Monday, October 1 2:30 PM - 3:45 PM Session III: Wireless Content - From Music, Games and Animation to the Information Industries Content into the wireless environment is taking every from, from music and games to news and lifestyle information. It’s here today and a flood of content is about to be unleashed on the user. The entire entertainment industry is getting involved. With millions of users at stake, this rush to market is only expected. However the obstacles to full operability and financial profitability are still in up in the air. In this session, we will here from the various practitioners in the wireless content space, from the technology experts to the content suppliers. What does content mean in a narrowband wireless universe and how is it about to change? Val Rahmani, General Manager, Global Wireless, IBM Corp. Shawn Conahan, VP & Head of MP3 Mobile, MP3.Com Austin Murray, co-founder, VP, Business Development, JAMDAT Mobile William Marks, Director, Corporate Development, Walt Disney Internet Group Tyrone Lam, President, Buzztime Entertainment John A. Lack, President & CEO, i3 Mobile Alice Rodd O'Rourke, Executive Director, New York New Media Association, Moderator Val Rahmani is the General Manager, Global Wireless, IBM Corporation and is responsible for the business, applications and solutions-related aspects of IBM's wireless and mobile initiatives worldwide. She graduated in 1980 with a doctorate in chemistry from Oxford University, England, joining IBM as a Systems Engineer based in London. After a period in technical support, Val held various positions in Sales and Marketing before moving into sales management. In 1991, she was appointed Business Manager of a Government unit. In 1993, she became the Manager of the Government Sector of UK ISSC (Integrated Systems Solutions Company), IBM's outsourcing company. Val became Sales Manager of RS/6000 in the UK in 1994, then Director in 1995. In March, 1996, Val moved to the US to work as Executive Assistant to IBM's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Lou Gerstner. She was appointed World-Wide Director of Sales and Distribution in the RS/6000 Division, based in Somers, New York in September 1996. In January 1998, she came back to the UK as Vice President of High End Systems Sales, IBM EMEA. In January 1999, Val was appointed Vice President of Sales for Communications Sector, EMEA, where she was responsible for Telecomms, Media and Utilities Industries. She was also responsible for all initiatives on Wireless and Mobile e-Business across EMEA. John A. Lack, President & CEO, i3 Mobile: John Lack possesses 30 years in the communications and entertainment industries. He is best known as a creator of MTV, the broadcast vehicle that has become an integral part of global culture. As the Chief Operating Officer of Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment Co., Lack developed The Movie Channel, cable television's first 24-hour entertainment network, and Nickelodeon, the award-winning children's channel. He also served as ESPN's Executive Vice President of Marketing and Programming. Additionally, Lack served as COO and a Director of STREAM, Telecom Italia's digital content and pay television company. He began his career at CBS, where over the course of nine years he held a variety of sales and marketing positions. Lack is a graduate of Boston University, and earned a Masters degree in Broadcast Journalism from the Medill School at Northwestern University. Shawn Conahan is Director of Wireless Strategies for MP3.com. In this role, he is defining MP3.com's next-generation mobile applications to increase the value of the company's content and technology to its partners in the wireless arena. As the premier Music Service Provider, MP3.com provides music content and the infrastructure to serve it to any device, anywhere. Prior to his role as Director of Wireless Strategies, he was the product release manager for the controversial My.MP3.com service which launched earlier this year and is now the subject of much debate. The My.MP3.com service is a "jukebox in the sky" which allows a user to listen to his or her music from any net-connected device. A recent music industry expatriate, Shawn briefly worked at Universal Music Group prior to joining MP3.com in July of 1999. While at Universal, he was a global program manager for the Electronic Commerce Advanced Technology group. William Marks, Director, Corporate Development, Walt Disney Internet Group: Will is part of the team responsible for technology strategy, business development, and operations at the Walt Disney Internet Group. In addition, Will serves on the technology management council of The Walt Disney Company. Prior to joining WDIG, Will was the vice president of BiT Group, a New England-based technology consulting firm, where he lead consulting engagements for Cisco Systems, EMC, Fidelity Investments, and other Fortune 500 firms. In addition, Will directed the firms startup services practice, working with entrepreneurs and VCs in developing Internet strategy and business models. As one of BiT Group’s most celebrated projects, during the 2000 US presidential campaign, Will lead Internet strategy for the Office of Bill Bradley for President. The award-winning BillBradley.com site set precedent in allowing Internet contributions eligibility for federal matching funds, as well as raising more funds online in 1999 than any other candidate. Prior to joining BiT Group, Will lead new media technology projects for The Gap, Inc., and several other firms. Will received his B.A. from Brandeis University. Tyrone Lam, President, Buzztime Entertainment: Tyrone Lam has more than eight year's experience in the Interactive TV industry. He joined NTN Communications in December 1994 and was promoted to vice president and general manager in September 1997; a year later he was appointed to the position of executive vice president of the company. In December 1999, Lam, who previously ran NTN Communications' hospitality division, was appointed to president of BUZZTIME, Inc., NTN's wholly-owned Internet subsidiary that owns one of the world's largest trivia game show libraries and offers the unique "TV Play-Along" sports game. Under his direction, the BUZZTIME.com™new game Website was officially launched in May 2000. Before joining NTN, Lam managed sports and games development for EON Corporation, a pioneer in the interactive television industry formerly known as TV Answer. Previously, Lam served in several sales and marketing management positions within the software industry. He is the former chairman of the Interactive Services Association's Interactive Television Council and has published several articles on interactive television, sales and marketing strategies. Lam received a Bachelor's degree in political science from Virginia Tech. Austin Murray, co-founder, VP, Business Development, JAMDAT Mobile: As co-founder and Vice President of Business Development, Austin focuses on JAMDAT Mobile’s partnerships, strategic positioning, and long-term growth initiatives. Prior to founding JAMDAT Mobile, Austin served as Director of Strategy at eCompanies, LLC, where he played an integral part in the launch of eCompanies Wireless, an incubator and partnership with Sprint PCS. Prior to eCompanies, Austin served as Director of Business Development at iBEAM Broadcasting, a streaming media broadcast network. Austin has also worked at game developer Crystal Dynamics in marketing and at Activision Studios in marketing, production, and product development. Austin graduated cum laude with a BA in English from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a Benjamin Franklin Scholar. Austin also holds a JD from UCLA School of Law and an MBA from UCLA’s Anderson Graduate School of Management. Austin is a Member of the California Bar. Alice Rodd O'Rourke became Executive Director of the New York New Media Association (NYNMA) in 1998. Under her leadership, membership has nearly quadrupled to nearly 8,500, making it the largest regional Internet association in the world. She was selected to Crains’ New York Business IT 100 in 2001 and named one of 50 New Yorkers to Watch by The New York Daily News in 1999. Under her direction, NYNMA's full array of panels, trade shows, conferences and other member benefits have expanded to serve an industry that has become one of the City's most important industries. She launched NYNMA's most recent additions, a nationally recognized internship program and an institute for training Internet entrepreneurs. In the past two years, attendance at all NYNMA's signature events has soared, and the association's role in influencing New York City and State government policies has grown. Alice has an extensive background in government, law and business. At Colgate Palmolive, she held the positions of Vice President of Colgate Venture Company, where she developed and funded new businesses, and Associate Director of Colgate's US oral care products. She was Senior Vice President of Marketing at Empire State Development (ESD) where she managed a staff of 300, implementing New York State's economic development policy worldwide. Alice also held a senior position at the New York Power Authority and led the ROR Group, a marketing consultancy. Her career began as an attorney, working for both Colgate and the New York District Attorney's Office, and she was an adjunct professor of law at Pace University and Mercy College. She is a frequent speaker at new media and other business and civic events.