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To: kech who wrote (22563)	2/5/1999 6:19:00 PM
From: Ruffian	Respond to of 152472

Should We Go?> Wireless '99 Kicks Off In Big Easy By Monica Alleven Some faithful trade show attendees may view a pre-Mardi Gras convention like a shell in gumbo stew: The placement isn't ideal, but it beats the usual brown-bag lunch. The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association's annual show this year falls a week before New Orleans' biggest party. Yet the carnival atmosphere isn't deterring guests, some of whom plan to stay for the festivities. CTIA last week said pre-registration was up over a year ago, a situation that doesn't shock watchers of industry growth. What makes the number somewhat surprising is a few key companies, such as Qualcomm Inc., Motorola Inc. and Ericsson Inc., are laying off workers in wireless and wireline divisions, and other companies are merging or being acquired. Plus, the show is a month earlier than usual, a less convenient time for some. CTIA won't release registration figures until the last stragglers are tallied into the mix, which traditionally includes a significant number of on-site registrations, said association spokesman Jeffrey Nelson. Last year, the show drew 24,200 people. Some wireless insiders grumbled about the show's early dates. However, CTIA says the event has grown so big that only a handful of cities can accommodate its needs for convention and hotel space, thus limiting the number of available dates for the show. For those who can steer their way around pre-holiday revelers and parades, the show will feature themes of competition, safety and innovation. FCC commissioners and staff are scheduled to make appearances, but the show overall will not focus on regulatory issues. "There's not an emphasis on regulatory mandates because we have been pushing all along that the less regulation there is, the more success for consumers and business," Nelson said. Still, the industry faces costly mandates in the form of enhanced 911, number portability and others, and those topics will come up during sessions. In fact, some startups on the exhibit floor are using mandates as a springboard to launch their own businesses. One first-time exhibitor will be SiRF Technology Inc., which specializes in location-based network solutions using global positioning system satellite technology. Companies such as SiRF say carriers can use their technology to meet E911 mandates and make money from commercial location services. "Lots of carriers and our customers are going to be there," said Kanwar Chadha, co-founder and vice president of marketing. While at least 680 companies will stage exhibits, some companies planned only to send representatives to check out the competition and scope out new clients. Systems component developer InterDigital Communications Corp. expected to send three executives, and it wasn't exhibiting. "We only have limited funds to do trade shows and marketing," said spokeswoman Susan Sutton. Amid the jambalaya of handsets, infrastructure and software, there will be at least a couple famous faces. Former President George Bush will take the stage with CTIA President and CEO Tom Wheeler on Wednesday morning, and Tuesday night's gala features Diana Ross.