The Top 15 Channel Managers for 2008, as named by PHONE+ readers, will be announced during Monday’s opening remarks at the Channel Partners Conference & Expo. These winners, along with the Top 50 Channel Programs, will be profiled in the 2008 PHONE+ Channel Program Guide, due out in October.
The awards will be presented during the welcoming remarks, which will kick off at 1 p.m. in the Amphitheater at the World Trade Center. Nearly 1,000 votes were cast by PHONE+ readers for their favorite channel managers and the competition was fierce. Be sure to attend to cheer on your nominee and find out if they were selected as a winner. Winners also will be listed on www.phoneplusmag.com on Monday! And stick around after the winners are announced for the General Session, “Cable Company Executives on Channel Strategies,” at 1:30 p.m. See you at the show!
While networking and business deals are the main goal on the Expo Hall floor, the prizes and giveaways held by exhibitors bring some extra excitement to the floor. Check out all the happenings from these Channel Partners exhibitors – and be sure to bring plenty of business cards to enter the many prize drawings on the show floor!
And once again, PHONE+ is bringing back its passport promotion. This time, all of the passport participants are first time Channel Partner’s exhibitors. The passport program is a great way to get to know them and find out about their products. Qualified attendees who get their passports “stamped” by every passport vendor (15 in all) will be entered to win a $2,500 American Express Gift Card.
Giveaways
Stop by Booth 1030 and play the COLOTRAQ Referral Program Game. Just toss the die and wins cash— $10, $5, or $1. Everyone wins with COLOTRAQ!
BullsEye Telecom will hold a drawing for a GARMIN nuvio city navigator at their booth. Stop by booth 2041 for a change to win the 260W Preloaded City Navigator® NT. The navigator retails at $374.99 and includes suction cup mount, vehicle power cable, dashboard disc and a quick start manual
Time Warner Cable Business Class is hosting a Nintendo® Wii Challenge at Booth #3033. The winner will receive a Wii and bragging rights for the golf challenge. Stop by the TWCBC booth for more information and to register to compete. Participants must drop their business card at the booth to be eligible.
Visit the McGraw Communications booth (2013) during the Channel Partner show and win CA$H. Stop by, spin our prize wheel, and win hard cash. Let us show you how you can increase your earnings through McGraw Communications and get paid for services you never got paid on before.
Toucan Global (booth 1049) will be giving away FOUR Snap Communicator units (a $396 value each) to one lucky winner! Drop off your business card in the fishbowl at booth 1049 to enter. Need not be present to win. The winner will be randomly drawn from all business cards entered at the end of the show. Winner will be contacted via email and phone. We will ship the units directly to the winner.
Parties
InterCall and Intelisys will host an exclusive Boston Cruise Party on Tuesday, August 19 at 6:30 p.m. The cruise is for agents who are interested in Intelisys’ agent program and the opportunity to sell InterCall services as well as current Intelisys agents.
The InterCall and Intelisys Boston Cruise Party is the prime opportunity for you to meet and mingle with sales experts from InterCall and Intelisys while enjoying an evening of cocktails, appetizers and an outstanding cruise of the Historic Boston Harbor. For tickets, please stop by the InterCall booth #1000 or Intelisys booth #2051. Don't miss out!
Once again, the PHONE+ staff will be on the lookout for the most innovative exhibits, promotions, giveaways, parties and more. Think your company is up to the challenge? Go ahead and brag so we can be sure to keep an eye out for you at the show.
Best of Show awards will be given in the following categories:
• Best Trade Show Theme
• Best First-Time Exhibitor
• Best Trade Show Booth
• Best Channel Promotion (contests, appearances, etc. that drive traffic to your booth)
• Best Channel Incentive (sales incentives for channel partners)
• Best After-Hours Party
• Best Trade Show Giveaway (cool swag and free stuff)
Think you're a contender? Send Corrina Church (cchurch@vpico.com) your company name, booth number and category for which you'd like to be considered by Monday, August 11.
Ethernet WAN Applications & Designs: The "What and How" to Meeting Customer Needs
Join XO as they explore various approaches to implementing Ethernet, including Ethernet over copper, fiber and wireless. We will explore case histories with a focus on customer requirements, solution overview, network design and technical considerations.
Speakers: Andy Janoschka, Regional Sales Director, Hatteras Networks
Chris Peck, Sales Support Senior Manager, XO Communications
Mark Saffel, Sales Engineering Director, XO Communications
The XO Vendor Presentation is taking place Monday, August 18 from 5-5:50pm in Harborview 2.
Channel Partners Boston is about a month away and the Early Bird discount ends this Friday, July 18. Be sure to register today, the conference offers valuable education sessions explaining new technologies and showing you the best ways to sell them. To show you what you can learn at the show, we’ve compiled a handy top-10 list.
10. Vendor updates from TNCI, PAETEC, XO, Time Warner Cable, ACC Business and Smoothstone
9. How to understand and sell colo
Capitalizing on Colo is taking place Aug. 18 at 3pm
8. How to sell satellite
Successfully Selling Satellite is taking place Aug. 18 at 4pm
7. Industry trends from Gartner Research Vice President, Indirect Channel Programs & Sales Strategies, Tiffani Bova
Industry Address: Reading the Tea Leaves is taking place Aug. 19 at 11:30am
6. VoIP and SIP sales tips
5. VoIP and SIP basic technical information
VoIP/SIP boot camp is taking place Aug. 18 at 9am. Additional registration is required.
4. Next generation of conferencing solutions
Conferencing 2.0 is taking place Aug. 19 at 9:30am
3. Cable executives’ thoughts on the channel and plans for future channel strategies
Roundtable: Cable Company Executives on Channel Strategies is taking place Aug. 18 at 1:30pm
2. If industry analysts think the slowing economy will impact telecom sales
The Lowdown on the Downturn is taking place Aug. 18 at 3pm
1. How to run an effective business when you’re a sales guy at heart
The Accidental Entrepreneur is taking place Aug. 19 at 9:30am
Business Continuity, Security & Managed Services Solutions
Today’s economic environment includes slashed budgets and shrinking resources. To be competitive, you need to provide additional value to the traditional network sale. Let us show you how to design customized solutions, based on PAETEC’s suite of managed services, which will enhance your customers’ business continuity and network security abilities.
We know that while you’re at Channel Partners you’ll be working hard making connections in the Expo Hall and taking in the education sessions. But we also know that all work and no play is not your definition of a successful conference. With that in mind, here are a few ideas on how to spend your free time:
Earlier this year, the New York Times dining critic circled the country in an attempt to find the 10 best restaurants outside of New York City. His top choice was Boston sushi restaurant O Ya, one of the many great Boston restaurants you can visit while attending the show this August.
If it’s suds you’re searching for, spend the afternoon at the Sam Adams Brewery. A Boston institution, the brewery offers free tours Tuesday-Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m. The brewery tour lets you to see the entire brewing process and ends with free samples of a variety of Sam Adams beers.
Another Boston institution is Fenway Park. Even though the Red Sox aren’t in town during the conference, the baseball stadium is still open for tours. The comprehensive Fenway Park tours run from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Twilight Tours are at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. for groups of 10 or more people.
Not into hanging at a brewery or a ballpark? Boston has tons of great shopping options, including the make-your-own-handbag store 1154 Lill Studio. The store lets you pick out a purse design, fabrics and extra embellishments, so you can make sure you never have the same purse as your friends again.
Want to discover more of what Boston has to offer? Visit Daily Candy Boston, which offers different food, nightlife, shopping and activity tips.
The Top 15 Channel Managers for 2008, as named by PHONE+ readers, will be announced during Monday’s opening remarks at the Channel Partners Conference & Expo. These winners, along with the Top 50 Channel Programs, will be profiled in the 2008 PHONE+ Channel Program Guide, due out in October. 
dium is still open for tours. The comprehensive Fenway Park tours run from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Twilight Tours are at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. for groups of 10 or more people.