Computex is expected to draw US$20 billion in business opportunities for local information and communications technology (ICT) companies, the event’s organizers said yesterday at a press briefing.
Computex, the world’s second-largest computer show after CeBIT in Germany, is scheduled to be held from June 2 through June 6 at the Taipei World Trade Centers in the Nangang and Xinyi districts of Taipei.
This year’s Computex has been over-subscribed, with 1,700 exhibitors taking 4,600 booths, and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA, 外貿協會) is getting ready to accommodate a projected turnout of 35,000 international buyers, TAITRA executive vice president Walter Yeh (葉明水) said.
With the warming of cross-strait relations, this year’s Computex will feature an 80-booth China pavilion for the first time, featuring brands from China such as Tsinghua Tongfang Co (清華東方), Huawei Technologies Co (華為) and MALATA Mobile Communication Co (萬利達移動通信).
Other than product launches of items including PC systems, peripherals, motherboards and components, the two main features of this year’s Computex will be worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) technology and trends in the mobile Internet market, Yeh said.
Taiwan has invested heavily in WiMAX technology, with license holders Tatung InfoComm Co (大同電信) and Vmax Telecom Co (威邁思) commencing operations at their stations by June, while Global Mobile Corp (全球一動) and Far EasTone Telecommunications Co (遠傳電信) have rescheduled their launch dates to the third or fourth quarter at the latest.
“By March 20 next year, all WiMAX licenses will have expired, so local operators will have to launch before that deadline. We can expect many associated products to be developed and exhibited at Computex this year,” Mike Lin (林智清), a consultant at the Taipei Computer Association (台北市電腦公會), joint organizer of the event, said yesterday.
Chen Ching-wen (陳文清), director at Topology Research Institute (拓墣產業), said the mobile Internet sector would be a main feature at the show particularly because of Taiwan’s unique strength in the mobile PC supply chain.
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