LIMOGES, FRANCE: The 24-hour Webjam featuring 40 teams from 14 countries at the ongoing Web design International Festival (WIF) 2008 is set to start with the theme "What will the communication by e-mail look like to in 2020 and will it still exist?"

Imagine an interface of the future for the electronic mail, integrating a forward-looking vision of the Web. Creativity, originality and innovation are expected!

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The platform has been laid, the gauntlet thrown, as the competing teams line up next to each other in what promises to be 24 hours of pure, unadulterated fun!

Igor Nimylowycz, director/manager, WIF, presented a brief background of WIF to the delegates and media at a press conference prior to the Webjam, He said: "We created the WIF in 2004. It was won by an American team. The French team won in 2006. We will know who's going to win this year by tomorrow evening."

WIF 2008 rolls off at Limoges

He added that WIF enabled everyone involved to explore the future of the Web. "There is a special atmosphere during the Webjam," he noted.

Altogether, 40 teams from 14 countries are participating in the Webjam.

Pre-selections were held in three countries – Brazil, India and Tunisia.

Etienne Mineur, WIF 2008 chairman, added that he had found WIF to be very creative and broadening for the mind when he first came to the event two years ago. "The WIF event enables all of us to exchange many different points of views," he said.

Waiting for explosion of multilingual Web

Gerard Vandenbroucke, vice president, Limousin Regional Council, spoke about how Limousin has been growing as a region: He said: "We have taken advantage of several digital technologies. As a result, the Limousin region is now one of the most progressive areas in France in terms of technological innovation. We have also nearly finished installing a very high-speed broadband network. Even the smallest companies will have access to this broadband network."

Claire Corbel, Manager, Pole e-Design, apprised the audience of a new polydesign project that the Pole Excellence e-Design would be rolling out this year.