CeBIT 2006 sets new global technology trends

CeBIT 2006 surpassed exhibitor expectations by a wider
margin than ever before in the 20-year history of the event. The buoyant mood
triggered by favorable industry forecasts during the run-up to the show
continued to brighten as CeBIT progressed, culmina­ting in many million-dollar
deals. After years of holding back, all signs pointed to small and medium-sized
businesses being back on the investment track. The show's 6,262 exhibitors,
including over 3,300 from abroad, reported having closed about 20 percent more
deals than last year-a fitting 'birthday present' to the CeBIT com­munity
during the event's 20th anniversary.

With excellent attendance figures of around 4,50,000
visitors, unrivaled interna­tional appeal for an ICT event - with around
one-third of all visitors coming from abroad and an extremely high rate of
professional attendance (around 85 percent of all attendees), CeBIT has clearly
lived up to its reputation as the key B2B platform for the entire ICT industry.

The jump in attendance from the Americas was particularly
gratifying. Atten­dance from North America was up 28 percent, and attendance
from South and Central America even went up by 38 percent. The turnout from
European countries such as Austria, France and Sweden also experienced an
upswing. The figures for German attendance revealed increases from Bavaria,
Baden-Württemberg and Saarland, while adverse wea­ther conditions led to fewer
visitors making the trip to Hannover from Hamburg, Berlin and Brandenburg.

This year, more than ever before, CeBIT proved a strong
magnet for decision makers. Attendance by professionals with purchasing
authority or involvement in purchasing decisions jumped from 77 percent last
year to 80.4 percent this year. CeBIT also underscored its role as a place where
deals are done, with some 50 percent of all trade visitors stating that they had
come to Hannover with specific investment plans.

Technology trends

CeBIT 2006 set new global technology trends for the year and served as the
launc­hing pad for scores of innova­tions. Special highli­ghts included
mobile TV reception via the two new standards DVB-H and DMB, the HSDPA standard
for increased UMTS throughput and Triple Play ie integrated telephony, televi­sion
and Internet services from the same source. The use of multi-core processors in
laptops is set to deliver mas­sive perfor­mance capa­bility and prolon­ged
battery life. The launch of the latest-generation 'ultra-mobile PCs',
somewhere bet­ween the size of a PDA and a tablet PC, also caused a minor
sensation. In the field of navi­gation and telematics, next-generation GPS
receivers (Global Positio­ning System) are proving much more reli­able, even
indo­ors, in urban high-rise jungles and in forested areas. New multi­media
projectors are now so much smaller they can truly be classified as mobile
devices and can even be operated on batteries. No doubt partly, but not only, as
a result of the upcoming World Cup soccer tourna­ment, visitors also displayed
keen interest in the subject of high-definition television (HDTV).

A further key topic invol­ved the streamlined compati­bility
of corporate software. The trend is towards flexible, service oriented
architecture (SOA), in which essential func­tions are organized as servi­ces.
New technologies grou­ped under the designa­tion of Web 2.0 are driving
Internet design. In the field of auto ID/RFID, exhibitors demon­strated
interactive applica­tions that are eminen­tly compatible with existing
in-house systems. The trend here is away from insular, stand-alone solutions to
open systems. A further focus of CeBIT was on enhanced security for data and
systems.

A popular issue at the banking and finance sector was the
networking of sales, controlling, and production along with the security of
electronic transactions. In the public sector, interfaces based on open
standards are being designed to promote trans­parent and simplified proce­sses.
Apart from the electronic health card, a voluntary elec­tronic patient card
proved a compelling theme for the healthcare sector.

DQW News Bureau New Delhi, April 17