My pals inside Intel are looking forward to Web 2.0 Expo, April 22-25 in San Francisco — follow the event blog here.

I’m hoping many (at least those based in or near the Bay Area) get to be on the scene. For sure, one great Intel community guy will be there — Bob Duffy.

Bob’s in my social media posse, and he has been helping Intel move from blogging into communities and helping experts get more involved off of Intel sites, where IT pros, consumers and other tech lovers might be asking for insight that Intel can share. He helped compile data, tools and experts to legitimize Intel’s branded community for IT Pros called Open Port. He’s now climbing the ladder to get a better view and help other groups and community minded managers benefit from best practices, and to integrate with existing and ongoing community efforts. For me, he’s in the right place in the right time — for him and for Intel. He’s a listener, participant and skilled at crystalizing powerful notions blended with data to help teams break down silos, harness expertise, ignite interest in activities beyond those inside Intel… He helps us move ahead because he’s thoughtful, inclusive, he’s involved online and takes time to meet and share interests and insights offline.

Sometimes, I see Intel trying to create products or solutions that will meet future demands. There may not be a huge need today for “Dunnington” 6-core processors because many applications are even multi-threaded to take advantage of dual core processors — but there’s tons of working going on to help get software to work ever better with new hardware. On the other hand, things like data security defense and power efficiency needs are top of mind, but often many don’t know that Intel engineers and products can help. New features are being built right into the latest chips at a faster, more predictable rate than ever before (i.e Intel’s “tick-tock” method of new chip design followed by new cycle of product process improvements followed by new chip design…).

This is where Intel marketing teams can step in and help. Finding the right communication tools and identifying pools of conversations can connect Intel technology experts with the growing number people and companies who might benefit from what Intel insiders are working on.

Here are some examples of IT stories and topics Intel experts are exploring on Open Port.

Here’s Bob talking in August 2007, just before the virtual doors were opened at Open Port

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Bob will be joining the social computing wiseman, Forrester Research’s Jeremiah Owyang, on this day two panel:

8:30am – 9:20am Wednesday, 04/23/2008 “Community Building: Good, Bad, and Ugly“

Dawn Foster (Jive Software), Jeremiah Owyang (Forrester Research), Bob Duffy (Intel), Kellie Parker (PC World & Macworld). A great community requires considerable forethought, attention to technology, and a dose of know-how to manage the unruly. Read more.

Full schedule of Web 2.0 sessions here.

During Web 2.0 Expo, I’m also looking forward to seeing the winners of CNET’s WebWare 100.

Hope to see you at the expo Tuesday or Friday. That week, I’ll be joining Ogilvy’s Rohit Bhargava at the New Communication Forum April 24 at 10:00 a.m. PT. Rohit is moderating a panel called “Future of Marketing and Advertising.” More on the New Comm Forum in a future post. I’m looking forward to catching up with Rohit after giving birth to a timely book called “Personality Not Included — Why Brands Lose Their Authenticity and How Great Companies Get It Back.” Learn more on his great blog.