CTIA 2012: LTE, Apps, Small Cells & More

5/11/2012

10:40 AM LR Mobile Site Editor Dan Jones and I discuss the big themes at CTIA, the show where the LTE network, devices and apps came together

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digits 12/5/2012 | 5:33:18 PM

re: CTIA 2012: LTE, Apps, Small Cells & More

Are the Banana Splits making a comeback?

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sarahthomas1011 12/5/2012 | 5:33:17 PM

re: CTIA 2012: LTE, Apps, Small Cells & More

I'm curious what people now think about CTIA in relation to the rest of the trade shows  - MWC, CES, etc. Did it maintain its relevance or get lost in the noise? Think we'll see more show consolidation last year?

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mrmillergd 12/5/2012 | 5:33:16 PM

re: CTIA 2012: LTE, Apps, Small Cells & More

It was better than I expected it would be - I think the move away from late March helped.  

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^Eagle^ 12/5/2012 | 5:33:12 PM

re: CTIA 2012: LTE, Apps, Small Cells & More

Sarah,

To my mind CTIA is increasingly becoming irrelevant.

MWC is MUCH bigger, more robust and actually shows lots of new technology.

CTIA is turning into more and more of an consumer device and accessories show.  Yes, some booths by infrastructure vendors, but the big stuff is all happening at MWC.  At CTIA I got the feeling the booths from the big systems houses and carriers were almost an obligatory effort with no real focus nor desire to be there.

MWC, traffic was packed at the show all week.  At CTIA, comparitively lighter traffic.

On infrastructure side, CTIA did indeed have many smaller vendors of niche products for infrastructure, but those same vendors were all at MWC with better attendance and traffic.  

I did not see anything big or significant in the "new" area at CTIA.

And I disagree with the other post that said they were glad CTIA moved to May from late March.  I think it was not such a great idea.  NO was HOT.... sweating like standing in the rain just walking from the show back to the hotel.  CTIA is now too close to summer in my opinion.  

Wifi in downtown NOLA was not good.  Wifi in the hotels was not good.  

Now don't get me wrong, I love NOLA (New Orleans)  But trade shows there are far better in Feb-March-even April than they are in May-Sept.  Simply too hot and humid.  Unless somehow we could convince everyone that it was appropriate to wear sandals, flip flops and shorts to the trade show!

CTIA needs to do something to make it more relevant.  Or it will morph into a show for consumer wireless goods and accessories... a show for distributors if you will.... or it will fade into history like Supercom.

IMHO

saiboat

NOTE: I recall when CTIA was truly the BIG DOG in tech trade shows and dominated wireless industry. 

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