Beyond CES: Technology Shows Worth Exploring
The massive Consumer Electronics Show (CES) came to a close last weekend ending the annual display of new and upcoming technology products. While few technology shows can match the sheer size of CES, there are other events that give smaller companies a chance to show their wares. Since it’s difficult to compete against companies like Samsung and Sony at CES, these shows often display innovative devices that cater to specific niches not addressed by large technology companies. Here is a list of the technology related conferences that will occur this year.
International CITA Wireless 2011
Date: March 22 – 24, 2011
Location: Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL
URL: http://www.ctia.org/conventions_events/wireless/
The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) Wireless conference focuses on the mobile industry and presents representatives of the major wireless carriers, mobile phone manufacturers, and government officials involved in regulating wireless access. If you want to see a wide range of the newest smartphones and keep up with the development of government regulations like the recently passed FCC net neutrality rules, then this is the convention for you.
Last year, the show featured keynotes from Aneesh Chopra, CTO of the United States, Ralph de la Vega, President and CEO of AT&T Mobility, Julius Genachowski, Chairman of the FCC, Dan Hesse, CEO of Sprint Nextel, and Biz Stone, the co-founder of Twitter.
CEDIA Expo 2011
Date: September 7-10, 2011
Location: Indianapolis Convention Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
URL: http://www.cedia.net/expo/index2011.php
While CITA focuses on the mobile industry, the Custom Electronic Design Installation Association focuses on residential electronic systems. This includes home theaters, security systems, audio systems, etc. This is the conference that presents the latest advances in smart home technology.
Macworld Conference and Expo
Date: January 26-29 (Conference); January 27-29 (Expo)
Location: Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA
URL: http://www.macworldexpo.com/
While some may argue that Macworld lost some of its appeal after Apple announced that the 2009 conference would be its last appearance, this event is still the Mac Mecca. Macworld provides a large number of exhibitors who show the latest accessories for Apple products like the iPod, iPhone, and iPad.
Sinbad is one of the featured speakers for the conference this year, and an event introduced last year titled the Mobile Apps Showcase will provide an opportunity to meet the people who develop some of the best apps in the App Store.
Interop Las Vegas 2011
Date: May 8-12, 2011
Location: Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
URL: http://www.interop.com/lasvegas/
Interop focuses on technology business solutions and covers topics like cloud computing, virtualization, and networking. You can find the latest technology offerings from companies like Cisco, Citrix, HP, and Avaya.
Interop New York 2011
Date: October 3-7, 2011
Location: Javits Convention Center, New York, NY
URL: http://www.interop.com/newyork/
This is the Fall version of the Interop conference if you can’t make the one in the Spring.
FOSE
Date: July 19-21, 2011
Location: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington DC
URL: http://www.fose.com/Events/FOSE-2010/Home.aspx
The FOSE conferences specializes in government information technology products. The 2010 conference covered topics like the security of government data, federal workers who use social media sites, and national cybersecurity.
CeBIT 2011
Date: March 1 – 5, 2011
Location: Exhibition Grounds, 30521 Hannover, Germany
URL: http://www.cebit.de/home
While you’ll need a passport to attend this technology conference in Germany, it is a huge exhibition of computer technology. Speakers for the 2011 conference include Alan Mulally, President and CEO of Ford Motor Company, and Jean-Philippe Courtois, President of Microsoft International. While CES focuses on technology in the near term, CeBIT explores the future of technology over the next few years.
GITEX 2011
Date: October 9-13, 2011
Location: Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Dubai, UAE
URL: http://www.gitex.com/
The Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) conference focuses on the technology retail sector and attracts visitors from the Middle East as well as other parts of the globe. The GITEX 2009 conference had the distinction of hosting the first launch of Windows 7.
Category: Events | Tags: cebit, cedia, ces, cita, fose, interop, macworld, technology conferences, trade shows
About the Author Anjuan Simmons is an emerging technology consultant and freelance technology consultant currently working as a Director at Adverlyze, an online marketing strategy company. Anjuan has previously worked for Accenture and Deloitte. He has an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from Texas A&M University. He can be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/anjuan and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/anjuan.
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