The mobile industry prepares device launches and announcements as Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2013 opens on 25 February at its new Fira Gran Via, Barcelona location.

Previous editions of the show took place at Fira Montjuic. The Fira Gran Via location is bigger, with a 240000 square metre area (up from 120000) offering exhibitors 94000 square metres of exhibition space.

Organisers GSMA give no mention of MWC 2013 exhibitor numbers as yet, but MWC 2012 housed around 1500 exhibitors.

As one expects all major industry players have something to show, even on the first day-- from Asus "viral" marketing (CG making the Christopher Colombus statue in Barcelona look like it is holding a phablet) and the glitzy Huawei press conference at former stock exchange Casa Llotje de Mar, to big Firefox OS hopes and partner news from Mozilla and Samsung revealing a launch date for the Galaxy S IV smartphone (14 March, New York).

MWC 2013 passes cost all of €699 at the most basic level-- further access to keynotes and conferences increases prices to up to €4999 for the ultimate Platinum level, which promises "unparalleled networking opportunities and exclusive access to key industry leaders."

Expect much more news from Barcelona as the show goes on from 25 to 28 February 2013.

Go Mobile World Congress

CTIA will no longer run two annual trade shows from 2014-- the CTIA Show and MobileCON will be converged into the CTIA Super Mobility Show, to take place 9-11 September 2014 at Las Vegas. 

"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," CTIA VP and show director Rob Mesirow says. "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 association already pushed back the dates of CTIA Wireless from March to May on 2012, probably due to the growth of Barcelona's Mobile World Congress. 

Normally stage-shy mobile processor maker Qualcomm blooms in confidence at CES 2013, where a "Born Mobile" sign towers over all other billboards-- it takes over the main keynote speech, previously the reserve of Microsoft. 

The keynote was a show highlight since it left everyone speechless... for all the best/wrong reasons. Opened by a surreal, near parodic sketch involving 3 "teens" (read soon out of work actors) yammering about "Born Mobile" lifestyles, the keynote proceeded with a speech from Qualcomm CEO Dr. Paul Jacobs (we need to get ready for "Generation M" he says) before boisterous Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer literally ran on to stage.  

Further appearances follow-- film director Guillermo Del Toro (who showed off the latest Snapdragon processor with a hilariously gory moment from his Blade II), actress Alice Eve, Big Bird, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and an electric Rolls Royce. 

Are you looking for new sources of supply, or buyers for your excess inventory? The International Trade Conference (ITC) 2012 brings together some of Europe's most active brokers, traders and distributors of smartphones as well as other consumer electronics and game consoles.

The conference, organized by IPT, hosts key disties and traders for a huge range of mobile products, from iPhone/iPad accessories, to mobile phones and mobile devices, to tablets and more.

Delegates get to book 1-to-1 meetings with buyers and sellers, with use of private meeting rooms. After the daily conference, one gets time for networking, making it an ideal opportunity for relationship-building.

Channel Media Europe Editor-in-Chief Bob Snyder is guest speaker. A well known keynoter, Snyder has been heard at various conferences and events, including RetailVision, DISTREE, Gitex/InfoComm and IT Channel Vision.

The ITC 2012 takes place on 31 May - 2 June 2012, at the 5-star Corinthia Hotel St. Georg in Malta. You can check out more details through the link below.

Go International Trade Conference 2012