CTIA Wireless, the trade event for the wireless industry is really trying to gain notoriety and traction. They changed the days of the event so that it would be much later, they made the show keynotes in the afternoon and they brought out the CEOs.
Let's round of the news for today and devices we haven't covered, yet:
- Huawei 1o" MediaPad
- NFC for BlackBerry.
- Toshiba Excite 13 tablet.
- LG Optimus Vu.
- LG Optimus Elite.
- LG Optimus 4X.
- Huawei Ascend D Quady, PI.
- Escort device for cars.
- ZTE Era.
- Supertooth Disco2.
- iCache Geode to replace credit cards using an iPhone case and e-ink screen.
The devices so far have not been ground breaking. Even the speakers were not entirely new. The event brought back an older model president, former President Clinton who said, “Wireless technology has done more to lift people out of poverty than any technology."
He noted that mobile technology could help control healthcare cost, offers banking in Haiti and offering new services. “Cooperation in the modern world works better than conflict…if our goal is creative cooperation, we’re going to be fine.” He also appeared at the convention with George H. Bush in 2007. When he got home with huge goody bag in 2007, he had to have Chelsea Clinton explain to him what he brought home.
- Here's what some journalists are saying about the event:
- Network World called the event a non-stop spectrum begathon.
- Roger Cheng at CNET called the event a snooze fest and suggested that CTIA combine the two yearly events into one big bang. Big players such as Samsung did not have booth and announcements were left to low-end devices.
- Sean Cooper at Engadget wrote, "Unfortunately, the show lacked the bite we've seen at previous events, in fact it barely registered a nibble."
Wimonews did not attend because the most recent shows have lacked quality time with new products and the location change from Las Vegas to New Orleans increased travel time and cost. Previously we could fly into Las Vegas for a day and be home in time to feed the dog. San Diego, last year, did not offer any new products or announcements and the long drive in one day, even in a hybrid vehicle was trying and tiring.