World's Largest Consumer Technology Tradeshow Promises Bright
Future Amid Uncertain Economy
ARLINGTON, Va.--(Business Wire)--With a record 1.85 million net square feet of exhibit space - the
largest in show history - featuring more than 2,700 companies
launching their latest innovations, the world's largest tradeshow for
consumer technology today wrapped up four full days of technological
innovation. Major trends sweeping the show floor and defining the
future of the consumer technology market included digital
entertainment, HDTV, green technology and free trade. Produced by the
Consumer Electronics Association (CEA(R)), the 2008 International
CES(R) ran January 7-10, 2008, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
"The 2008 International CES succeeded spectacularly, and will help
fuel the growth of the consumer technology industry throughout 2008
and into the future," said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CEA. "This
year's International CES was a show of firsts: the first leaders from
the automotive and cable industries to deliver CES keynote addresses,
the first time the president of a country has spoken at CES, and the
first year a television station broadcast its entire nightly newscast
- NBC Nightly News -live from the show floor."
This year's celebrity-packed CES included such entertainment
industry figures as Jerry Seinfeld, Dr. Dre, Ryan Seacrest, Will.I.Am,
Natasha Beddingfield, Kevin Costner, Michael Douglas, Mary J. Blige,
former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash, David Ortiz and many others.
"The international prestige of the International CES is
illustrated in the more than 25,000 international attendees, the
successful launch of the Technology and Emerging Countries program and
the participation of His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the
Republic of Rwanda," said Karen Chupka, senior vice president, events
and conferences, CEA.
The CES show floor buzzed with excitement as more than 20,000
products were introduced to the market, spanning across industries and
aimed at improving the consumer experience whether in the home, in the
car or on the go.
More than 130,000 industry professionals were in attendance, with
a final audited number available in May. "Our attendance numbers are
consistent with our efforts to ensure qualified attendees, to improve
logistics and reduce the pressure of hotel rates," said Shapiro.
In addition to the hottest consumer technology gadgets, the 2008
International CES featured a dynamic lineup of keynote speakers.
Microsoft's Bill Gates delivered his 11th and final pre-CES keynote
sharing his vision for the next digital decade. CEA's Shapiro opened
the 2008 show with a focus on free trade, and issued a call to action
for all CES attendees to urge their elected officials to support free
trade policies. Panasonic's Toshihiro Sakamoto delivered the opening
keynote address and unveiled a 150" plasma HDTV, the largest in the
world. Intel's Paul Otellini spoke of his vision for the future of
information technology, and Comcast's Brian Roberts unveiled the first
portable DVR. In addition, General Motors' Rick Wagoner unveiled a new
car model during his CES keynote and unveiled energy efficient
innovations including advancements in fuel cell technology and
electronically driven propulsion systems.
The CES Industry Insiders Series featured leading technologists,
retailers and government leaders including Yahoo!'s Jerry Yang, FCC
Chairman Kevin Martin and leaders from the world's largest retailers
including Best Buy, Circuit City, Target, China-based Gome and
UAE-based Al Futtaim.
The inaugural Industry Insider program, "Technology and Emerging
Countries: Advancing Development Through Technology Investments,"
brought together government leaders and technology innovators to
explore technology's role in economic development. Speakers included
His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda;
Nicholas Negroponte, founder of the One Laptop Per Child Project and
MIT's Media Lab and Dr. Paul Jacobs, CEO, Qualcomm, as well as leaders
from AMD, Cisco, Intel, Microsoft and Voxiva.
For more information on the 2008 International CES, including
keynote transcripts, photos and a complete list of conference
sessions, visit www.CESweb.org.
The International CES will return to Las Vegas. The 2009
International CES is scheduled for January 8-11,2009.
About CEA:
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade
association promoting growth in the $161 billion U.S. consumer
electronics industry. More than 2,200 companies enjoy the benefits of
CEA membership, including legislative advocacy, market research,
technical training and education, industry promotion and the fostering
of business and strategic relationships. CEA also sponsors and manages
the International CES - Where Entertainment, Technology and Business
Converge. All profits from CES are reinvested into CEA's industry
services. Find CEA online at www.CE.org.
UPCOMING EVENTS
-0-
*T
-- Digital Music Forum East
February 26-27, 2008, New York, NY
-- EHX Spring 2008
March 11-15, 2008, Orlando, FL
-- 2008 PARA Conference
March 12-14, 2008, Orlando, FL
-- Digital Patriots Dinner
April 2, 2008, Washington, DC
-- CEA Washington Forum
April 2-4, 2008, Washington, DC
-- International CES/Hometech
May 25-27, 2008, Dubai, UAE
-- SINOCES 2008
July 10-13, 2008, Qingdao, China
*T
Consumer Electronics Association
Tara Dunion, 703-907-7419
tdunion@CE.org
http://www.CE.org
or
Sarah Szabo, 703-907-4368
sszabo@CE.org
http://www.CESweb.org
Copyright Business Wire 2008
