Cisco kicks off Networkers 2007

Networking giant Cisco has welcomed attendees and partners to its Networkers 2007 event in Brisbane.

Running until Thursday 20th, the event will provide an opportunity for the vendor to showcase its upcoming innovation to a broad range of delegates from across the A/NZ region.

"Cisco and our partners are here to showcase products, technology and solutions to enable you to go back and inspire your company," said Les Williamson, the newly appointed managing director for Cisco in A/NZ.

Williamson was addressing a packed audience in his opening keynote and he welcomed over 1,300 paid delegates to the event.

"For the first time we have over 50 partners and exhibitors here too," added Williamson.

Next onstage from the US was Howard Charney, senior vice president for Cisco.

Charney mapped out the rise of the Internet and its potential impact moving forward.

"In the last 25 years the Internet has come from being a fringe technology. The Internet is now making us part of one global ecosystem," he said.

Charney identified three pillars of innovation as investment, talent and infrastructure.

"Today the Internet is the critical infrastructure of our age. Web 2.0 has given us a new generation of productivity tools."

"The Internet's time has definitely come and going forward we will find innovative solutions to the challenges ahead," said Charney.