This week, Mike Harris and I attended what seemed to be a very successful IT Expo in Miami. The show floor was lively, and there was a strong sense that the companies in the IP communications industry are moving forward.

While some companies may still be transitioning from TDM, confidence was high that an all-IP environment isn’t far off. Despite some reports of its demise, there were a strong number of companies offering VoIP services. Though there was a trend to offer it as part of a bundled service.

What we did find surprising, however, was the number of businesses that are reinventing what many may assume is long gone – the fax. Our unofficial count showed about 14 fax companies at the show, all optimistic that this is a hot, new sector in IP communications. One company even had a unique giveaway – you could plant a tree for someone in any country – as a reminder that the paperless fax is indeed “green.”

So even though we didn’t win the big Jeep giveaway, Mike and I both came away with a new understanding – and appreciation – of an industry which is going through an exciting evolution.

Suzanne Bowen has started a very interesting discussion on her blog and on Facebook. She would like to put together a panel at an upcoming show on Women in VoIP.

Every VoIP conference we go to is full of brilliant and insightful speakers talking about the latest in VoIP, how to improve ROI, the challenges being faced in the market. For the most part these speakers are men. There are also some brilliant women out there and it would be interesting to hear about their involvement as well.

As Susan notes, and I want to reiterate, it is not for the sake of just having women speak, but because there are some very experienced women in the industry and we might be missing out on their ideas and experiences.

In fact, our own Lynda Starr is speaking at ISPCON next month. She is on a panel “The Industry: The Big Picture,” where along with Frank Bernhard and Craig Clausen she will explore what the industry looks like when you take a step back.

What topics would you suggest for a Women in VoIP panel?