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Source: Business Wire
Tuesday, January 06, 2004 11:28 AM IST (05:58 AM GMT)
Editors: Business: Information technology; Technology
(BW)(NV-CEA)
2004 International CES Attendees Represent Consumer Technology's Impact on the Global Economy
2004 International CES
http://business2media.com/home/pressrelease.asp?b2mid=4378
Las Vegas, United States, Tuesday, January 06, 2004 -- (business2media)
World's Premier Annual Tradeshow for Consumer Technology Serves as Hotbed for Networking and the B2B Community

As the 2004 International CES continues to show healthy industry growth, high-level executives in retail, healthcare, travel, hospitality, government, education, financial institutions and other segments of worldwide economy are coming to CES to conduct crucial face-to-face networking needed in today's economy. The 2004 International CES, the largest in the show's history, returns to Las Vegas this week, January 8-11.

"As the International CES continues to expand to keep pace with the fast-pace world of consumer technology, so does the show's base of attendees - in both size and make-up," said Karen Chupka, vice president of events and conferences for the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the producer of CES. "Not only is CES the place where the hottest and most innovative technology is introduced, it also serves as a venue for networking and conducting serious business, all under one roof and in four days time."

Traditionally, the International CES has been a hotbed for retailers and manufacturers of consumer technology, but as the show continues to evolve and the importance of CES resonates into a worldwide event, several industries representing the girth of the world's economic drivers come to CES to see and learn about technology, conduct business and meet new and current clients. Another factor in the rise of CES attendee diversity is the investment of consumer technology by corporate business. What use to be a line clearly distinguishing business and consumer technology investment, is now blurring.

One such sector is the aerospace and airline industry. Basically every major airline sends representatives to CES to conjure up investment in in-flight entertainment, media programming and other technology vehicles used in-flight. Some companies present at CES include Aerospace Corp., Air France, Boeing Corp., JetBlue, Raytheon, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines.

A major coup for CES mobile electronics exhibitors looking for OEM transactions is the huge contingent of automotive industry executives attending International CES. Whether it's satellite radio, GPS, or in-car entertainment, major automotive industry executives use CES as venue to learn and conduct business with mobile electronics' elite. Automotive companies attending CES include American Honda Motor Corp., Chrysler, Ferrari, Ford, General Motors, Goodyear, Hyundai, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Saturn and Toyota.

As broadband household penetration continues to spiral upward, major cable, DSL and satellite companies are joining the CES mix. Leading executives from many of these companies come to CES to learn about products that take advantage of broadband technology, including AT&T Broadband, Cablevision Systems Corp., Comcast, Cox Communications, DirecTV, Echostar, Motorola Broadband and Verizon.

The same goes for numerous telecommunications companies in attendance at CES. Many of these companies are venturing into broadband, VOD and content delivery and look to CES to help with their business strategy. Companies include Adelphia, BellSouth, Cingular, Discovery, Earthlink, Qwest, Sprint, Time Warner Cable and T-Mobile.

As content delivery continues to play a major role in consumer electronics, top executives in the entertainment industry attend CES to build relationships with the CE manufacturers that are developing the products capable of storing and managing their content. Some major companies represented in the entertainment industry at CES include 20th Century Fox, Buena Vista Entertainment, DreamWorks, HBO, MGM, MTV, New Line Cinema, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, The Walt Disney Company, Universal Studios and Warner Brothers.

More consumers are utilizing CE products as a way to make a fashion statement. Major clothing and accessories outlets have recognized this trend and are attending CES to find ways to interweave CE products with their clothing designs to include color coordinating and clothes that cater to the hundreds of mobile products on the market. Some clothing companies attending CES include Adidas, Ann Taylor, Nike, Samsonite and Quicksilver.

Year after year, thousands of research and financial analysts come to CES to learn about how this $95 billion industry continues its explosive growth. In addition, major financial institutions send their leaders to CES to network and seek out investment opportunities. Some financial institutions present at CES include Accenture, American Express, Bank of America, Banc One, Bear Stearns, Capital One, Chase, Citicorp, Coldwell Banker, Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Prudential Securities, UBS/Paine Webber, Wachovia and Wells Fargo.

CE technology is present on virtually every college campus in the nation. More than 120 colleges and universities attend CES to buy products and investigate new technology including Arizona State University, Brigham Young University, Cornell University, Georgia Tech, Harvard, MIT, Notre Dame University, Stanford University, UCLA and Yale University.

As the CE industry makes amazing advances in offering consumers the ability to communicate and access information 24 hours a day, the medical industry offers the CE industry a new market to impact with technology aimed at helping and maintaining the health of consumers worldwide. American Red Cross, Diatron, Kaiser Permanente, Medco Health, Stanford Medical Center, Stryker Endoscopy and Quest Diagnostics are some companies attending CES from the medical field.

As more people think of CE products as necessary items in today's active lifestyle, many leading companies from the travel and hospitality industry turn to CES to as a way to learn and invest in products for major travel establishments worldwide. Some include AAA, Amtrak, Avis, Best Western, Expedia, Hilton, Marriott, Hertz and Westin.

The 2004 International CES focuses on more than 20 product areas from more than 2,300 exhibitors spread throughout the inside and outside of the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Las Vegas Hilton and the Alexis Park Resort. For more news on CES before, during and after the show, visit www.CESweb.org, the interactive source for CES information.

About CEA

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the consumer technology industry through technology policy, events, research, promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA represents more than 1,200 corporate members involved in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and integration of audio, video, mobile electronics, wireless and landline communications, information technology, home networking, multimedia and accessory products, as well as related services that are sold through consumer channels. Combined, CEA's members account for more than $90 billion in annual sales. CEA's resources are available online at www.CE.org, the definitive source for information about the consumer electronics industry.

CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES - Defining Tomorrow's Technology. All profits from CES are reinvested into industry services, including technical training and education, industry promotion, engineering standards development, market research and legislative advocacy.


UPCOMING EVENTSCEA Winter Technology & Standards ForumFebruary 26 - 29, 2004, Aspen, COElectronic House Expo - SpringMarch 11 - 13, 2004, Orlando, FLCONNECTIONS(TM) 2004May 5 - 7, 2004, Dallas, TXCEA Winter Summit February 22 - 27, 2004, Fort Lauderdale, FLConsumer Electronics CEO SummitJune 23 - 26, 2004, Huntington Beach, CA2004 CEA Industry ForumOctober 18-20, 2004, San Francisco, CA2004 Electronic House Expo - FallNovember 11-13, 2004, Long Beach, Calif.2005 International CESJanuary 6-9, 2005, Las Vegas, NV