Watch Telephony's Security Webcast Find out what Verizon Business is doing with managed network security and how service providers can cash in with this new service. Watch Telephony's Webcast today.

Supercomm 2005 guests may get a little confused when they first arrive at the show this year. Based on the muggy, 80-degree weather predicted for all four days, some might think they are back in Atlanta. Based on the amount of exhibitors demonstrating video, some may think they are at a cable TV show. And the focus on IP multimedia subsystems could have some thinking they stumbled into a wireless show.

But this is, in fact, Chicago's second year to host Supercomm at its McCormick Place. So to alleviate any further confusion, here's a quick guide to what you will see:

Video everywhere: Can you spell I-P-T-V? Each show features one overhyped technology or application, and this year's is IP-based video services. Regardless of what equipment vendors are selling, they are selling IPTV. That goes for optical networking gear, access equipment, middleware, edge routers and billing systems--much of it is being pitched primarily for its ability to deliver IPTV. Interestingly, however, only one of the major local phone companies--SBC Communications--is aggressive on the IPTV front right now.

Nonetheless, there should be ample opportunities to catch snippets of your favorite movies while strolling the Supercomm exhibit floor. I, for one, will be watching for my favorite part of "Sideways."

Conferences galore: There are nine free and 10 paid conferences going on this week, so at any given moment, at least five speakers will be discussing the implications of convergence on IP. Seriously, there is no such thing as downtime at Supercomm. And Monday, which was once a preparation day for what was to come, now features its own daylong events with an impressive roster of speakers and topics.

The lines: In the morning, it's Starbucks, while in the afternoon, it's the taxi cabs. If you are pressed for time, carry a water bottle and use the Metra Electric line that comes into McCormick Place on the lower level.

VoIP in the mainstream: Last year, commercial VoIP was just taking off, but this year, it's totally mainstream. New VoIP technology runs to systems that ensure quality, do performance monitoring and testing, provide security, and offer new applications beyond cheap service.

WiMAX in the background: There won't be that much WiMAX technology on the show floor, but the WiMAX Forum will be very engaged, and the topic will be prominent in multiple conference sessions. Only eight equipment vendors are listing WiMAX as one of the things they are showing, but 10 different conference sessions will explore the topic.

And the U.S. broadband ranking is: Well, that's a matter of debate, apparently, since the Bush administration is not accepting the ITU-T's assertion that we've fallen to 16th in global broadband penetration. Expect to hear a lot on this topic this week, but do me a favor--if you hear any good solutions to the problem, e-mail me at cwilson3@primediabusiness.com.