CommUnity defines true convergence

The often-overworked term "convergence" is getting its due. A new conference and exhibition to be announced this week aims to educate Bellheads about data communications and explain the telephony world to Netheads.

The event, called CommUnity, will coincide with Networld+Interop at the the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta this October. Its theme: "Where data, voice and video come together." The event will feature a two-day general conference and workshops on voice, video and data integration.

The Internet and its popularity for voice and video transmission, as well as for data, propelled the idea for the conference. "The Internet is provoking users and product developers to think about putting voice and data in the same place," said Leonard Heymann, general manager of CommUnity.

Other trends driving the event are industry leaders' efforts to promote standards and a heightened interest in service quality.

June June 1-5, Supercomm '97 New Orleans, Ernest N. Morial Center, (703) 907-7736 June 2-5, Expo Comm USA Atlanta, World Congress Center, (301) 493-5500 June 2-5, Michigan Telephone Association Acme, Mich., Grand Traverse Resort, (517) 482-4166 June 3-5, REPLItech International San Jose, Convention Center, (800) 660-3976 June 4-7, Cable-Tec Expo Orlando, Orange County Convention Center, (610) 363-3822 June 8-10, Florida Telecommunications Industry Association Key West, Fla., Marriott's Casa Marina Resort, (904) 877-5141 June 8-12, IEEE International Conference on Communications Montreal, Quebec, Palais des CongrŠs, (905) 615-6660 June 9-14, Asia Telecom Singapore, World Trade Centre, +41 22 730 5651 June 16-17, Cable/Telco Video Franchising Washington, Georgetown University Conference Center, (800) 599-4950 June 24-27, International Communications Forecasting Conference San Francisco, Sir Francis Drake Hotel, (510) 823-3547

July July 14-16, Optimizing the Functionality and Cost of Set-Top Box San Francisco, Hyatt Regency at Fisherman's Wharf, (800) 999-3123 July 15-17, Best Practices for Billing and Customer Care in Telecom Washington, Madison Hotel, (800) 882-8684 July 20-23, OPASTCO Summer Convention San Diego, Marriott, (202) 298-2328 July 23-25, Mergers and Acquisitions in Telecommunications and Cable New York, Helmsley Hotel, (800) 599-4950

AUGUST Aug. 18-20, Implementing Voice Technology in Call Centers Chicago, Doubletree Guest Suite, (800) 882-8684 Aug. 21-23, Power and Communication Contractors Association Mid-Year Meeting Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Coeur d'Alene Resort, (800) 542-7222