3GSM themes…

There is a general consensus that the two big themes of 3GSM this year are mobile broadband and the mobile internet. The FT’s mobile broadband/internet focus is all stolidly businesslike with talk of mobile enterprise applications, management and security. The Guardian is typically more fey with whimsical notions of social networking, search, music and TV. Both the BBC and The Guardian are interested in embryonic telco worthiness in the developing world.

But precious few have picked up on the over-riding themes at 3GSM; fear, loathing and blame.

The fear of middle managers careering away from the M4 corridor as they fail to deliver the level of coverage from last year.

The loathing from senior executives, who expected the FT but find themselves with a 24 year old reporter on a third rate telco mag.

The blame redirected on a hapless AE, abandoned by account managers that were too scared to attend. Cast adrift from agency/practice leads ‘chasing new business’ in Barcelona bars at the expense of those that they could actually impress.

Ruthless senior execs, pallid in-house wannabes, freeloading senior agency staff and horribly exposed agency juniors. The broken promises, the shattered hopes, the drunken advances, the naivety preyed upon. The over-bearing stench of self-interest.

God it’s good to be here…