Ace of Base are back, fuelled by the web – SIME08 Agenda Feature

Ace of Base with Ulf Ekberg at the helm is one of the biggest smash hit bands in the history of pop music. They ruled the Billboard and record sales in the early nineties, and hits like All that she wants and The Sign are forever imprinted in the musical memory of millions of people. After a long time of silence, the band is back and this time they’re talking directly to their fans with a new blog and YouTube channel.

Ulf Ekberg will join us just after lunch on Day 2 of SIME08 to talk about how they are using the web to connect with their fans and fuel a great comeback and new tour. Below is an example of their new transparency, a short talk with Ulf in the studio working on their new album.

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The Joi Ito Show – SIME08 Agenda Feature

Joi Ito is one of those great Internet profiles that has been thinking and creating on the very edge of the new for more than a decade. He has invested in some of the companies that really embody the web as a platform for services, cloud storage and social applications. Photosharing site Flickr is one example, travel sharing serendipity inducer Dopplr that visited SIME with a presentation from CEO Lisa Sounio last year is another.

We’re very proud to present Joi Ito in two items on the agenda – his very own Joi Ito show where we get to know where he thinks we’re at and where we’re going on a range of topics, and as our scout from Japan in the “What are the other 6 billon guys doing?” session.

Joi Ito is currently the CEO of Creative Commons, the licensing initiative that is opening up the world of copyright and creating an enormous pool of great content that can be shared and remixed. Joi is in the video below about creative commons, made by Emmy-winning director Jesse Dylan.

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Joi travels all over the world, and has an blog well worth your time. Another tip if you want to see part of Joi’s world now, is to check his public bookmarks at delicious.com/joi_ito

But most importantly, come see Joi in person at SIME08!

Press release: Record year for SIME – full steam ahead for digital business

SIME pressrelease 2008-10-29. Swedish version at our Newsdesk press room.

In spite of general market instability, interest from sponsors and conference participants has been greater than any previous SIME year.

- We thought we would be affected more by the economic crisis, but the Internet business area and digital opportunities are high priorities at the big Swedish companies. We already have 900 registrered participants for SIME 08 in Stockholm, compared to 750 at the same time last year, and we already know that both SIME Denmark and SIME 08 will be sold out, says SIME CEO Christoffer Granfelt.

When budget cuts are in season, and old truths are questioned there is an interest and demand for working smarter and finding new businees opportunities. Especially in marketing we see a shift towards online channels where measurability is key.

- Some of the most exiting speakers in the world will come to Stockholm for SIME08 and we’re very exited to hear what they have to say about how markets are evolving and what threats and opportunities the change carries, says Ola Ahlvarsson who is in charge of the SIME agenda.
- The theme this year is “The DNA of Change”, which means we’re trying to understand the forces that shape and drive positive change. Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales answer when we asked him about this was that “all positive change starts with one thing – optimism”.

SIME Awards has a top notch jury that won’t give up until they’ve found the best of the best companies in Scandinavia in each category.

Some of the jury members this year:

Rikard Steiber – Google Europe executive
Martin Tivéus – Microsoft Sweden executive
Pontus Schultz- Editor in Chief at Veckans Affärer
Hjalmar Winbladh  – CEO of Rebtel
Sofia Svanteson – CEO of Ocean Observations
Jonas Hombert – CEO of world sensation JayCut

See the whole jury at the SIME Awards jury page, and make sure you enter the competition before Oct. 31, that’s tomorrow!

SIME Awards Entry Closes Oct 31st

Don’t miss out on SIME Awards! Last day to enter the competition is this Friday October 31st!

As a nominee your company will be exposed during the main conference and the Awards dinner; video, interviews and more.

Everything you need to know and registration can be found on
the SIME Awards registration page: www.amiando.com/simeAwards08.html

What are the other 6 Billion guys doing? SIME08 Agenda Feature

This post is first in a series of count down posts to SIME08 featuring items from the exiting SIME08 agenda. It is now only 14 days left until the world’s smartest people go missing for two days, so make sure you have a seat at Rigoletto and follow along as we present the agenda in detail the coming two weeks.

So, what are the other 6 billion guys doing? The afternoon of the first day of SIME08 gives us a chance to hear the details, tricks, trends and business models that makes the huge markets on the other sides of the world tick. We bring you our scouts, and they help open the hood of the largest new digital economies of the world as we travel to India, China, Japan and the US.

Mahesh Kumar takes us to India, Vincent Fong gives us the latest from China, Joi Ito tells us all about Japan and David Sifry charts the US territories.

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The SIME08 Agenda is hot and here

The first version of the SIME08 agenda is online at the SIME website. SIME08 takes place in Stockholm on November 12-13 at Rigoletto and Ambassadeur.

Some selected gems:

Day 1:

The Joi Ito Show
Meet the Japanese entrepreneur, investor, author, thinker, gamer and top blogger Joi Ito who for over a decade has spotted and created the newest online trends.

It’s TIME to Change
Changing:
Telecom – Nicholas Högberg, COO, 3, serial intrapreneur and turnaround specialist in Telecoms and Internet
Internet – Kris Hoet, Digital Media Communications Manager Microsoft Consumer & Online EMEA, avid blogger
Media – Lena K Samuelsson, Chief Editor, SvD and one of Sweden’s thought leading journalists
Entertainment – Carl Klingberg, CEO Nordic, bwin, the world’s leading online gambling and entertainment giant

Trendy Trends
Ten trends – Pontus Schultz, Chief editor, Veckans Affärer, Chairman of the SIME Jury and Internet veteran
Markets and media - Eva Berg Winters, industry expert, PWC
Oops, the markets… – Per Roman, founder and CEO, GP Bullhound, the technology sector’s leading star in corporate finance and M&A

What are the other 6 Billion guys doing?
We open the hood of the largest new digital economies of the world and travel to India, China, Japan and the US to look at companies and business models that makes us go WOW!

India’s hottest cases and new business models – Mahesh Kumar
China’s hottest cases and new business models – Vincent Fong
Japan’s hottest cases and new business models – Joi Ito
The US‘ hottest cases and new business models – Dave Sifry

Day 2:

The Robots are here
Robotics are expected to bring even more change than the web and effect every aspect of how we live, work and play….

Moving Pictures and tunes without border – meet the worlds biggest online and offline pop stars

Mia Rose, singer, and Youtube’s most successful artist of all times
Ulf Ekberg, Ace of Base, multi-Million selling band now touring again fueled by the web
Stefan Glaenzer, founder LastFM with 100 Million users and one of Europe’s most successful business angels
Surprise guest

Check out the whole agenda here.

SIME this year will be one hell of a show. Don’t miss it! Register now.

We've missed you! See you at SIME08 video

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Announcing the SIME08 Blogger Press Passes

We are happy to welcome the following bloggers to SIME08 on a Blogger Press Pass. We got 51 applications, and these bloggers are our pick based on a combination of writing, reach and application comments. There were many more good blogs in the application list, and we might release a couple of more passes closer to the event if there is room.

Included in the Blogger Press Pass is a 2 day conference pass to SIME and drinks at Scandic Anglais and the SIME Awards afterparty (not the Awards dinner) at Ambassadeur on November 13.

As part of the Press Pass, SIME and Internetworld also invites all of the selected bloggers to the Topp 100 event on November 12 where the list of Sweden’s 100 best websites is announced.

All bloggers with a press pass will be contacted individually with information on how to register for the events, and about possibilities to schedule interviews with speakers through the SIME press contact. Please send any questions to Andie Nordgren ( andie@sime.nu ).

SIME08 Blogger Press Passes

Mattias Swenson, Swedish Startups
Björn Alberts – bjornalberts.com
Anton Johansson – Fyra nyanser av brunt
Annika Lidne – Disruptive Media Blog
Nicolai Wadström – Wadstrom.net
Thomas Nihlen & Linda Pierre – Innovationsbloggen
Björn Jeffrey – Good Old Trend
Thomas Wennström & Kristin Heinonen – What’s Next in New Media
Lotta Holmström & Gitta Willén – Citizen Media Watch
Tommie Nordholm – Etui.se
Hans Kullin – Media Culpa
Marcus Olausson – Oh so hightech
Björn Fant – bjornfant.se
Thérèse Mannheimer – Brainspiration

SIME08 supplement in Svenska Dagbladet today

Keep an eye out for the SIME supplement that’s sent out with every copy of Svenska Dagbladet today, where we tell you why you can’t afford to miss SIME08 in Stockholm, Nov 12-13.

You can read the whole supplement in a digital version here:

SIME08 Svenska Dagbladet Supplement

SIME08 hotel offers in Stockholm

Looking for a place to stay during SIME08 in Stockholm? Book your stay at one of the SIME partner hotels, Grand Hotel and Scandic Anglais.

Grand Hôtel Stockholm

Opposite the Royal Palace, the Grand Hotel stands in the heart of Stockholm’s shopping, business and entertainment district. With over 130 years of gracious hospitality, the hotel upholds a renowned tradition of dedication and service. Antique and modern elements combine beautifully in the 368 elegant guest rooms and suites, providing a relaxing environment.

Special SIME Offer

Follow this link to get a special offer from Grand Hotel for your stay in Stockholm during the conference. NOTE: You need to add the code JKA under “Group Event” when making the reservation for the offer to become activated.

Hotel Scandic Anglais

Set in the heart of Stockholm’s commerce and entertainment district.

The Scandic Anglais hotel has event facilities for up to 700 guests and a secure floor for extra privacy. Do business in one of 16 meeting rooms with wireless internet access, enjoy a drink in the street-level bar or relax in a hot tub.

Make your reservation through phone or email:

anglais@scandichotels.com

+46 8 517 340 13

Visit Scandic Anglais online: http://www.scandichotels.com/anglais