I wasn't able to make it to Las Vegas this year so I was disappointed yesterday when I got an email that Microsoft and HP would be announcing an expansion of their partnership during Interop's first keynote address. Thanks (and kudos) to Microsoft's PR firm rep for UC, Jessica Ratliff, who by sending me a link made me aware that the keynotes could be viewed live on InteropTV. I don't know how many people were in the live audience but by my observation, the number viewing online peaked at 865.Like watching a sporting event on television, seeing the address in my office on a high-quality monitor was almost better than being there. I could see and hear the speakers very well and easily see the details on their PowerPoint slides.
Like analyst colleagues onsite, I was able to tweet my views on Twitter, as well as note and respond to their observations. The picture here of Microsoft's Stephen Elop and HP's Ann Livermore was taken via computer print screen and is likely as good or better than any I could have taken from a seat in the audience.
This experience with watching a keynote online, combined with an ability to track the reactions of other with Twitter, makes me feel more positive about some upcoming virtual events on my calendar. On June 10th, VoiceCon is planning its first virtual event, and I have signed on to host the first hour at the No Jitter "booth." On June 16th, Alcatel-Lucent is planning a Virtual Analyst event, also a first of its kind.
While I for one rarely complain about the travails of travel (I try instead to concentrate on the business or personal event travel enables), it is nice to be able to participate in some of the highlights of Interop without the time and expense of being there.
