OCTANe Innovation Series: Advancements in Wireless Communications – Hosted by Russ Garcia, OCTANe Board Member and CEO of WiSpry Inc.

This program will focus on the emerging trends in wireless technologies.  The program will have a panel of presenters from both large and small wireless and semiconductor companies as well as the wireless carriers themselves. The objective of this program is to provide a comprehensive overview of the dynamic changes in the wireless industry.

Hear from the following industry experts:

• Russ Garcia – CEO, WiSpry
• Yan Hui – CEO, Airhop Communications
• Perry LaForge – Executive Director, CDMA Development Group
• Ketan Kamdar – Board Of Directors at Intrinsyc Software, VP - Mobile and Wireless at Broadcom
• Michael Sheha – Chief Technology Officer, Co-Founder NIM
• Francis Sideco – Principal Analyst Wireless Communications, iSuppli

Russ Garcia – CEO, WiSpry

Russ Garcia is the President and CEO of WiSpry.  WiSpry Inc. is one of the hottest start-ups in the wireless space.  As smart phones and wireless systems become increasingly sophisticated, manufacturers are constantly challenged to figure out how to get more functionality from wireless devices.  WiSpry is focused on making this job easier.

WiSpry is a fabless RF semiconductor company that has developed truly disruptive technologies for the wireless market. WiSpry brings significant performance improvements, size and cost reduction benefits to mobile handset manufacturers and network operators.

Yan Hui - CEO, Airhop Communications

Yan has extensive experience in leading engineering development, managing R&D organization and budgets, and working with business development, and marketing teams. He established and managed 3G advanced R&D group at TI to successfuly develop core system IPs for 3G UMTS products, including UMTS, HSDPA and HSUPA. He has led the technical team in developing industry’s first 1xEV-DV UE systems by working with partners. He has been responsible for both project execution and interactions with customers and partners including a key role in partnership for major 3G customers. He also chaired company wide wireless system patent committee and led TI 3G standard activities for a number of years. He also held various management and engineering positions at Nortel and Dot Wireless, He has more than 20 patent granted or pending, and a number of IEEE publications. Yan has earned a BS degree from Tianjin University, China and a MSEE degree from University of Wisconsin - Madison.

Perry LaForge – Executive Director, CDMA Development Group

Perry LaForge is the Founder, Executive Director and Chairman of the CDMA Development Group (CDG).  The CDG is a trade association comprised of over 140 of the world’s leading wireless operators and manufacturers.  At the CDG, Perry is responsible for overseeing the expansion of CDMA technology throughout the world and for leading the evolution of the technology through the CDG’s subcommittees.  Currently, there are over 500 individuals working on CDG teams.

Perry has led the development and worldwide commercialization of CDMA since the first proof of concept trials in 1988.  He was instrumental in the introduction of CDMA as a second digital standard around the world and in its evolution to next generation digital technology.

He has over 24 years of experience working with high-technology companies.  As vice president and partner of the international management-consulting firm of Pittiglio Rabin Todd and McGrath (PRTM), Perry oversaw the company’s growth from twenty to over four hundred employees and led the firm’s expansion into various domestic and international markets.

Perry has appeared on broadcast interviews about the wireless industry, including CNN, CNBC, Chinese Television Network, Bloomberg Business News and Dow Jones.  He is frequently quoted in publications, including Forbes, Fortune, Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, Wireless Week, RCR and BusinessWeek.

Ketan Kamdar – Board Of Directors at Intrinsyc Software, VP - Mobile and Wireless at Broadcom

Ketan Kamdar has more than 15 years of experience in the development, integration, and operations of wireless solutions in the wireless device, telecommunications infrastructure, wireless application, and semiconductor industries. He joined Broadcom in April 2005 and currently serves as a Vice President with global responsibility for Strategic Business Development with OEMs and ODMs, as well as interfacing worldwide with network operators, representing the Mobile Platforms and Wireless Connectivity Groups. Prior to Broadcom, he held several senior engineering and operational roles at AT&T Wireless/Cingular Wireless, most recently as the Vice President of the Device Development Group where he had corporate responsibility for directing, defining and commercializing mobile phones. Mr. Kamdar’s experience and deep industry relationships will enable him to be a strong advisor as Intrinsyc pursues opportunities to build strategic global partnerships.

Michael Sheha – Chief Technology Officer, Co-Founder NIM

Sheha has more than 15 years of business management experience in the IT industry and is the primary inventor of Networks In Motion’s strategic patents. He is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the company’s long-term business strategies and sales objectives. Prior to co-founding NIM, he worked at the California Institute of Technology Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s wireless communication systems and research section, where he designed digital and RF communication systems, developed military GPS tracking systems, and performed research for communication link and propagation studies. He has a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California.

Francis Sideco – Principal Analyst Wireless Communications, iSuppli

Francis is a principal analyst with the iSuppli wireless research team and is responsible for iSuppli research into mobilized non-handset devices, Wireless Wide Area Network access technologies, the semiconductor market for mobile devices, and other wireless markets including Personal Area Networks and Local Area Networks.

Francis comes to us from Comarco Wireless Test Solutions where he headed up the company’s strategic marketing organization.  At Comarco, Francis was responsible for strategic product direction, product management and product marketing worldwide. Leading a multi-national development team, Francis had a major part in the development of Comarco’s Seven.Five wireless test system, the first field test system that allows wireless carriers to evaluate, compare and analyze their quality of service from the perspective of the ultimate end user. He has been featured in various articles in major magazines such as Forbes, Bloomberg, and Wireless Week.

Francis received a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Loyola Marymount University

Sponsored by: WiSpry