Top Ten Questions on My Mind as I Head to InterOp—What are Yours?
Oh, how InterOp has changed… and changed… and changed, again.
I remember InterOp’s original innovation roots—when live connection to the showfloor network was a requirement for all exhibitors. In this early phase, attendees numbered from a few to around ten thousand and were mostly software/hardware development engineers. Proving was paramount. Connecters, signals, protocols, devices… everything needed proving. I remember InterOp’s transition to a full-fledge mega-show, requiring exhibition space in not only the Las Vegas Convention Center and attached Hilton, but also within a dozen or more satellite hotels. In this phase, attendees numbered over 150,000 and were mostly network operators and product marketeers. Selling was paramount. Vendors sold customers. Start-ups sold investors (or outright buyers). Technology innovation seemed to take a back seat to crossing the chasm in order to reach the mainstream money pile. Well, with a troubled economy and heightened virtual access to industry events and information, InterOp would seem to be returning to its innovation roots once again. No network vendor should be spending event monies unless they are looking to show something that is truly innovative. No network operator should be spending travel monies unless they are looking to do something really innovative. While the development engineers may not have returned, InterOP has once again returned to being a proving ground for networking. Only this time around, it is less about proof of concept and more about proof of value. Which leads me to the questions that I will carry with me as I travel the aisles, visit the booths, and attend the sessions.
Top Ten Questions I’ll Have on My Mind at InterOp…
10) How does this technology/product simplify the life of a network operator?
9) Is the network ready to handle this new application or information stream?
8) How does adding this technology/product to my network disrupt existing systems, service levels, and practices?
7) What security risk does introducing this technology/product present to the network? To the IT infrastructure? To the business?
6) What impact—good and bad—does this new technology/product have on an operator’s Green efforts and goals?
5) How does this technology/product allow operators to meet service level agreements? How about extending into new SLAs?
4) How does this technology/product extend impact beyond the network itself? Across IT? Across the business?
3) What is the end user’s reward, responsibilities, and risks relative to this technology/product?
2) What are the key dependencies (other technologies, products, services, vendors…) that enable this technology/product to deliver on its full promise?
1) And most importantly… Where is the hard proof that this technology/product delivers real value to the network? To IT? To the business?
As we see by the above list, the focus of the questions have even changed dramatically from InterOp’s beginnings. Twenty years ago, we focused on “Will it work?”. Ten years ago, we focused on, “Will it sell?” Now, we’re focused on “Will it deliver?”
Feel free to add your key InterOp questions in your comments. The more questions we all ask, the better the answers are forced to become.
Check back after the show to see my thoughts on whether my questions were mostly answered—or mostly avoided. Now, what time is my flight Sunday? And where am I even staying in Vegas? Looks like even I have a few more important InterOp questions to ask! 
Posted by Mark Leary at 10:51AM PST
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