Wireless industry association CTIA announced this week that it will launch one new “super” mobile trade show in the Fall of 2014 that will replace the two shows the association has traditionally produced.
CTIA’s spring show historically has been the mobile industry’s larger, broader event, focusing on all wireless industry issues and appealing to all industry constituencies. This year’s show will take place May 21-23 at the Sands Expo Convention Center in Las Vegas. The association’s smaller fall event has morphed over the years in an attempt to find footing, focusing on everything from mobile data to, most recently, the mobile enterprise. That event, called MobileCON 2013, is scheduled for October 16-18 in San Jose.
That will all change after this year. CTIA 2014 will take place Sept. 9-11 in Las Vegas at the Sands Expo Convention Center. The association said that show will encompass everything from M2M to connected home to mobile media to consumer electronics.
“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,” said Rob Mesirow, CTIA vice president and show director, in a statement. “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 to fall will put the CTIA show in the midst of a busy season for industry events, and prompted the Competitive Carrier Association to accuse CTIA and its membership of anti-competitive behavior. The CCA’s 2014 fall event is scheduled for Sept. 9-12, overlapping the new CTIA dates.
“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… 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’s Mesirow told RCR Wireless that the decision on when to hold the new show was based on availability of the venue and coordination with partners that will be announced in the coming months.