IBM Tech Conferences Feature Power, Hot Technologies

February 25, 2013 Dan Burger

IBM has three big technical conferences coming up in the next three months: one specifically for Power Systems, while the other two will take on strategies and best practices for all the hot technologies including mobile, social, big data, and cloud.

The conferences begin with Pulse2013, which begins next week, March 3 to 6, in Las Vegas. IBM anticipates attendance to hit 8,000 and has put together an agenda of more than 450 technical training sessions, hands-on labs, skill certifications, and product demonstrations. The four educational tracks, sort of mini-conferences within Pulse, are Cloud and IT Optimization, Smarter Assets and Facilities, Mobile Enterprise, and Security Intelligence.

IBM uses this conference to highlight its expertise in analytics, systems management, mobile technology, infrastructure, and security and blend it into the Smarter Planet theme.

The lineup of speakers includes NFL MVP Peyton Manning, along with a lineup of IBM middleware, software, and services executives. For entertainment, Grammy Award winner Carrie Underwood will perform. The host hotel is the MGM Grand.

From April 28 through May 2, IBM rolls out Impact 2013, which splits its educational sessions into technology and business tracks. On the technology side there is particular emphasis on topics such as cloud, big data and analytics, social, mobile, security, and integration. On the business side, special tracks are devoted to breakthrough technologies, innovation, leadership, and creativity. The lineup of speakers includes several IBM middleware and software executives. There’s also a conference within a conference for WebSphere developers. There will be live stream video available for those unable to attend. This event will also be in Las Vegas, with the Venetian as the host hotel.

The Power Systems Technical Symposium, May 8 through 10 in New Orleans, is all about Power Systems hardware, including storage, and the software that supports IBM i, AIX, and Linux. Much of the focus is on reducing operational costs and simplifying IT environments.

Power Systems session topics include in-depth looks at the new Power7+ servers, including migration and upgrading best practices, live partition mobility, Systems Director, and I/O subsystems. IBM i-specific session topics include VIOS, PowerHA SystemMirror, application development security considerations, Web Query, SAN storage, cloud computing, DB2 for i, business intelligence, and analytics.

Featured speakers include chief architect for IBM i Steve Will, Power Systems program director Jay Kruemcke, and IBM i product offering manager Alison Butterill.

Companies that have purchased specified Power Systems boxes are eligible for Education Coupons that can be redeemed for complementary registration fees to this conference. See this web pagefor details.