ÿþ<html> <head> <title>LA VOX January 25, 2001</title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> </head> <body bgcolor="#000000"> <table width="640" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="center" bordercolorlight="#999999" bordercolor="#000000" bordercolordark="#666666"> <tr> <td bgcolor=#000000 height=64> <div align="center"><font size="4" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica,sans-serif" color="#CCCCCC"> <font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="5"><b>L A &nbsp; V O X</b></font><br> <i>the voice of tech in greater los angeles</i> <i>- v.3, n.4</i></font></div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.old.larta.org/index.asp"><img src="http://www.old.larta.org/images/top_bar.jpg" width="640" height="145" border="0"></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <div align="right"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"><b>January 25, 2001&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</b></font> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <table width="95%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tr> <td> <div align="center"> <table width="95%" border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" align="center"> <tr> <td width="21%" height="82"><a href="http://www.epoch.net" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.old.larta.org/images/Logos/Epochlogo.gif" width="122" height="108" border="0"></a></td> <td width="32%" height="82"><a href="http://www.ey.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.old.larta.org/oldlarta/lavox/images/eylogo.gif" width="178" height="37" border="0"></a></td> <td width="18%" height="82"> <div align="center"><a href="http://www.trooplaw.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.old.larta.org/oldlarta/lavox/images/Logo_akin.gif" width="91" height="78" border="0"></a></div> </td> <td width="29%" height="82"> <div align="right"><a href="http://www.grubb-ellis.com" target="_blank"> <img src="http://www.old.larta.org/oldlarta/lavox/images/Logo_grubb.gif" width="156" height="42" border="0"></a></div> </td> </tr> </table> <div align="center"> <hr width="50%"> <pmg_html_only><font color="#CC0000" size="4" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><i>Special Issue</i></b></font></pmg_html_only> <br> <hr width="50%"> <pmg_html_only> <table width="120" border="0" align="right"> <tr> <td> <div align="center"> <table bgcolor=#ffffcc border=0 cellpadding=1 cellspacing=0 width=120 bordercolorlight="#999999" align="right"> <tr bgcolor="#CCBA97"> <td> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Geneva" size=2 color="#cc0000"> </font><font face="Verdana, Arial, Geneva" size=2 color="#cc0000"><img src="http://www.old.larta.org/images/AboutLARTA.gif" width="120" height="16"></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" color="#000000"><b>larta </b>is a trusted advisor to the investment, technology, and startup community of Southern California. <b>larta</b> is an independent, private nonprofit company originally created by California legislation.</font></p> <p align="center"><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="2" color="#000000">For a complete listing of <b>larta's </b>programs and activities, please visit <a href="http://www.old.larta.org" target="blank">www.old.larta.org.</a></font></p> <p align="center"><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="2" color="#000000">746 W. Adams Blvd.<br> Los Angeles, CA 90089-7727<br> Tel: (213) 743-4150<br> Fax: (213) 747-7307</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="2"><br> <a href="http://www.old.larta.org" target="blank">www.old.larta.org</a> </font><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><br> </font></p> </td> </table> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </pmg_html_only> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="6" color="#8E2F17"><b>Ubiquitous Connectivity</b></font></div> <table width=214 border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" align="left"> <tr> <td> <div align="left"><img src="http://www.old.larta.org/oldlarta/lavox/images/et2.jpg" width="202" height="115"></div> </td> </tr> </table> <p align="left"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#8E2F17"><b>Commentary:</b></font><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> As tools such as the Internet become ubiquitous in business across various industries, the chasm between connected companies and disconnected companies grows. Connectivity is not so much an advantage anymore as it is a basic necessity of survival for businesses. <br> <a href="http://www.old.larta.org/oldlarta/lavox/ArticleLinks/2001/connectivity.htm" target="_blank">click here for the full commentaryby Victor Hwang</a></font></p> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> </font><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#8E2F17"><b><font color="#000000" size="3"><a href="http://www.old.larta.org/oldlarta/lavox/ArticleLinks/2001/connect2.htm" target="_blank">Connectivity Concerns: <br> Southern California's Coming of Age</a></font><br> </b></font><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">In covering the "most connected" places in America, most of the technology press has ignored Southern California. It simply does not show up on the lists. What's going on here? </font><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The truth is simple: Southern California is a large region with many jurisdictions across its sprawling landscape. Taken in aggregate, its connectivity to fiber is difficult to match. </font><br> <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="http://www.old.larta.org/oldlarta/lavox/ArticleLinks/2001/connect2.htm" target="_blank">click here for the full commentary by Rohit Shukla</a></font><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#8E2F17"><b> </b></font></p> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> <b> <font size="3"><a href="http://www.old.larta.org/oldlarta/lavox/ArticleLinks/2001/epoch.htm" target="_blank">Epoch Opportunity </a></font></b><a href="http://www.old.larta.org/oldlarta/lavox/ArticleLinks/2001/epoch.htm"><font size="3"><b>for Premier Connectivity</b></font></a><br> Early stage ventures or brick and mortar companies with new Web initiatives can now have access to e-commerce infrastructure and prestigious business and professional firms while conserving cash for 6 months. <br> The<b><i> <a href="http://www.epoch.net/webaccelerator/index.asp" target="_blank">Epoch WebAccelerator</a></i></b> is accepting applications from companies with sufficient investment to execute their initial plan, to put an experienced management team in place, and to develop a defensible business strategy. The application deadline for Southern California is February 2.<br> <a href="http://www.old.larta.org/oldlarta/lavox/ArticleLinks/2001/epoch.htm" target="_blank">click here for more information</a></font></p> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"><b>Connecting People = larta's Venture Salon</b></font><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><br> Last Friday, <b>larta</b> hosted its quarterly Venture Salon at the Microsoft offices in Santa Monica. Over a dozen leading venture capitalists spent the afternoon hearing presentations from seven cutting-edge startups. Technologies ranged from laboratory innovations in nanostructured materials and wireless network systems to the next generation in language translation software, secured digital distribution, and database infrastructure software for the travel industry. Microsoft's new Xbox &quot;wowed&quot; the group with a special presentation at the finale. &quot;As a VC, the opportunity to see a group of high quality companies in such a concentrated period of time is extremely valuable,&quot; said Jeffrey Starr of Mission Ventures. &quot;It was clear that <b>larta's</b> due diligence and coaching filtered out the irrelevant fluff that many entrepreneurs pitch. The key elements of these companies were nicely packaged in the presentations and the industry sectors represented were of primary interest to the venture capital community right now.&quot; </font></p> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><font size="3"><u> <b><font color="#8E2F17">Suggested Readings</font></b></u></font><b><font color="#8E2F17"><br> </font></b><font color="#000000"><i><b><a href="http://shop.barnesandnoble.com/textbooks/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?sourceid=00364168232222496258&amp;ISBN=0471396834&amp;bfdate=01-25-2001+20:12:00" target="_blank">Fast Alliances: Power Your e-business</a></b></i> by Larraine D. Segil <br> <i><b><a href="http://shop.barnesandnoble.com/textbooks/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=4Q4P6NTT28&amp;mscssid=585XJUHT3XGE8LA55SKP188PCS7PE6K0&amp;sourceid=00364168232222496258&amp;bfdate=01%25252D25%25252D2001%252B20%25253A12%25253A00&amp;isbn=0425171698" target="_blank">Victorian Internet</a></b></i> by </font>Tom Standage<br> <i><b><a href="http://shop.barnesandnoble.com/textbooks/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=4Q4P6NTT28&amp;mscssid=585XJUHT3XGE8LA55SKP188PCS7PE6K0&amp;sourceid=00364168232222496258&amp;bfdate=01%2525252D25%2525252D2001%25252B20%2525253A12%2525253A00&amp;isbn=0446675334" target="_blank">BLUR: The Speed of Change in the Connected Economy</a></b></i> by Stan M. Davis and Chris Meyer </font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#8E2F17"><b><a href="http://www.old.larta.org/index.asp?MainFrameName=Calendar.htm" target="blank">Meet, Mix and Mingle:</a> <br> Highlight of Featured Events</b></font><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br> This event bulletin is provided as a service by larta on behalf of various partner organizations. This announcement provides more comprehensive detail about events vetted and endorsed by<b> larta</b>.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> </font><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="http://www.theventureforum.com" target="_blank"><b>February 7: Last day for THE Venture Forum company applications!</b></a><br> Apply now for the premier Venture Forum in Southern California. Selected companies will participate in an intensive six-week mentoring program. The mentoring program involves the collaborative coaching efforts of over 100 leading investors, technology business consultants, and industry professionals that will assist in fine-tuning company presentations and business plans. On April 17th, THE Venture Forum will feature the selected companies to an audience of over 500 leading investors and strategic partners. This conference has generated over $400 million for presenting companies - so don't miss out!<br> <a href="http://www.theventureforum.com" target="_blank">click here for more details</a></font></p> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><a href="http://www.digitalmediawire.com/panel1.html" target="_blank"><b>February 15: Digital Media Wire Forum: "Interactive Gaming on the Internet: Recent Developments and New Opportunities -- An Industry Poised for the Future" </b></a><br> This event features the leaders of the Interactive Gaming industry. They will discuss recent technological and creative developments in the interactive gaming industry, describe business and employment opportunities being created as a result of such developments, and provide insights on what the future holds for gaming on the Internet.</font> <br> <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="http://www.digitalmediawire.com/panel1.html" target="_blank">click here for more information</a></font></p> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><a href="http://www.ctexpo.com/ctx/" target="_blank"><b>March 6-8: CT Expo - The largest telecommunications conference on the West Coast!</b></a><br> CT Expo 2001, the premier converging communications event, brings together the builders, integrators and executives driving the strategies and purchases critical to business communications. CT Expo represents the entire open communications community including: IP Telephony Gateways, Web-Enabled Call Centers, Next Generation Networks, Interactive Voice Response, Communication Controllers, Customer-Centric Technologies, Open Telephony Servers and Unified Messaging Solutions.<br> <a href="http://www.ctexpo.com/ctx/" target="_blank">click here for more information on CT Expo</a></font></p> <table width="612" border="0" align="center"> <tr> <td> <table bgcolor=#ffffcc border=0 cellpadding=1 cellspacing=0 width=598 bordercolorlight="#999999" align="center"> <tr bgcolor="#CCBA97"> <td align="center" height="99"> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Geneva" size=2 color="#cc0000"> </font><img border=0 height=17 src="http://www.old.larta.org/images/AboutLAVOX.gif" width=125 align="left"><br> <font size="2" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">LA VOX is provided weekly as a free service to you by <b>larta </b>- the<br> technology alliance for Southern California. LA VOX is made possible by the generous support of:<br> <a href="http://commerce.ca.gov/index.asp" target="blank">State of California Technology Trade &amp; Commerce Agency</a></font> <font size="2"><br> <a href="http://www.epoch.net" target="_blank">Epoch Internet</a><br> </font><br> <font size="2" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">larta is also pleased to announce a new partnership with <a href="http://www.epoch.net" target="_blank">Epoch Internet</a> which just announced that they will donate ongoing Web hosting services to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson s Research, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping scientists find the cure for Parkinson s disease.</font> </p> </td> </table> </td> </tr> </table> <pmg_text_only> </pmg_text_only> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">Copyright © 2001 <b>larta</b>. All rights reserved. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to those who may be interested. Permission to quote any proprietary part of this material is granted given proper credit. Distribution is allowed provided that no modifications are made to the original content.</font></p> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><img src="http://www.old.larta.org/images/IndexPagePics/bottom_bar.jpg" width="640" height="40" usemap="#Map" border="0"> <map name="Map"><area shape="rect" coords="571,0,633,26" href="http://www.ec2.edu/" target="ec2"></map></td> </tr> </table> </body> </html>