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The world's leading trade fair for IT and telecommunications, or ICT industry - CeBIT 2009 in Hanover - took place from March 3 to 8. This year there were about 4300 companies from 69 countries, exhibiting their products, and about 400,000 visitors. However, these numbers showing the scale of the event are much smaller than that of the peak 2001 year with 8100 exhibitors.
The absence of many traditional leaders of telecommunications market, both in the case of manufacturers and telecoms, and a very weak representation of companies supplying products for banking industry - were the main symptoms of the crisis. Among German operators we saw Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone, but couldn't find E-Plus and so blatant before O2 stand.
But the greatest sensation was caused by Samsung, not having its own stand but only being represented by distributors. It was a stark contrast in comparison with last year, when the corporation fascinated everyone with a grand scale, as well as with the number of new products. The sponsorship of World Cyber Games (WCG), with thousands of StarCraft, Counter-Strike, and Warcraft III gamers, was a thing of the past. It raised questions about the corporation's financial condition - the end of the sponsoring "e-sports" could be a real blow to the image of the tycoon among young people.
Japanese companies were modestly represented by NEC and Sony Ericsson; Toshiba, DoCoMo, Motorola failed to show up. There were no stands outside - last year's AMD show with off-road vehicles promoting new AMD processors was just a memory - the company was absent as well.
We couldn't find exhibitors presenting new technologies, probably the manufacturers didn't believe in possibility of profitable implementations in the near future (for example - lack of promising LTE technology). There was only one word for the pavilions promoting Green IT - boredom.
Was the fair a failure? - No !!! The bright stars were IT corporations: IBM (promoting cloud computing), SAP, Microsoft, Software AG, Comarch - during the crisis the savings possible thanks to information technology may allow to weather the recession. Another success was the new Security World pavilion, with solutions presented by companies focused on network security as well as on physical protection. We also noticed flourishing GPS industry, and a fresh perspective for RFID - thanks to Germany introducing ID cards with this technology.
Intel with its new Intel Core i7 processor became the leader in marketing, replacing Samsung in sponsoring computer game competitions that turned into Intel Extreme Masters.
This time the number one in computer industry seemed to be Asus. Nvidia emphasized its strong position as the producer of graphical cards, showing new solution (GeForce 3D) providing stereoscopic 3D vision (PC games, 3D movies and 3D digital photographs), with the use of high-tech wireless glasses and advanced software. Many Asian manufacturers, offering a wide range of products for consumer market, showed that business was going to continue as usual.
Visiting this year's CeBIT, we were under impression that, for the first time, the companies were less focused on raising their prestige in the eyes of prospective shareholders and more conscious about business character of the trade fair.
The absence of many traditional leaders of telecommunications market, both in the case of manufacturers and telecoms, and a very weak representation of companies supplying products for banking industry - were the main symptoms of the crisis. Among German operators we saw Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone, but couldn't find E-Plus and so blatant before O2 stand.
But the greatest sensation was caused by Samsung, not having its own stand but only being represented by distributors. It was a stark contrast in comparison with last year, when the corporation fascinated everyone with a grand scale, as well as with the number of new products. The sponsorship of World Cyber Games (WCG), with thousands of StarCraft, Counter-Strike, and Warcraft III gamers, was a thing of the past. It raised questions about the corporation's financial condition - the end of the sponsoring "e-sports" could be a real blow to the image of the tycoon among young people.
Japanese companies were modestly represented by NEC and Sony Ericsson; Toshiba, DoCoMo, Motorola failed to show up. There were no stands outside - last year's AMD show with off-road vehicles promoting new AMD processors was just a memory - the company was absent as well.
We couldn't find exhibitors presenting new technologies, probably the manufacturers didn't believe in possibility of profitable implementations in the near future (for example - lack of promising LTE technology). There was only one word for the pavilions promoting Green IT - boredom.
Was the fair a failure? - No !!! The bright stars were IT corporations: IBM (promoting cloud computing), SAP, Microsoft, Software AG, Comarch - during the crisis the savings possible thanks to information technology may allow to weather the recession. Another success was the new Security World pavilion, with solutions presented by companies focused on network security as well as on physical protection. We also noticed flourishing GPS industry, and a fresh perspective for RFID - thanks to Germany introducing ID cards with this technology.
Intel with its new Intel Core i7 processor became the leader in marketing, replacing Samsung in sponsoring computer game competitions that turned into Intel Extreme Masters.
This time the number one in computer industry seemed to be Asus. Nvidia emphasized its strong position as the producer of graphical cards, showing new solution (GeForce 3D) providing stereoscopic 3D vision (PC games, 3D movies and 3D digital photographs), with the use of high-tech wireless glasses and advanced software. Many Asian manufacturers, offering a wide range of products for consumer market, showed that business was going to continue as usual.
Visiting this year's CeBIT, we were under impression that, for the first time, the companies were less focused on raising their prestige in the eyes of prospective shareholders and more conscious about business character of the trade fair.
Welcome to the largest ICT fair
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An interesting promotion of the IBM concept of "Cloud computing" - a business model
where the customers pay only for the software resources/functions they really use.
where the customers pay only for the software resources/functions they really use.
The user only needs a browser - there is no need of buying a license and installing the software.
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Intel promoted its new Intel Core i7 processor. Backing e-sport, the corporation introduced
Intel Extreme Masters replacing World Cyber Games (WCG) sponsored last year by Samsung.
Intel Extreme Masters replacing World Cyber Games (WCG) sponsored last year by Samsung.
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California was a special guest at CeBIT 2009. Showing its two faces, we leave it to the readers to decide
which is more representative for the cradle of IT.
which is more representative for the cradle of IT.
Asus has become the number one in computer industry.
Last year the company won over 3000 prizes for its products.
Last year the company won over 3000 prizes for its products.
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Continuously extended netbook series marked EEE - Easy to learn, Easy to work, Easy to play
(in th picture - EEE PC Touch), first network videophone for Skype, IP Digital Home Camera, Nuvifone G60 - only several of a great many of Asus products.
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Nvidia emphasized its strong position as the producer of graphical cards, showing new solution (GeForce 3D) providing stereoscopic 3D vision (PC games, 3D movies and 3D digital photographs), with the use of high-tech wireless glasses and advanced software.
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Computers for special tasks...
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The Alcatel's pavilion was quite impressive, but the only exhibit concerning LTE technology
(a new generation of cellular telephony called also 4G) was ... the poster.
This professional Panasonic plasma display was really impressive, especially with high resolution Google maps shown on
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An interesting offer of Panasonic included home IP cameras,
toughbook - rugged laptop computer, and LFD (Large Format Display)
TP-Link - the leader of WiFi market, introduced IP cameras and a new generation of wireless routers
Powerline Home Networking - an effective complement of WiFi networks in homes and small businesses
Onyx presented e-reader based on e-paper technology. The user can download e-books from the Internet
and read them on the screen of the reader - more
and read them on the screen of the reader - more
This interactive display at Deutsche Telekom was a fun for everyone...
e-Health - a model of a Siemens CAT (computed axial tomography) scanner that sets new standards in scanning speed and reduction of radiation exposure. The real device - Somatom Definition Flash - is a new double-source CAT scanner, with two X-ray tubes rotating simultaneously around the patient's body.
A fresh perspective for RFID - thanks to Germany introducing ID cards with this technology
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The awarded iF competition entries presented at CeBIT 2009 in iF pavilion. The iF Design Award
was introduced in 1953 and is granted annually by the German-based iF International Forum Design.
This year the iF judges reviewed as usual nearly 3000 products submitted from 39 countries.
In the pictures - the awarded televisions, stripping knife set, and an orthopedic appliance.
was introduced in 1953 and is granted annually by the German-based iF International Forum Design.
This year the iF judges reviewed as usual nearly 3000 products submitted from 39 countries.
In the pictures - the awarded televisions, stripping knife set, and an orthopedic appliance.
Where do we head for?
Crisis or Opportunity? - The decision is Yours. The time is NOW!!!
... as a reward for reading to the end:
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This short film has been honored by Google as the video of the week (number of views)
in the "Science and Technology" category.
in the "Science and Technology" category.
Other picture stories by DIPOL
