An enjoyable conference with more presenters than they had expected.   The conferenece room had over 100 permanent seats in concentric circles - very plush seats I might add, which were easily entered and exited.  There was a flat computer screen at each seat with a long microphone that did not obstruct views.  When we tapped the switch, our microphone became active and the camera focused on us.  The usual high tech type of situation.  We all had headsets with wireless receivers for translation as well.  So each presenter was able to sit at their seat comfortably and listen or present their research.

 After being invited on October 31 (the date for the finished paper was November 1), I managed to communicate with Tom Lanis, the co-author, FAIRLY well - sometimes the Skype (internet phone) connections were interrupted  every two minutes, so I became reacquainted with IM -  to present a very nice PowerPoint presentation on the newest field of Marketing, Mobile Marketing - very facinating and exciting.  I really hope that they follow through with research on permissions based marketing as I HATE getting SPAMMED - which is how most of us think of mobile marketing.  Furthermore, the problem here in China, as mentioned by the discussant, is that the Chinese are SMSed (texted) ad infinitum by everyone!  The Chinese companies have no clue what they do - unfortunately.  Somewhat symptomatic of many things in China as they are so new to the idea of market socialism.

Text based mobile marketing is also very prevalent in Europe and the U.S. which again makes me reiterate that  the mobile marketer's goal will be to change the perceptions of the public about receiving advertising.  That is, to make such advertising less obtrusive to the us, the public.  In fact, to allow those of us who do NOT wish to receive the information, to opt out. 

BOOM!  The nightly fireworks are going off.  Yes, living in a large city (large even by Chinese standards) has benefits untold.  One of which is huge amounts of fireworks every night.  A bit earlier there were fireworks just two blocks down in front of the canteen (I live on the 7th floor overlooking campus which gives me a fantastic view).  This one was the opposite direction and a little in the distance.