Texas Tech Firms to Participate in Las Vegas Expo
Nov. 12 (The Dallas Morning News/KRTBN)--It's time for fall Comdex, the
motherboard of all computer shows, starting this week in Las Vegas.
About 500,000 people are expected to roam around a variety of events and shows
after the traditional kick-off keynote Sunday evening by Bill Gates.
Microsoft Corp.'s chief software architect is expected to elaborate on the
company's vision for the next generation of the Internet, called .Net. Experts
say .Net is a kind of application services provider that makes Microsoft the
"landlord" of Internet services "rented" to consumers. And Mr. Gates is expected
to show off a "tablet-style" computer the company is developing that would
combine the best attributes of a personal computer and a handheld.
Michael Paxton, senior analyst at Cahners In-Stat Group, said that this year, no
single product or technology is getting a lot of pre-show hype. Last year,
wireless devices and the post-PC era were hot topics.
"Usually there are a few products or technologies that catch your eye, but I
haven't seen anything like that this year," he said.
If he had to come up with something that will be at least warm, if not hot, Mr.
Paxton said he'd pick Bluetooth.
The technology is a wireless personal area network from the Bluetooth Special
Interest Group, founded in 1998 by Ericsson Inc., IBM Corp., Intel Corp., Nokia
Oyg and Toshiba Corp.
The telecom companies, including those based in Richardson's Telecom Corridor,
are expected to have a larger-than-usual presence at the show this year, experts
say, because of high interest in wireless Web access.
Other Texas companies that will have a presence at Comdex include Electronic
Data Systems Corp., handheld Internet retailer Handango Inc. of Hurst, Texas,
and Texas Instruments Inc. of Dallas. And, of course, Texas's top computer
rivals -- Dell and Compaq -- will be hosting receptions, networking with
customers and otherwise making sure participants know they are the No. 1
computer seller in the world -- Compaq -- and the No. 1 direct computer seller
in the world -- Dell.
Bluetooth allows short-range transmission of voice and data between mobile
devices such as laptops and personal digital assistants. Mr. Paxton said it is
intended to simplify communications between notebook computers, handhelds and
desktop machines through walls and across distances that make infrared beaming
seem silly.
"We will see the first raft of Bluetooth at Comdex," he said.
Other battles for mind share will be fought across the vast
convention floor space, where exhibitors don't shy away from carny-style pitches
to attract the dollars of corporate information technology buyers.
Take DigiScents Inc. The company will demonstrate an "I smell personal scent
synthesizer" at Comdex. More than 6,000 people have signed up for its "First
Whiff" program.
Yes, incredulous readers, this is real.
DigiScents, a privately held company in Oakland, Calif., is
developing technology for digitizing, transmitting and synthesizing scent.
"Imagine being able to smell things using a device that connects to your
computer," says the company's promotional literature. To find out, follow your
nose to Booth #L8060.
On a more serious note, this year's Comdex will give Plano-based Electronic Data
Systems its first real splash in technology prime time. Chairman and chief
executive Richard "Dick" Brown will deliver a keynote speech Wednesday morning.
Comdex participants will run into EDS in a big way. The company is believed to
be the first pure-play information technology services firm to take a premier
role at Comdex by "wiring" the convention network.
Along with Nortel Networks, EMC Corp., Key3Media Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Co.,
EDS will connect buyers and sellers at all five conference venues, from the Las
Vegas Convention Center to the MGM Grand.
The team had 45 days to build what is being billed as the "largest temporary
metropolitan network," which will sit encased in glass at the entrance to the
main exhibit floor. Terry Milholland, chief information officer at EDS, recalls
his first reaction when the idea came up. "It was one of those wow moments.
`We're going to do what? When?'"
But integrating disparate systems is EDS' forte, he said, so the project gives
the company the ability to show off its "product" to what will easily be the
largest audience of IT professionals in one place at one time.
"We wanted to demonstrate that EDS is nimble and innovative -- even though the
world didn't necessarily view us that way," Mr. Milholland said.
EDS marketing executives said they see the show evolving into a "services"
direction, away from the traditional focus on hardware and software.
But Mr. Paxton disagrees. "This is still a hardware and software show. Sure, the
services guys will be there, but when you think Comdex, you think Sony,
Microsoft, Phillips, etc.," he said.
Still, EDS will try to get its IT, services-oriented message across through a
series of announcements about new service offerings, topped off with a show by
two of the most hip musical acts around these days, Macy Gray and Barenaked
Ladies.
Who said IT is dull?
Other Texas tech companies will also be showing off at Comdex.
Look for Houston-based Compaq Computer Corp. to push the iPaq H3650 as "the
solution" for mobile, wireless professionals around the world. It uses an
operating system from Microsoft, unlike the Palm series of handhelds, which have
their own operating systems. Competitor Visor, from Handspring Inc., already has
a wireless phone-cum-organizer.
Experts expect the battle ahead among the handhelds will be over the quality of
their e-mail services and how many uses people really want in one little box.
Stay tuned.
Dell Computer Corp., which has kept its wireless strategy under wraps, won't be
on the showroom floor and hasn't been for several years.
But Dell will show off some new products, including a colorful line of desktops
and notebooks, as well as "beyond-the-box" products such as the Dellnet MSN, a
co-branded Internet service recently introduced, and Dell's new digital audio
receiver.
And though he's a keynoter this year, Michael Dell will also be socializing.
Mike and his mother, Lorraine, will host a reception Monday afternoon for "media
types" for "some fun."
Also avoiding the showroom floor crowds will be Coollogic Inc. of Irving, which
develops software systems for Internet access devices and the post-PC network.
James A. Reiss Jr., chief executive of Coollogic, said Comdex typically doesn't
generate much business for the company.
"Really, anymore, Comdex is about meeting people and reaffirming relationships,"
Mr. Reiss said. "Most of the value is in the social events and the conversations
in the bars afterwards."
By Leah Beth Ward
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