Updated with comments from the Competitive Carrier Association and CTIA.
Wireless industry trade association CTIA announced plans to simplify its current trade show schedule beginning in 2014, with plans to consolidate its current two shows into one “super” show.
CTIA noted that the new event will combine its current “CTIA Show” that takes place in the spring and its fall event, recent re-named “MobileCon,” into a single event that is initially scheduled for Sept. 9-11 at the Sands Expo Convention Center in Las Vegas.
CTIA’s spring show, which is often referred to as its “big” show, has recently moved to May from its previous March time frame. That move was seen as giving it some breathing room following the annual Consumer Electronics Show that takes place in early January and has had an increasing mobile presence, and the Mobile World Congress event held in Europe in mid-February. This year’s CTIA spring event is scheduled for May 21-23 in Las Vegas.
CTIA’s fall event, which was added more than a decade ago, has gone through various permutations over the years, focusing initially on the mobile Internet space, before adding focus on the enterprise and applications space. Attendance for the fall event has always trailed that of the larger spring event. The 2013 MobileCon event is scheduled for Oct. 9-11 in San Jose, Calif.
“The wireless industry is evolving rapidly and there is a need to have a show that centers on the entire global mobile ecosystem in a way that hasn’t existed among the current shows, which is why CTIA 2014 will be unique,” noted Rob Mesirow, VP and show director at CTIA, in a statement. “The mobile revolution is positively affecting nearly every industry, such as M2M, connected home, media and advertising, money and global consumer electronics, and CTIA 2014 will serve as a worthy platform to showcase those companies and individuals that are leading this charge and will be a valuable resource for anyone wanting to be a part of this innovative industry. In addition, the timing of the 2014 show will deliver the perfect stage for companies to debut mobile consumer products and services for the annual holiday buying season.”
The move is expected to have the greatest impact on other events currently taking place in the fall, including the Competitive Carrier Association’s yearly event, 4G World and wireless trade association PCIA’s Wireless Infrastructure Show.
CCA currently has its fall event schedule for Sept. 10-13 in Las Vegas this year and Sept. 9-12 in Las Vegas in 2014, which is the same time as the 2014 CTIA event. The trade association, which recently changed its name from the Rural Cellular Association, noted possible collusion between CTIA and the nation’s two largest telecom providers in trying to squeeze out CCA.
“It is very disappointing that CTIA has chosen to move its 2014 trade show to the exact same dates and location of CCA’s 2014 Annual Convention,” said CCA President and CEO Steve Berry in a statement. “CCA’s 2014 convention dates have been confirmed and public for two years, and it is hard to see how this is helpful to the industry, the competitive mobile ecosystem and ultimately consumers. CCA’s membership has grown significantly over the past few years, and our association has made great strides in the policy arena for competitive carriers. AT&T and Verizon – two of CTIA’s largest carrier members – are not interested in promoting a healthy, competitive wireless industry and it would come as no surprise if this is an attempt to suppress competitive carriers to ensure their duopoly status.”
CTIA responded that there was no malice to the date chosen for the 2014 event, and that logistics and partnerships played a role in the decision.
“Due to the size of the CTIA show there are very few venues that are able to accommodate the event, CTIA chose our 2014 dates by working with our members, exhibitors and the Las Vegas Sands Expo Convention Center,” explained Mesirow. “This date was coordinated very carefully with our partners, which we will be announcing over the next few weeks and months.”
PCIA currently has its 2013 event scheduled for Oct. 7-10 in Hollywood, Fla., with no plan yet for its 2014 event. The 2013 4G World event is scheduled for Oct. 28-30 in Dallas, with no schedule yet for 2014.
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