Hillary, David Beckham, Red Wine, a scoop and dinner with QuickPlay Media

Quick Play Media is an enabler for mobile TV and Video. Last night I was invited to a private function in the Venetian Hotel, with the company and it was the first time I had met them. I arrived slightly late after Showstoppers but I feel I stood out as everyone seemed to know one another and the CEO Wayne Purboo looked at me when I arrived and said “I look forward to meeting new people and seeing new faces”. I quickly realised that I was a newbie.

But I was warmly welcomed and networked my way on to a table with the QuickPlay techies. Now, I can’t say more but I know that a contract with a mobile operator was signed this evening and I saw the business process take place. It is still a secret but when I can another hot US company will be using QuickPlay technology soon!

But then I networked with a few people from Rogers Wireless and I didn’t understand the man’s name from Facebook – but I mingled with the biz men with my blog hat on!

Moving on to dinner I sat next to Eric Burger form the US flatrate MVNO Cricket Wireless and one of the top directors at QuickPlay Chris Carter. I did make two clangers early on by saying I was a Hillary supporter and mobile video good – but not there yet. (Silence).

But after that, we had a great night. Excellent food and the most fun I have ever had at a networking dinner.

I am being serious. I have a lot of dinners but I did just gel with everyone in a really relaced environment. People were telling stories of the famous people they have met, the celebrities they have worked out with and David Beckham. At one point I nearly did karaoke to Luther Vandross So Amazing (”to be loved, I’ll follow you to the moon and the stars above”)

I clashed with one tech geek who did not give me the attention I deserved for my Manchester United stories – but, that is my ego issue after lots and lots of red wine!

All in all, what a great night. It seems that QuickPlay is growing fast. It is a video enabler and the room was packed full of mobile operators and social networks. I think that mobile operators are all embarking on mobile video strategy, but the inclusion of social networks makes me think that totally new mobile video business models are being born for off-portal services.

I am watching this space with eyes wide open and thanks to Michael Crane and Scott Hamilton for inviting me.  Sorry to Verizon for missing the party there but jet lag set it and I just couldn’t make it.

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4. Amobee partners with QuickPlay and DaDa to provide Vodafone Italia with ad-funded mobile video content
5. Nokia video splurge