A lot has happened since IP EXPO 2009 closed its doors last October. Sun Microsystems, one of visionary companies that shaped the dot-com era is now an Oracle subsidiary; Hewlett-Packard, for long a champion of the Unix world is now allied to Microsoft; and Cisco, the company whose routers built the worldwide web, is now the heart of an alliance with EMC and VMware. These grand alliances, and numerous smaller partnerships, all have a common aim: the creation of an integrated “stack” of chip-to-user interface technologies from which to build cloud computing infrastructure that will underpin the next generation of cloud-based enterprise IT systems and services.

It is no surprise then that when IP EXPO 2010 opens its doors at Earls Court in London on October 20^th, 48% of the record number of UK IT professionals that have pre-registered for the event say that learning more about cloud is their primary reason for attending. They will not be disappointed.

This year, IP EXPO features keynote addresses from two of the leading architects of tomorrow’s IT world. Michael Capellas, Chief Executive Officer of Acadia, the joint venture created by Cisco and EMC to help enterprises realise their virtual computing environment (VCE) infrastructure strategy, will share his view of how today’s rigid and unresponsive enterprise IT infrastructure can be transformed into a dynamic private cloud application platform. Xenophin Lategan, Enterprise Engineering Lead for Google Enterprise, will offer a contrasting vision of how companies may eventually dispense with the need to own and operate their own IT infrastructure, and source their IT services from the public cloud instead.

Between them, Capellas and Lategan will provide IP EXPO delegates with some vital insights into the future of enterprise IT, and in particular into probably the most compelling issue facing today’s IT professionals: should they build or should they buy their next generation of leading IT services? More than that, the presence of two such prominent industry figures at IP EXPO confirms the events growing stature as the UK’s premier enterprise IT strategy event.

Of course, there are other many reasons why IP EXPO 2010 is set to be the most important UK enterprise IT strategy exhibition and conference of the year. Not least of these is the events ability and willingness to stay abreast of the strategic issues of the day. Four years ago, for instance, IP EXPO 2006 focused on converged networks and the surging adoption of IP telephony. IP EXPO 2007 was one of the first UK industry events to highlight the emerging power of virtualisation and, last year IP EXPO 2009 provided delegates with similarly a early taste of what to expect from the gathering storm that is now called cloud computing.

This year, having already helped to set the scene for cloud computing, IP EXPO is setting out to help delegates put cloud theory into action and emphasising the need for practical solutions. There will be plenty to see, with more than 230 suppliers preparing to display new and existing systems at the show. More importantly, there will also be plenty to do, with a comprehensive schedule of practical lab sessions on networking, virtualization and cloud, and expert demonstrations of how real systems can be deployed in real-time. IP EXPO delegates will have the best chance yet to gain hands on experience and understanding of the latest technologies and tools, including the opportunity to visit two live data centre demonstrations featuring VCE and other stacks in action, and a full two-day  programme of Microsoft TechEd events.

Altogether, IP EXPO’s schedule of more than 210 seminars in 11 theatres promises to deliver this year’s most comprehensive programme of quality-controlled and educational IT events. It is an unmissable event for the UK’s Chief Technology Officers (CTOs), IT architects, and all that work with them.