PC players move budgets from CES to MWC 2013

Monica Chen, Taipei; Joseph Tsai, DIGITIMES [Wednesday 12 December 2012]

Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2013 will be hosted from January 8-11, 2013 in Las Vegas, the US; however, since the show is only two months after the launch of Windows 8 and Windows 8-related products, most PC players have shifted the majority of the budgets planned for CES 2013 to the upcoming Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2013 at the end of February 2013, according to sources from PC players.

CES 2013 is estimated to attract 2,500 exhibitors; however, PC players including Acer, Asustek Computer and Micro-Star International (MSI) have significantly reduced their investments in the show and turned to focus on MWC 2013, as PC products are gradually losing their influence to mobile devices such as handsets and tablets, the sources noted.

The sources also pointed out that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has previously mentioned that he will no longer deliver speeches at the CES show's opening ceremony, while Intel will only send its vice president, general manager of PC Client Group, Kirk Skaugen to host a conference detailing the company's latest progress in touchscreen controls and hybrid designs for ultrabooks and tablets.

At MWC 2013 in Barcelona, Spain, Microsoft is expected to cooperate with partners to showcase their latest Windows 8/RT tablets, while Nokia's tablet device may also show up. Intel is also expected to unveil its roadmap for smartphones and tablets, the sources predicted.

For CES 2013, the sources expect the show to rely heavily on Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics' latest large-size high-definition TVs and digital family products to help maintain buzz.

PC players shift budgets to MWC 2013
Photo: Michael Lee, Digitimes file photo