Symantec Partner Engage 2010: Three First Impressions

I arrived in Las Vegas last night for Symantec’s Partner Engage 2010, and I’m picking up on a few trends floating around. Some of them might surprise you. Read on for the three quick notes. One hint: Apple is everywhere.

So, the quick rundown…

3. iPads Are Ubiquitous: If iPads were apples, you could reach out and pick them here. The Symantec Partner Engage 2010 registration area — and the MGM Conference Center in general — was absolutely littered with people carrying their iPads around. And yes, they’re Symantec people, not just the media. Clearly, the iPad has proven itself a useful tool in a world where Apple-related gizmos had been an after-thought. Bigger question: does this have implications for adoption on Android tablets?

2. Video: Whispers around the the dinner table detailed that Symantec is really putting some focus on video, especially over at Symantec TV. Symantec is looking to essentially go ‘viral’ with whatever videos they can, focusing on brand familiarity and emphasizing what Symantec can offer. What’s more, Symantec is looking to ‘personalize’ these videos, providing different language versions for each video iteration for every country Symantec focuses on. But will it pay off, and does video have true playing power in this industry?

1. Optimism: Not so much a trend as it is a sentiment, but Channel Chief Randy Cochran floated around some words detailing overall positive sentiment coming from partners and the conference itself. A sign of the times, or wishful thinking?

Check back tomorrow for Keynote details.

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