Opening by Malcolm Johnson, ITU Director TSB
Ladies and gentlemen, It is a pleasure for me to open this fourth Fully Networked Car workshop. A workshop on the topic of information and communications technologies (ICTs) and cars makes for a fascinating event and I am pleased to see over 250 people have registered the workshop. As previously it is organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) with the support of our partners in the World Standards Cooperation: the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). I would like to thank the steering committee chaired by my deputy Reinhard Scholl for their hard work in putting the programme together, and of course the Geneva Motor Show and Palexpo for agreeing to host the event for the third year running. I would also like to thank most sincerely this year’s sponsors Connexis and Freescale Semiconductor without whose support this would not have been possible. This year we are very proud to have such an impressive array of speakers. Top of the bill are keynotes from, Mr Max Mosley, President of the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) which is the governing body of motor sports worldwide, including the Formula 1 World Championship.   We also have: Michael Mayer, CEO, Freescale Semiconductor; Oliver Bahns, Head, Global Business Development and Consulting (Automotive), T-Systems; Kenji Ikeura, President, Connexis; Hermann Meyer, CEO, ERTICO (ITS Europe); and David Butler, Marketing Director, Honda Formula 1 Racing Team, who have very kindly loaned us their 2008 F1 car as a symbol of the theme of this year's event: climate change. I am also very pleased that this year for the first time we have the ITU Secretary-General, Dr. Hamadoun Touré to give a welcome address, as well as Alan Bryden Secretary General of ISO, and Jack Sheldon will speak on behalf of Aharon Amit, IEC General Secretary, who unfortunately is unable to be with us this morning. I am sure you are all very much looking forward to hear what they have to say, so with no further delay I invite the Secretary-General to speak.