on July 2, 2005. Over 3bn people attended or watched/listened to the global television, radio and cyber-simulcast that integrated interactive mobile messaging as part of its own content. The overwhelming mobile response from live audiences and distance participants established the validity of cross-platform mobile strategies, which contributed heavily toward convincing the G8 governments to commit $50bn to reduce global poverty. In December 2005, he was named as one of the world’s Top 50 Mobile Executives by the influential Mobile Entertainment Magazine, alongside thought-leaders from companies as diverse as Apple, Nokia, Google, China Mobile, Cingular, Verizon and News Corporation. In 1998, he co-founded and funded the USA & UK’s first ring tone company, Yourmobile/Moviso (today known as Infospace Mobile – the US market leader in mobile aggregation). Before starting the mobile entertainment revolution, he co-founded the Zomba Group and Jive Records – which grew to become the world’s most successful independent record and music publishing company. In the mid-1990s as Executive Vice President of Capitol Records and Blue Note Records, , EMI’s New Media business. Ralph Simon is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in the UK and a member of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences in the USA. He maintains offices in Los Angeles, London and Berlin. Ian Blaine, Chief Executive Officer, thePlatform: Ian Blaine is a software industry veteran with experience at large software companies as well as successful start-ups. He has a strong background in product development, having spent over nine years at Aldus/Adobe Systems as a senior manager in the publishing division. In addition, he has proven entrepreneurial experience, having co-founded two successful start-up companies. In 1998, Ian founded an online personal information management company, Uniplanet, which he led as CEO from startup to acquisition by NBCi in 1999. In 2000, Ian co-founded thePlatform, and has successfully guided the company through two rounds of financing, and two mergers. He is a director of thePlatform and in addition to managing day-to-day activities, he sets long- term strategy for the company. Ian holds a B.A. in business administration from the University of Washington.