• E-mail this page
• |  Print this page
• | 
• | 
• | 

Web 2.0 Summit: Platforms, Services, And Audiences Coming Your Way

Now in its fourth year, the Web 2.0 Summit has moved past trying to define what Web 2.0 is and isn't. Looking ahead to the conference, here are the concepts and issues I most want discussed at the show:

1. Platforms. We have Facebook, Google, Yahoo, Amazon, Adobe, and ebay (among others) here to discuss their platforms and encourage other companies and individuals to build on top of these platforms. Very little has been said about the progress Amazon has made with its WebOS initiative.

Oh, and there is a guy named Rupert that people are expecting to say a thing or two about platforms and MySpace's future.

2. How does the technology translate to existing businesses? While many of the discussions and companies here focus on commerce and/or advertising, many of the technologies being introduced and/or discussed at the summit translate to business environments. Social networking, video distribution, blogging, etc., all have plays within a business community.

Just as important, the debate over how Web services such as Facebook or Twitter help or hurt productivity continues. Businesses need to understand the good and the bad and make some decisions with their eyes wide open.

3. Which Steve Ballmer shows up? Ballmer and Microsoft have been sending some pretty mixed messages as of late. On the one hand, they are acknowledging the fact that they are behind Google and Yahoo in their online initiatives. On the other hand, they (especially Ballmer) have taken more than one pass at belittling the importance of these online players (Google, Facebook, etc.) Which is it?

4. What's new? The demos are the big draw here. This show has become the launchpad for many new and interesting companies as well as the place where companies of all sizes come to introduce new offerings.

« Google's GrandCentral Is NOT The Hottest Mobile App Ever | Main | Web 2.0 Summit: Bubble 2.0? Or Tiny Bubbles And Big Bangs? »