COMDEXvirtual Innovative Platform Convenient, Interactive and User Friendly

FRAMINGHAM, Mass., Nov. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Everything Channel, a UBM company, in partnership with sister company UBM Studios, today unveiled details of the unique COMDEXvirtual environment designed to build and strengthen the global IT channel community.

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"We leveraged our combined expertise of the channel, virtual events, and COMDEX itself to model a platform for COMDEXvirtual that is convenient, interactive, and user friendly," said Lisa Mackenzie, SVP Events at Everything Channel. "In addition to providing comprehensive content, we have made it easier for attendees to interact with the sponsoring vendors and with each other."

COMDEXvirtual offers a number of opportunities for meeting and networking – all developed with usability in mind. The Expo Hall includes a new easy-to-use directory that presents an alphabetical logo listing of the exhibitor booths, which can alternatively be sorted and displayed by business category. Attendees simply click on a company name to visit a booth. The booths themselves have also been redesigned to offer both maximum branding and messaging space for exhibitors, and ease of navigation to chat and view content for visitors.

COMDEXvirtual has introduced gated hospitality suites designed for vendors looking to hold secure meetings with partners and prospects. The suite hosts provide the pre-determined code to the guests for entry, providing vendors the opportunity to present proprietary information, roll out new programs, conduct training, and engage in candid conversations.

One of the fun and functional features attendees will find at COMDEXvirtual is the Build-a-Badge Kiosk, sponsored by Microsoft. The kiosk is located in the Lobby, the point of entry upon login.  Attendees have the opportunity to upload their pictures and create a virtual badge (which can be used as a personalized virtual card throughout the event) or an electronic post card.  Both files can easily be saved and posted to Facebook or used for a twitpic to provide updates for social media followers.

The VAR Bar offers a public meeting space for attendees to mix, mingle, and network.  Each live event day ends with dedicated time in the VAR Bar – where attendees can chat with various CRN Editors as well as with other attendees, exhibitors, speakers, and press. Virtual drinks are available, which deplete and refill with each click for an interactive extra.

The COMDEXvirtual Press Office, powered by PR Newswire's Virtual Press Office service, features a live news feed for all announcements made during the event and contact information for exhibitors and speakers. The space also offers RSS feeds, and access to social networking coverage on Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter.  The streaming updates provide a convenient way to keep up to date on news coming out of the event.

Everything Channel and Microsoft have also extended their Channel@Work program partnership to COMDEXvirtual.  Underwriters of the 2010 program, Microsoft selected United Way as the official event charity. "We love the idea of bringing our industry community together to help support this worthy cause," said Eric Martorano, Sr. Director of US SMB Channel and Online Services at Microsoft.  A link to the United Way will be prominently located in the COMDEXvirtual Lobby.

COMDEXvirtual will be live on November 16th and 17th. The conference catalog Agenda provides a schedule overview and details of the content tracks including the associated chairs, speakers and session descriptions. Registration is open.

Everything Channel

Everything Channel is the premier provider of IT channel-focused events, media, research, consulting, and sales and marketing services. With over 30 years of experience and engagement, Everything Channel has the unmatched channel expertise to execute integrated solutions for technology executives managing partner recruitment, enablement and go-to-market strategy in order to accelerate technology sales. Everything Channel is a UBM company. To learn more about Everything Channel, visit us at http://www.everythingchannel.com.

United Business Media Limited (www.unitedbusinessmedia.com)

UBM (UBM.L) focuses on two principal activities: worldwide information distribution, targeting and monitoring; and, the development and monetization of B2B communities and markets. UBM's businesses inform markets and serve professional commercial communities - from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewelry traders, from farmers to pharmacists – with integrated events, online, print and business information products. Our 6,500 staff in more than 30 countries are organized into specialist teams that serve these communities, bringing buyers and sellers together, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently.

CONTACT: Sarah Murray, +1-781-794-3214, [email protected]

SOURCE Everything Channel