It noted that of those registered, only 27 are chief executives, and that big names, such as Microsoft's Bill Gates and America Online's Steve Case, have turned down their invitations. As of early May, event coordinators had registered more than 1,200 industry executives and government officials from more than 50 countries. The vast majority of them, Poisant says, are senior level. If some technology analysts haven't heard of the international event, it may be because it comes to the United States about once a decade, he says. Rather, it's about using technology to close some of the geographic, social and economic gaps that exist worldwide.
Local officials are excited about both the global purpose and the local impact.