Week ahead: Worldwide Net summit

Following are some of the notable tech-related events scheduled for the week of Dec. 7.

In the coming week, world leaders will discuss control of the Internet, marking one of several events that will likely catch the attention of the information technology industry.

Also on tap is a Bluetooth developers conference, as well as Cisco Systems' analyst meeting. The earnings front, however, will remain rather quiet, with only a few notable players releasing their quarterly results.

The information was gathered from First Call, Hoover's Online, and CNET Investor.

Events scheduled this week:

	Tech Events

Monday, Dec. 8

• Datacentric. IT managers will hear about the latest technologies for data centers, including the pros and cons of grid computing, Linux and blade servers at the Gartner 22nd Annual Data Center Conference, Dec. 8-10, Las Vegas.

Tuesday, Dec. 9

• Search engine marketing and laying out an effective game plan will be the focus of the Search Engine Strategies 2003 Conference & Expo, Dec. 9-11, Chicago.

• Heard on the street. Networking giant Cisco Systems will give a financial update to analysts during Cisco's Worldwide Analyst Conference, Dec. 9, San Jose, Calif.

• Brush up. Bluetooth developers will gather at this event to hear about the latest technologies, as well as commercial case studies, at Bluetooth Americas 2003, Dec. 9-11, San Jose, Calif.

Wednesday, Dec. 10

• Blast off. Federal IT managers will gather to discuss the latest technology advances at the Vandenberg Air Force Base Technology Expo, Dec. 10, Lompoc, Calif.

• International confab. World leaders will gather to discuss control of the Internet during the World Summit on the Information Society, Dec. 10-12, Geneva.

	Earnings

Wednesday, Dec. 10

• Net2Phone provides VoIP services. The company is expected to report a first-quarter loss of 18 cents a share.

Thursday, Dec. 11

• Adobe Systems makes publishing software. The company is expected to report a fourth-quarter profit of 32 cents a share.

• Verity develops corporate search technology. The company is expected to report a second-quarter profit of 9 cents a share.

	Economic Reports

Thursday, Dec. 11

• Business Inventories summarize total sales and inventory for the retail, wholesale and manufacturing sectors. October growth is expected to fall to 0.1 percent, from 0.3 percent in September.

• Retail Sales measures total receipts from U.S. stores. Growth for November is expected to reach 0.5 percent, compared with a decline of 0.3 percent in October. Excluding auto sales, growth is expected to rise to 0.3 percent, compared with 0.2 percent.

Friday, Dec. 12

• Producer Price Index is a broad measure of the price of goods at the wholesale level. November growth is expected to reach to 0.1 percent, compared with 0.8 percent in October.