The Taipei Computer Applications Show had a second busy day yesterday after seeing a 15 percent rise in the number of visitors on the first day, as consumers flocked to the Taipei World Trade Center’s Exhibition Hall 1 seeking bargains at the summer’s largest technology fair.
The Taipei Computer Association (台北市電腦公會) said more than 200 firms had taken up 1,350 booths at the fair this year, marking a record high number of booths in the six years the fair has been running.
WiMAX operator Global Mobile Corp (全球一動) is aiming to give the latest 4G wireless technology a push by bundling much-awaited iPads into its monthly subscription plan.
“Those who subscribe to our plan will be the first to receive iPads when they are formally launched in Taiwan,” said marketing specialist Vita Chen (陳諱亭), adding that there were 30 reservations for the package available each day at the fair, a total of 120 iPads up for grabs.
The iPad craze has also caught on among PC peripheral makers.
Fruitshop International Co (果舖創意), which specializes in the design and production of iPhone covers and USBs, said it had sold 50 iPad protection covers on the first day and expected sales to total 300 by the time the five-day fair closes on Monday.
“Yes, many consumers have already obtained an iPad on the gray market or by importing from overseas,” said Ariel Lin (林思妤), Fruitshop’s sales and marketing manager for the Greater China region.
However, at most of the booths, notebooks were the hardest-pushed products, as Asustek Computer Inc (華碩), Acer Inc (宏碁) and Lenovo Group (聯想) all had promotion teams ready to talk consumers into taking home their latest portable PCs.
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