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Record Breaking 2006 International CES Reflects Strength of Consumer Technology Industry (31/1/2006)

World's Largest Consumer Technology Tradeshow Attracts More Than 150,000 Attendees and Serves as Launchpad for 2,500 Exhibitors

With more than 150,000 attendees from 110 countries witnessing the introduction of thousands of new products and technologies from more than 2,500 exhibitors, the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES(R)) lived up to its billing as the world's largest technology tradeshow. The 2006 International CES, produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), ran January 5-8 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The show floor was packed with global executives from the consumer technology, broadcasting, cable, content, engineering, financial, motion picture, music and numerous other industries who converged in Las Vegas over the last four days. The show attendees heard from technology industry visionaries and viewed a spectacular showcase of hot new products and trends in audio, accessories, emerging technology, home networking, home theater, mobile electronics, video and wireless.

"The 2006 International CES was a success in every sense of the word," said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of CEA. "From the international audience, major media and top buyers in attendance to the top-notch keynotes and conferences, government leaders, entertainment superstars and exhibitors, the 2006 International CES shifted from simply a tradeshow to a major global event."

The 2006 International CES set several major show records including number of attendees at more than 150,000 and exhibit space at 1.67 million net square feet of space. The show again proved that it is truly the international center of the digital world as it drew more than 23,000 international attendees.

The show featured a broad array of exciting product and exhibitor announcements, many of which provide consumers with unprecedented control over when, where and how they watch movies, listen to music, view their digital photos and access information, education and entertainment content. Convergence was a big trend on the show floor in 2006 as traditional product categories merged together to create unique, multi-functional digital devices. In addition, the convergence trend transcended the show floor with an exciting array of announcements concerning cross-industry partnerships that promise to give consumers a variety of choices in the way they obtain, view and listen to digital content.

Reflecting the strength of the transition to high definition television (HDTV), the show floor featured the latest developments in display technologies, such as organic light emitting diode (OLED) and surface-conduction electron-emitting display (SED), along with a variety of products and innovations that build upon HDTV.

Other show highlights included the latest in Bluetooth, digital audio, digital imaging, HD and satellite radio, home video production and in-vehicle entertainment. This year's CES expanded to Innovations Plus at the Sands which housed new and emerging technologies. Visitors to the Sands were wowed by the latest advancements in robotics, ultra-wideband, IPTV, VoIP and more.

"This year's show cemented the International CES' position as the global launchpad for new technologies," said Karen Chupka, CEA's vice president, events and conferences. "The CES has become the ultimate business strategy, as our exhibitors are able to leverage the tremendous media coverage, partnership and marketing opportunities that surround the show to grow their business."

In addition to standing as a product showplace, the 2006 International CES included a star-studded array of 350 industry luminaries serving as keynoters, Industry Insiders and conference speakers. The show kicked-off with a keynote from Microsoft's Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates and included keynote presentations from Sony Chairman and CEO Sir Howard Stringer, Intel CEO Paul Otellini, Yahoo! Chairman and CEO Terry Semel and Google Co-founder and President of Products Larry Page. Additionally, Industry Insider presentations from Dell Chairman and Founder Michael Dell, Kodak Chairman and CEO Antonio Perez, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin and retail executives from Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA and Radio Shack gave attendees exclusive insights into the top trends and issues impacting the industry. Celebrities sighted at the 2006 International CES included Tom Cruise, Ellen Degeneres, Tom Hanks, Robin Williams, Justin Timberlake, Morgan Freeman, Ron Howard, Quincy Jones and more.

The 2006 show also attracted more than 130 top officials from international, federal and state government bodies. The government leaders joined top executives from the technology, cable, broadcasting and motion picture industries at the show's annual Leaders in Technology dinner. The dinner featured a keynote from Peter Chernin, president and CEO, News Corp., who discussed the regulatory environment around broadband and copyright issues and the merging of content and technology.

The 2007 International CES will be held January 8-11, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

www.CESweb.org