No TechEd Connect for 2010

Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Microsoft TechEd Connect has been used for the past three or four years as a web-based communication platform for TechEd attendees.

We've used it in the past to create discussion groups that are targeted. For example, we used it to create The Krewe (parties and afterhours activities), Exchange Gods (Exchange design and management), and many other groups. It's a great way for like-minded attendees to virtually meet their colleagues.

I emailed the TechEd team to find out when TechEd Connect will be online for TechEd North America 2010. Here was their response:

Hello Jeff,

I have just heard back from this team. It seems that there will be no Tech Ed Connect this year. However, there are networking opportunities through Tech Ed Facebook and Tech Ed Twitter. You can find links to these tools on the Tech Ed event website at ttps://northamerica.msteched.com.

Please let us know if you have any further questions.

Sincerely,

Tech.Ed North America 2010 Registration Team
*E-mail: TechEd2010@microsoft.crgevents.comTech.Ed 2009
Website:
https://northamerica.msteched.com


So it sounds like we're going to have to "roll our own" for TechEd groups and discussions. That's unfortunate, because I know a lot of people who don't (or won't) use Twitter or Facebook. I also know of companies that block social networking sites. This will make it difficult for attendees to get timely updates.

Using a general social networking infrastructure also doesn't lend itself to targeted discussions for attendees with similar interests. How will we find each other?

I'll have to get together with some of the Krewe and those who want to attend the Exchange Roundtable and decide where and how to do this. What do you think?



4 comments:

  1. First they shorten it by one day and now taking this away? Kind of odd for MSFT as the price is the same but it seems the collaboration and education is falling

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  2. Wow. What a fail. Is it me or is this a part of the "Do less with less" campaign for Tech Ed?

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  3. Suppose a workaround would be to establish a YahooGroup, it would be all via email...

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  4. Well, this would explain why I couldn't find any info about it this year. I think this is a stupid decision. That forum was very useful.

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