Optimism Abounds at Metro Connect 2012!

Metro Connect Day 1 – Wrap Up

From the moment I stepped off the plane here in Miami, I knew things were getting hot. For starters, it’s hot! Then, none of the cabs at the airport (or anywhere in Miami best I can tell) take credit cards. But no worries, there’s an ATM around every corner begging to charge you $7.50 to take out $10. It’s hot, and so am I…and so is Metro Connect!

The “hot” theme continued right into day one of Metro Connect. Telecom is hot! (the good kind of hot) There, I said it. Though some of the scars of the telecom bust are still very visible, much of the uncertainty of the last 10 years has been replaced by optimism - the sarcasm, replaced by genuine excitement. The scars left by the bust look more like character marks today – at least they do here – at Metro Connect – today.

The day’s big takeaway…

While the industry consolidates, attendance at this show is increasing and it's being fueled by investment interest and M&A...which will continue to increase. Take a look at this poorly photographed slide. It’s our friend Hunter moderating the keynote panel this morning. I know, I know, you can’t really see it very well. It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that the yellow section shows the increasing number of Financial industry folks that are attending this show. They’re everywhere and that’s a good thing!

Good friends…

New friends...

Not my friends...yet!

More tomorrow...

Moistly, have a blast in Miami!