1998 International CES is the Digital Frontier in Las Vegas
01/08/98
PR Newswire
(Copyright (c) 1998, PR Newswire)
HDTV DVD, TV/PC Digital Imaging, Handheld Computers Among Hot New Digital
Products to Be Featured at World's Largest Consumer Technology Event
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- The digital frontier is in Las Vegas as the newest, hottest digital consumer technology products are showcased at the 1998 International CES -- The Source for Consumer Technologies. The world's largest annual trade event for consumer technology products features nearly 22 football fields of square feet of exhibit space assigned to more than 1500 companies and manufacturers from all over the world. Cutting edge developments are discussed as the CES hosts the biggest industry executive speakers, and special-interest pavilions highlight the latest in digital technologies distributed through consumer channels.
Robbi Lycett, CES vice president, said, "The 1998 CES has an unprecedented lineup of speakers and educational seminars, and a bustling floor featuring cutting-edge consumer digital products. The 1998 CES will undoubtedly drive the consumer marketplace for digital products." Digital technologies include DVD, DSS, TV/PC, handheld computers, smart phones, pagers, wireless products and more -- all with related ancillary products, accessories and support. The 1998 CES also offers the retail debut of high-definition television (HDTV). Every major television set manufacturer is exhibiting retail HDTVs for the very first time ever.
Featuring nearly 300 new exhibitors, the CES is located at four major locations: the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), the Sands Expo and Convention Center, the Las Vegas Hilton, and the Alexis Park Hotel. Traditional audio and video products converge with the greatly expanded computer hardware and software products category in the LVCC. Fujitsu is showing their flat-screen TV. Curtis Mathes is showing their latest Internet box. Companies such as IBM, Micron, Microsoft, Sun, Texas Instruments, Toshiba, and nearly every major chip manufacturer including AMD, C - Cube , DEC, Intel, Motorola, Philips Semiconductor, Rockwell, Siemens and Zilog are exhibiting their latest products in this facility.
Satellite companies, also seen at the LVCC, significantly expanded their presence at the 1998 CES and include companies such as DirecTV, EchoStar, Hughes Network, Philips, PrimeStar, Thomson, and U.S. Satellite Broadcasting. Antenna manufacturers will be represented nearby by Antennas America, Recoton Corporation, Terk Technologies and others, and new for 1998 is the outdoor antenna display in front of the LVCC that showcases how antennas are the link to the digital future. Also new is the DVD Video Group Showcase, which contains the hardware and software manufacturers of this hot digital entertainment product, and the twice-expanded Digital Imaging Pavilion, showing the latest products in digital imaging. The Network Computer Inc. (NCI) Pavilion will feature the latest in network computer (NC) technology for the consumer market, including NC Internet devices from Thomson and Zenith. The LVCC also hosting the latest technologies and products for the small office/home office (So/Ho) shown by such companies as Brother, Aurora, and Smith Corona.
The nearby Las Vegas Hilton is the headquarters for home theater and home automation systems manufacturers. Attendees can see the demonstration of the integration of multiple systems in the home, including entertainment (home theater and multi-room audio/video), security, lighting and window covering, and telecommunications.
The Sands Expo and Convention Center is playing the largest-ever role at the CES with exhibitors in mobile electronics, cellular, paging, wireless, telephone, personal electronics, and more. Audiovox, Clarion, Cobra, Motorola, MTX, Nortel, PageNet, Qualcomm, Samsung, Sherwood, Topp Telecom and Whistler are just a few of the over 500 exhibitors that are showing their newest products. The Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Pavilion will help mobile electronics retailers take advantage of the car navigation market and is located within the mobile electronics area in the Sands. On the lower level of the Sands, attendees will see more audio/video and personal care exhibitors as well as the huge Emerging Technologies Pavilion, which features more than 30 companies. The Sands also hosts the popular innovations '98, the prestigious honors showcase of the best-of-the-best products exhibited, judged by a panel as the ultimate in design, engineering, and software excellence.
The Alexis Park Hotel is the main home for specialty/high-end audio for companies like AudioQuest, Conrad Johnson, Definitive Technologies, Krell, and Thiel, displaying state-of-the-art audio advancements. Genesis, Krell and Martin Logan can also be seen in Caesar's Palace Hotel.
The International CES offers an extraordinary group of visionary speakers. The Opening Session, held on Thursday, January 8, from 8:30-10:00 a.m. in the Las Vegas Hilton Theater, will feature Gary Shapiro, president of the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association (CEMA), who will open the session. Following Shapiro, Robert Borchardt, Chairman of Recoton Corporation, will talk about re-invigorating the consumer electronics industry. The Keynote Address will then be presented by Barry Diller, Chairman and CEO of HSN, inc. Steve Forbes, President and CEO of Forbes, Inc. and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes magazine, will give an Economic Outlook Address on Thursday afternoon from 4:00-5:00 p.m. On Friday, January 9, Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle Corporation, will give a special lunchtime presentation to select invitees, and from 4:00-5:00 p.m., Scott McNealy, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of Sun Microsystems will deliver the Technology Keynote. Bill Gates, President and CEO of Microsoft Corporation will also join CES as he offers attendees his Executive Perspective on the future of technology on Saturday, January 10 from 8:30-10:00 a.m.
The CES Conference Program has nearly doubled to over 100 targeted sessions to appeal to the growing numbers of the diverse breadth of attendees, such as retailers, engineers, financial analysts, CEOs, information technology (IT) buyers, and custom installers. "We have expanded our Conference Program to thoroughly and completely cover topics in a wider range of interest areas, given our broad base of consumer technology attendance," said Gary Shapiro, CEMA president. "This formal training at CES gives industry executives another reason to be at CES."
In addition to a comprehensive schedule of consumer technologies topics, CES offers remote access technologies, home computing, mobile electronics, wireless communications, and specialty audio programs. Mobile electronics certification testing is also available.
Other new sessions for 1998 include: "DTV: The Clear Perspective" SuperSession, Hollyweb(R) The Enhanced TV -- TV/Web Convergence Conference, the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association (SBCA) marketing and business sessions, and the Habitech Institute, an intensive conference program designed to train the dealers/installers/integrators involved in the broad home systems marketplace.
Be sure to visit CESweb.org, the interactive source for CES news and information, to check out the latest conference sessions, exhibitors, and press conferences. Also, use CESweb to create a personalized CES planner, or to search the official show directory.
CEMA is a sector of the Electronic Industries Association (EIA), the 74- year-old Arlington, Va.-based trade association representing all facets of electronics manufacturing. CEMA represents U.S. manufacturers of audio, video, accessories, mobile electronics, communication, information and multimedia products which are sold through consumer channels.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Digital Engineering Conference -- The Consumer Electronics Future
January 12-14, 1998, Las Vegas, NV
FUSE '98 -- cars * music * style * sound * fusion
June 19-21, 1998, Atlantic City, NJ
Product Returns '98
September 15, 1998, Chicago, IL
/CONTACT: Jonathan Thompson, 703-907-7664, or e-mail, jthompson@eia.org; or Amy Kozlowski Hill, 703-907-7618, e-mail, ahill@eia.org, both of the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association/ 18:25 EST |
