Location: Fira Gran Via, Barcelona, Spain
Dates: February 24 – 27, 2014
Estimated Attendees: 72,000
Estimated Exhibitors/Sponsors: 1,700
Estimated Media/Analysts: 3,400
Under the theme of “Creating What’s NEXT”, the 2014 Mobile World Congress aims to highlight the most significant innovations and advances in mobile while providing a blueprint for the industry’s future. “Over four days, attendees will have the opportunity to see just how broadly mobile is impacting our everyday lives, how we work, live and play” said Michael O’Hara, Chief Marketing Officer, GSMA.
During the event, leaders from mobile operators and senior executives from consumer and technology brands gather to address key developments in the mobile ecosystem and share their goals of defining the new mobile horizon.
Insider Tip – Pick up your pass from the airport collection points or Fira Gran Via before the show officially begins.
As always, the Mobile World Congress exhibitions will showcase the technologies, products and services that are shaping the future of the mobile industry, from network infrastructure to mobile handsets and devices to software and applications. More than 1,700 companies are expected to participate in the exhibition, including Acer, Alcatel-Lucent, Deutsche Telekom, Ford Motor Company, HTC, Huawei, Intel, LG, MasterCard, Mozilla, NEC, Nokia, Nokia Solutions and Networks, Oracle, Samsung, SAP, Sony Mobile Communications, Telefónica, Visa, Vodafone and ZTE.
Exhibition Hours
Monday, February 24: 09:00 – 19:00
Tuesday, February 25: 09:00 – 19:00
Wednesday, February 26: 09:00 – 19:00
Thursday, February 27: 09:00 – 16:00
Exhibition areas: Halls 5, 6, 7, 8.1
Congress Square Hours
Monday, February 24: 08:00 – 19:00
Tuesday, February 25: 08:00 – 19:00
Wednesday, February 26: 08:00 – 19:00
Thursday, February 27: 08:00 – 16:00
Hospitality areas: Halls 1, 2,3 and daily meeting rooms in Hall 8.1
Monday, February 24: 07:30 – 22:00
Tuesday, February 25: 07:30 – 22:00
Wednesday, February 26: 07:30 – 22:00
Thursday, February 27: 07:30 – 16:00
Insider Tip – Download the GSMA App to use as a guide inside the exhibit halls.
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg will be the keynote speaker on the opening evening, taking to the stage at 18:00 local time on February 24th. In this session, Zuckerberg and technology journalist David Kirkpatrick will explore the importance of extending the benefits of ubiquitous Internet access to the unconnected world. Another keynote, Ginni Rometty, CEO of IBM will speak to attendees about the future of mobile and the cloud on Wednesday evening.
Insider Tip – In addition to the live audience in the Conference Village in Fira Gran Vila, the Mobile World Live keynotes will be streamed live across the venue and to hundreds of thousands of viewers globally via the Mobile World Live portal.
The Global Mobile Awards were established more than 19 years ago and continue to evolve by reflecting the most relevant areas of mobile evolution. From devices to applications, technology and services, these awards are about showcasing the continued growth in value and benefits that mobility brings to users, to industries, to businesses, communities and economies. BAFTA and Tony Award winning British actor, writer, presenter and comedian, James Corden will host the Global Mobile Awards. One winner in each category will be announced on Tuesday, February 25, 2014 from 14:30-16:30 in Hall 4, Auditorium 1.
Insider Tip – Leave a cushion of 15 minutes in between each meeting allowing adequate time to travel between crowded exhibition halls.
Official media partners of Mobile World Congress include: Mobile World Live, CNBC, Time, Financial Times, CNET and The Wall Street Journal.
More than 3,400 media and analysts from all over the world are expected at the show. Pre-registered media professionals include: BBC, Bloomberg News, bnetTV, CBS Interactive, CNN, Computerworld, Engadget, eWeek, Fast Company, FierceWireless, GigaOM, IDG, Informa Telecoms & Media, Light Reading, Mashable, The New York Times, PC Magazine, RCR Wireless, ReadWrite.com, TechCrunch, Tech Target, Telecom Paper, The Verge andTotal Telecom.
Additionally, hundreds of mobile industry analysts will be on hand from: ABI Research, Analysys Mason, Current Analysis, Forrester Research, Frost & Sullivan, Gartner, Heavy Reading, IDC, IHS, Juniper Research, NPD Group, Ovum, SNL Kagan, Stratecast, Strategy Analytics and Yankee Group.
Mobile World Daily will be available each morning throughout the venue to provide coverage of the conference and exhibition through feature articles and interviews, a conference guide, and exhibition floor plan. Each edition will cover important breaking news and provide detailed industry analysis. Fully interactive digital editions will also be available online during the course of the week.
Insider Tip – GSMA is hosting a breakfast workshop series–complete with free breakfast–each morning at the Members Stand, upstairs at the Connected City. Hear from key analysts and subject matter experts who will highlight some of the critical challenges and opportunities facing digital commerce in 2014, followed by in-depth Q&A sessions. Register here.
Random Fun Things
Connected City – The Mobile World Congress show floor will again include the GSMA Connected City. The Connected City enables attendees to experience a real-world urban environment with mobile-connected products and services that can improve people’s daily lives across automotive, education, health, homes, retail and other applications.
NFC Badges – As part of the NFC Experience, you can utilize an NFC-enabled badge for simplified venue access as well as many other services.
Graffiti Wall & Contest – GSMA is running a photo competition. Simply take a picture during MWC that you feel best embodies your experience of the show, tag it with the #MWC14 hashtag and upload to Instagram. Two winners will be selected on the Tuesday and Wednesday of the event whose photo will be then painted on to the Graffiti Wall. An overall winner of the week will also win a Gold Pass to MWC 2015. More details here: http://gsma.at/1at8g3R
Fitbit Challenge – GSMA is introducing the Fitbit Challenge at MWC. Challenge participants will use Fitbit Flex devices to monitor their daily activity, share statistics and see the real impact of live personal data on activity levels. Prizes including an HTC One smartphone and Fitbit Force will be awarded daily to the two individuals recording the highest number of steps. Attendees may use their own Fitbit Flex devices or purchase one at a 40% discount. For more information visit, www.mobileworldcongress.com/fitbit-challenge.
Insider Tip – Wear comfortable shoes, drink lots of water and expect to eat dinner late.
Parties!
Mobile Sunday 2014
Sunday, February 23, 2014
19:00 to 23:30
City Hall
Register
IOT/BCN – Internet of Things Barcelona Meetup
Sunday 23rd of February 2014
From 6pm to 8.30pm
Pangea- La Fosca – Doctor Trueta 113, Barcelona
Hack The Ride
Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd of February 2014
From 12pm till 12pm noon
Mobile World Centre
Mobile Premier Awards
Monday, February 24th
4pm
Sala Apolo – Carrer Nou de la Rambla, 113, 08004 Barcelona, Spain.
MEF Connects MWC
Monday, February 24th
From 8PM until 1AM
The Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona, Plaça dels Àngels, 1
Bubble Over Barcelona
Monday, February 24th, From 8PM until 1AM
7:30-9:30pm Sponsor dinner
10:00pm-onward- Drinks party co-hosted with TechCrunch
* Invite only
Dutch Mobile Networking Event
Monday, February 24th
From 7.30PM until 11.30pm.
Betahaus – Carrer de Vilafranca, 7, Barcelona, 08024 Spain
Mobile Marketing Mixer
Tuesday, February 25th
From 8:00 pm until late
Cerveceria Moritz, Ronda de Sant Antoni, 39
Wearable Wednesday
Wednesday, February 26
between 5 and 8pm CET
4YFN at the Fira de Montjuich (Backyard stage)
register here
Swedish Beers
Wednesday, February 27th, From 7:00 PM to 01:30 AM
Dos Trece, Calle Carme 40, Barcelona
Register
MLOVE MWC 2014 AfterParty
Thursday, February 27th, From 7:00 PM
Ocaña Barcelona, Plaça Reial, 13 14 15
Register here
Heroe’s of the Mobile Fringe
February 23-28, 2014
WIPJam @ MWC14 Presented by WIP & GSMA
February 24-27, 2014
Monday, February 24; Tuesday, February 25; and Wednesday, February 26 find us at: Hall M5, Fira Montjuïc. Thursday, February 27 find us at:
Hall 8 (Lower Level), Auditorium 1 Fira Gran Via
HotTopics Technology Leaders Community Party
2/24/2014
7-10:30pm
Hotel Omm, Rosselló 265
*By Invitation Only. Register your interest here.
Cocktails & Conversations with Hightail
2/24/2014
8:00pm – 11:00pm
Divinus Ronda, Ronda de la Universitat, Barcelona
Invitation Only
Telecom Council MWC Cocktail
2/25/2014
4:00pm – 6:00pm
Hall 7 Stand 7F31
Mobile Marketing Party at MWC 2014
2/25/2014
7:00 – Late
Marmalade Presidio Holdings S.L., Riera Alta 4-6, 08001 Barcelona BA
Barca Starta 2014
2/25/2014
3:00 – 5:00pm
Cerveceria Mortiz, Ronda de Sant Antoni, 39
Insider Tip – Use hashtag #MWC14 to chronicle your experience on social media.
MWC Analyst Predictions
Schoolar: What to expect from MWC 2014
February 5, 2014
By Daryl Schoolar, Ovum
FierceWireless
Mobile World Congress 2014: What Enterprises Should Look For – Mobility and M2M
January 30, 2014
By Kathryn Weldon
Current Analysis
What to Expect at MWC 2014 – Consumer Applications
February 5, 2014
Gartner
What to expect from Mobile World Congress 2014
February 4, 2014
By Catherine Haslam
Ovum