The Cellular Telecommunication Industry Association’s 1998 convention has come and gone. This gives PCS ’98 convention planners six months to try to one-up this show. It gives P.R. flacks five months to take a break before again hounding reporters to schedule “interviews” with “top executives” who have “big news.” It gives Philips a few months to get rid of its chain dancers and replace them with something more entertaining. And it gives all wireless manufacturers a few months off before announcing every new widget that can be imagined! (Or it should …)
Here’s some of the good, the bad and the ugly from the show:
The Good
Quote: “It’s hard to do the Lord’s work in the city of Satan,” from Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain. McCain announced at CTIA he plans to introduce legislation that would repeal a 3-percent excise tax imposed on all telecommunications. The tax was introduced in 1898 to fund the Spanish American war.
News: That CTIA is spearheading a move to repeal said 3 percent tax. This is, after all, the reason members pay dues.
Tchotchke: Stress balls are always a good choice. The COWS on Wheels people gave out cow beanie babies. One such creature was well hugged by a certain two-year-old I know. The chocolate left on a pillow by Subscriber Computing lead to sweet dreams.
Performances from Rod Stewart and Bill Cosby. (Or so I heard on bus on way to convention center. Morning comes too early for some of us to stay out late).
Hospitality: The free foot massages at PAL Telecom, U.S. Realtel and Cellular Realty Advisors’ reception. Nice touch.
Scent: The smell of chocolate-covered pecans and cinnamon-covered almonds that permeated just outside one exhibit entrance.
The Bad
Vibes: Rod Stewart was too crowded for some VIP ticket holders to get into concert. “Some guys have all the luck, Some guys have all the pain.”
Spread: Four levels of convention hall.
Traffic: Various booth watchers noted that while their booth traffic was fine, the exhibit floor in general seemed to have fewer potential buyers. Others said this may have been a perception since the floor show was so big.
The ugly
Feet. Eight acres of exhibitors.
