A bi-weekly bulletin designed to help keep you informed of North Texas Global Telecommunications Society (NTGTS) and Communications and Technology Connections (CTC) programs and activities.

To view past issues of the NTGTS News Flash go to:
http://www.ntgts.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=1&Itemid=2

In this News Flash:

- President’s Message

- September 14 Program on IPTV Within the Triple Play

- NTGTS/CTC Partners with Network World Expo

- JETRO ICT Business Mission to Japan 

- Website Registration and New Web Presence 

- 2006 Membership Drive

- Leadership Opportunities

- Event Sponsorship

- Speaking Opportunities
- Venue Space Needed

- Public Relations Expertise Needed
- Resources, Jobs & More
- Upcoming Events
- Questions and Support
- Subscribing and Unsubscribing
- Editor’s Comments

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Dear NTGTS/CTC Members and Colleagues,

On November 2, we will feature a presentation by Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP on Internet and technology legal issues.  Finally, we will wrap up the year on December 7 with a program on telco video franchising, featuring a distinguished speaker from Jackson Walker LLP. 

We look forward to seeing you at our future events.

Regards,

Jeremy Azif

President & Co-Founder

SEPTEMBER 14 PROGRAM ON IPTV WITHIN THE TRIPLE PLAY

 Please join the North Texas Global Telecommunications Society (NTGTS) for its September 2006 Monthly Networking Event taking place on Thursday, September 14, 2006 at The Richardson Hotel located at 701 East Campbell Road, Richardson, TX.  The program will run from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. CST.  NTGTS is pleased to host and welcome Avind Betrabet, Arnie Moore, and Brian White of Converged Network Solutions (CNS). Our distinguished speakers will discuss “Illustrating the Cost Beneft Analyis of IPTV Within the Triple Play.”  Through a comprehensive modeling methodology, CNS has developed a detailed IPTV business model that delivers total cost of ownership and net present value based upon a specific carrier's business parameters.  For more information about CNS, please see www.convergedns.com.  

RSVP to programs@ntgts.org if you plan to attend by Tuesday, September 12 since space is limited.  When responding, please provide your full contact information.  If you plan to bring a guest(s), please provide your guest's information as well.  For more information, please see www.ntgts.org.  

NTGTS/CTC PARTNERS WITH NETWORK WORLD EXPO

JETRO ICT BUSINESS MISSION TO JAPAN

The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), one of NTGTS’ corporate members, is holding its JETRO Business Mission to Japan for area Information Communications and Technologies (ICT) companies from October 1-7, 2006 as part of a U.S.-Japan Investment Initiative to the cities of Sendai and Yokohama including the CEATEC Japan trade show showcasing nearly 800 global companies.

As part of the land package, if a firm’s application is accepted, the executive will attend investment seminars in Sendai and Yokohama, including site tours, and gain admittance to CEATEC Japan, Asia’s largest consumer electronic trade show.  Participating executives will have pre-arranged, customized one-on-one business and networking meetings with Japanese companies including access to interpretation services as part of JETRO’s BIZMATCH@CEATEC Japan 2006.

U.S. companies in the ICT industry with a strategy for entry into the Japanese market or searching for a Japanese business partner are encouraged to apply, especially in the following sectors:

-Software including encryption, RFID, biometrics, Wireless LAN/WAN

-Hardware/Devices including RFID, Next Generation Mobile Devices,

-Engineering Technologies

-High-Precision Processing Technologies

-Micro-electromechanical Systems (MEMS)

-Advanced Material & Semiconductor/Nanotechnology

-Optoelectronics

For a full list of ICT-related sectors, itinerary, and details, contact JETRO-Houston’s Assistant Director of Business Development Keith Sanders at 713-654-5258 or Keith_Sanders@jetro.go.jp.

WEBSITE REGISTRATION AND NEW WEB PRESENCE

In March 2006, the newly designed NTGTS/CTC website was launched using a state-of-the-art content management system.  This ensures the site contains the very latest information on NTGTS/CTC activities and programs. The site, attracting thousands of unique visitors annually, features an innovative user interface that is a model for Internet functionality.  The new website, containing information on both NTGTS and CTC, includes many new features for members and other visitors.  Some of the key enhanced user features include: -Enhanced menu navigation and buttons with links to all sub-pages of the site.-Enhanced members-only areas, which provides access to the NTGTS Newsletter, Membership Directory, and other special members-only resources.-Easy page printing along with a PDF formatting option.-A detailed frequently asked questions (FAQ) section covering all aspects of the organization.-A job postings section.-Discussion board and Blog.-A powerful and enhanced events calendar, featuring all of the latest-NTGTS/CTC programs as well as other events of interest.-Access to several famous classic arcade games, to keep your mind and fingers sharp and fit.-An enhanced shopping cart and secure payment gateway area, allowing you the ability to register for membership and programs, and other products/services that we have to offer. The website will be the strategic core of our marketing efforts, acting as a strong foundation for all other marketing communications.  Alongside information about our services, the site will feature the latest news and announcements, along with a supporting portfolio of information and useful resources on the latest telecom and IT developments. For more details, see www.ntgts.org or www.ctconnections.org.

User Registration

 To begin taking advantage of all of these user features, users must go and register for website access at:http://www.ntgts.org/index.php?option=com_comprofiler&task=registers.  The page will prompt you for some information, along with an individually created user ID and password. If you were already a paid NTGTS/CTC member, please note that the existing website ID and password is no longer valid.  You must go and register on the new website.  Once you receive the email acknowledgment, you will be accorded the enhanced member-only access privileges based on confirmation of your member status. If you are not sure that your registration status has been accepted and/or updated, please feel free to follow up directly with NTGTS at membership@ntgts.org for a status. 

2006 MEMBERSHIP DRIVE 

We are currently conducting our summer membership drive.  If you are not yet a member, you can join/renew today at www.ntgts.org or www.ctconnections.org.

If you would like join NTGTS/CTC or renew your membership, we would encourage you to do so immediately since member renewal invoices have been sent out.  Please go to the new Member Application Form at: http://www.ntgts.org/index.php?option=com_facileforms&Itemid=75.  After this is completed, please also register in the product section of the site located at: http://www.ntgts.org/zenCart/index.php.  This will permit you to submit your secure payment information.  We continue to accept Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.

For additional information on membership, please contact Roberto Fanini, Director, Membership, NTGTS at membership@ntgts.org.

For more information about corporate members, see http://www.ntgts.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=6&Itemid=69.  On this page, there are links to other important membership related documents including guidelines, understanding membership, types of membership, among other topics.

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

We seek volunteers to serve in various leadership and internship roles.  We need support on our programs and membership teams as well as support with our annual strategic plan.  Becoming involved from a leadership standpoint is an excellent way to enhance your industry visibility, knowledge, leadership, management and professional development skills with a dynamic organization.  

If you are interested, please contact Jeremy Azif at president@ntgts.org by August 21, 2006.  When responding, please indicate your areas of interest and provide us your contact information so we can get in touch with you.  Note, you do not need to be located in Texas or the Greater Washington, D.C. area to serve in our leadership.  To submit your information, please go to the online leadership application at:  http://www.ntgts.org/index.php?option=com_facileforms&Itemid=61.

Thank you for your interest and we look forward to your involvement. 

 EVENT SPONSORSHIP

We are looking for event sponsors to help support our monthly networking events in North Texas and other programs in the Greater Washington, D.C. area.  This is an excellent opportunity for any company or organization to gain additional industry visibility and exposure.  We will work with your organization to customize an event sponsorship package that is tailored to your goals and needs.

SPEAKING OPPORTUNITIES

If you or someone you know would like to serve as a speaker at our events, please see http://www.ntgts.org/index.php?option=com_facileforms&Itemid=68 and complete an on-line speaker application.  Once the application is received and reviewed, a representative from our Programs Task Force will contact you.  If you find yourself in either D.C. or the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, please let us know in advance of your trip and perhaps we can set up a program around your schedule. For further information about these opportunities, please send an e-mail to programs@ntgts.org or sponsorship@ntgts.org.

VENUE SPACE NEEDED

In addition, we are seeking companies and/or organizations to sponsor meeting space for our events and activities.  Venue sponsorship would give your entity another opportunity to obtain additional exposure.  If you know of space, please contact programs@ntgts.org.

PUBLIC RELATIONS EXPERTISE NEEDED

The organization has worked closely with several public relations, advertising and media relations firms locally, nationally and internationally.  Presently, we want to establish a partnership(s) with a public relations firm who can provide us public and media relations expertise and support.  

If you know of a firm that is able to provide expertise to our organization, please contact Jeremy Azif, President & Co-Founder, NTGTS/CTC at president@ntgts.org by August 21, 2006 for more details.

RESOURCES, JOBS & MORE

Brazil: Profile of Internet Market

While overall usage rates remain relatively low – only 14 percent of the population use the Internet - Brazilians are increasingly active online, in terms of the total Internet user base, and how much time each of these users spends online.  Social networking has become the most popular internet-based activity in Brazil but news content is also in increasing demand.  For its part, the Brazilian government is actively participating in the debate about global administration of the Internet, including active advocacy of transferring control of domain name issuing to an international body linked with the United Nations.  The government of Brazil is also taking an interest in issues related to the convergence of Internet, broadcast and telecommunications media.  For a full copy of this report, contact Paulette Hernandez at paulette.Hernandez@mail.doc.gov.  

3G Americas Publishes White Paper on IMS as an Application Enabler 

On July 25, 2006, 3G Americas, a wireless industry association, published a white paper that focuses specifically on IMS architecture, as defined by the 3^rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), as the new application enabler for IP-based multimedia services.

The paper, entitled IMS: Application Enabler and UMTS/HSPA Growth Catalyst, addresses the ways in which 3GPP IMS architecture is best suited for the blending of real-time and non real-time multimedia services, and how it optimizes the application life-cycle through rapid and efficient service creation and deployment.  The paper describes how IMS will play a key role in the introduction of these new revenue-generating services, and how the deployment of the GSM evolution through UMTS/HSPA will improve the user experience and generate demand for additional services. 

Information Gatekeepers Inc. (IGI) Telecom Reports

To help clients get up-to-date on the hot industry topics and other issues, IGI is making a special offer of its latest reports on Triple Play related issues.  For more information on these reports and IGI, please contact Chris Danecek at 617-782-5033 or chris@igigroup.com or go to www.igigroup.com.

Opportunities with Marketing and Promotion Committee (MCPC), Japan

The MCPC is an organization formed in 1997 and includes 112 member companies such as NTT DoCoMo, Toshiba, Microsoft, CTC, among others.  The organization’s objective is to help promote interaction among all the companies involved in designing, marketing, and implementing wireless communications and mobile computing products and services.

For more information on MCPC, please e-mail start-up@mcpc-jp.org or see their website at www.mcpc-jp.org.

Job Positions

Associate, Information Risk Management; Job number: 8619.  Please contact Sr. Recruiter Pat Martin, patm@technicalfocus.com or see http://www.technicalfocus.com/views/home.htm.

For additional opportunities, please contact Ms. Chris Shoulet of Top Dog Recruiting at 301-530-9694 or chris@topdog-inc.com.  You can also see her website at www.topdog-inc.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS

NTGTS/CTC EVENTS

What:                          NTGTS First Thursday Monthly Networking Event

When:                         Thursday, September 14, 2006

Where:            The Richardson Hotel, 701 East Campbell Road, Richardson, TX

Time:                           6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. CST

Speaker:           Arvind Betrabet, Arnie Moore and Brian White, Converged Network Solutions (CNS)

Topic:               Part 1:  Illustrating the cost benefit analysis of IPTV within the Triple Play

Contact:           Dan Chalker, NTGTS Director of Programs, North Texas at 214-866-0001 or Roberto Fanini, NTGTS Director of Membership at 469-371-0477

URL:                www.ntgts.org

What:                          NTGTS First Thursday Monthly Networking Event

When:                         Thursday, October 5, 2006

Where:            The Richardson Hotel, 701 East Campbell Road, Richardson, TX

Time:                           6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. CST

Speaker:           Arvind Betrabet, Arnie Moore and Brian White, Converged Network Solutions (CNS)

Topic:               Part 2:  Delivering Mobile Security and Protection for Serving the Enterprise versus the Consumer

Contact:           Dan Chalker, NTGTS Director of Programs, North Texas at 214-866-0001 or Roberto Fanini, NTGTS Director of Membership at 469-371-0477

URL:                www.ntgts.org

What:                          CTC Monthly Networking Event

When:             Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Where:            Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP, 875 15th Street, N.W.,

Washington, D.C.

Time:                           6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. CST

Speaker:            Steven Rich, Attorney, Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP

Topic:               Recent Developments in VoIP Regulation in the U.S. and Europe

Contact:            Jeremy Azif, President, at 301-980-7769

PARTNER EVENTS

What:              Network World IT Roadmap Conference & Expo

When:             Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Where:            Hyatt Regency, Dallas, TX

Time:                See URL

Speaker:            Various

OTHER INDUSTRY EVENTS

What:              Seventh Annual Summer Mixer

Organizer:       TelecomHub

When:              August 15, 2006

Where:             Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant, Tysons Corner Center, 7861-L Chain

Bridge Road, McLean, VA

Time:                5:30 pm – 8:00 pm EST

URL:                www.nvtc.org    

 What:              TiECon Dallas 2006:  The Emerging Tri-Polar World: U.S. - India - China

opportunities and challenges

Organizer:       The Indus Entrepreneurs

When:              August 26, 2006

Where:             The Westin Galleria

Time:                8:00 am – 5:30 pm CST

What:              Fall 2006 Career Fair

Organizer:       University of Dallas

When:              October 4, 2006

Where:             Maher Athletic Center, University of Dallas, Irving, TX

Time:               4:00 pm – 7:00 pm CST

URL:                www.udallas.edu

What:              InfoCom-Mexico

Organizer:       Institute of the Americas

When:              October 10, 2006

Where:             Mexico City

QUESTIONS AND SUPPORT

If you have questions about NTGTS and CTC, send them to membership@ntgts.org.  For technical matters, contact shelly.haffly@mavericksystemscorp.com.

SUBSCRIBING AND UNSUBSCRIBING

The NTGTS News Flash is a bi-weekly bulletin from NTGTS - http://www.ntgts.org. You are receiving this publication because you expressed interest in subscribing to this publication and/or interested in receiving information and notices about NTGTS or CTC related events and activities.  To subscribe, send a message to membership@ntgts.org with subscribe in the subject line.  To unsubscribe, send a message to membership@ntgts.org with unsubscribe in the subject line.

Note that unsubscription requests must be sent from exactly the same address as the one you used to subscribe.  If you do not remember which address was used to subscribe, please send NTGTS all current e-mail aliases.

EDITOR’S COMMENTS

Lead Editor:              Tommy Alberson

Co-Editors:  Jeremy Azif, Jennifer Ullman

We hope that you enjoyed reading this NTGTS News Flash! We welcome your comments and suggestions about this bulletin.  Please send them to membership@ntgts.org.  Copies of the NTGTS News Flash also will be available on the NTGTS website at http://www.ntgts.org/news/newsflash.shtml.

NTGTS and CTC seek to stimulate friendships, professional cooperation, and respect in order to effectively promote cross-cultural developments and commerce.  A further goal of the Society is to provide members and organizations with the information, resources, and tools that better enable them to take advantage of the developments occurring in the international communications and technology arenas.  The Society also fosters personal/professional development and the networking needs of its members by providing access to a global network of industry contacts and leaders.   In addition, one of the Society’s key missions is to continue expanding and developing into other markets worldwide.  

NTGTS News Flash is published bi-weekly by the North Texas Global Telecommunications Society (NTGTS).  It is a member service from NTGTS and is distributed to the NTGTS membership at-large.  

Copyright 2006 North Texas Global Telecommunications Society (NTGTS).  Copying or distribution in whole or in part is welcome, so long as this notice is included in the distribution.