Houston, TX

December 4, 2007

Unified Communications Launch

Communication is at a crossroads: VoIP and other methods of communications are shifting from hardware-based systems to software. Hardware-based systems are becoming too disparate to accommodate the need for a more unified solution. Join a senior Microsoft executive in a talk about the Microsoft vision of a future-ready communications foundation that's built on software and can maximize your existing investments. Register now!

Business Track Agenda

IT Track Agenda

Houston, TX

December 4, 2007

Business track

Opening Keynote:

A Microsoft executive will present how Microsoft unified communications technologies use the power of software to help streamline communications between people and organizations, regardless of medium, platform, device, or location.

Analyst Keynote:

Forrester Consulting will describe the future of communications with findings from their study on the "Total Economic Impact" of unified communications.

Panel Discussion:

Senior technology managers and leading Microsoft partners will discuss their experiences deploying Microsoft unified communications technologies and talk about the business impact it has had on their employees and company. This is your chance to ask questions and learn from your peers, who are exploring a new approach to communications.

IT Track

Opening Keynote:

A Microsoft executive will present how Microsoft unified communications technologies use the power of software to help streamline communications between people and organizations, regardless of medium, platform, device, or location.

Houston, TX

December 4, 2007

Zig Serafin

Zig Serafin is general manager of the Unified Communications Group at Microsoft. He is responsible for working with the leadership team to shape strategy in Unified Communications, overseeing strategic growth areas, building up Microsoft product lines in the enterprise communications segment, expanding the Microsoft voice communication services platform, and developing strategic partnerships. His group recently led the acquisition of Tellme Networks, a market leader in hosted speech/voice services and application platforms, and is currently driving the integration of Tellme into the Microsoft Business Division.

Previously, Serafin was responsible for global marketing and business development for the Office Real-Time Collaboration Group at Microsoft, where he led teams responsible for driving business strategy, managing product growth, and developing partner strategies for the Office Real-Time Collaboration Group's core solutions. Before this role, Serafin was senior director in the Corporate Development Group, responsible for corporate mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships. He worked closely with a wide range of Microsoft product divisions to develop, execute, and manage strategic investments and partnerships in the areas of broadband and wireless services, communication and collaboration, security and server platforms, and home and entertainment technologies.

Before joining Microsoft in 1999, Serafin spent many years in the software and communications technology sector in product management, business development, sales, and operations positions at Novell Inc. and Callware Technologies Inc. In those roles, he focused on establishing partnerships with network infrastructure providers, OEMs, and systems builders, as well as global telecommunications service providers. Serafin has also held investment and private banking responsibilities at Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. and Wells Fargo & Co., participating in private placement investments and conducting strategic and financial analyses on emerging technology markets, including wireless and telephony.