I guess there is no use longing for yesterdays when wireless trade shows were somewhat
sane.
Today’s conventions are full of new twists as last-minute press conferences are called to announce deals
signed at 3 a.m. the previous day, and phones that were supposed to be introduced aren’t (a Sony handset). As if there
isn’t enough going on within the industry to keep people hopping, we get added surprises from Mother Nature and
corporate America-two environs beyond anyone’s control. At PCS ’98, convention-goers had to deal with the threat of
Hurricane Georges. At Wireless ’99, it was the all-too-true American Airlines slowdown. Somehow it only makes sense
to have a trade show at the same time and in the same city where they organize a parade to show off animals dressed
like people and people dressed like animals …
In the midst of all the chaos, however, trade shows are still pretty fun.
Here are just a few of the gems I heard at the show:
“You can do it today, but you’ll still be doing it
tomorrow.”-Bell Atlantic’s Dick Lynch, on wireless Internet browsing.
“The pace of Internet growth is
making wireless look like a modest-growth industry.”-John Roth, chief executive officer for Nortel
Networks.
“As I recall, Irwin Jacobs called me and said, ‘This is big. You have a new assignment.’ “-
John Major, chief executive at Wireless Knowledge, on why he left his position at Qualcomm to start work at the
Microsoft-Qualcomm joint venture.
“From this day forward, it’s going to be a lot different.”-Motorola
Inc.’s Merle Gilmore, on the wireless industry as carriers begin to embrace data applications.
“There are no
armored cars in a funeral procession. There are no pockets on a shroud.”-New Orleans taxi driver telling me why
I shouldn’t save any money.
“Of course, there’s always a price in any business…”-Irwin Jacobs, after
telling me that Qualcomm is not selling its handset business.
“We think the day will come when people will
advertise that the phone also does voice.”-Tom Clarkson III, vice president of sales and marketing at Wireless
Knowledge
“I think the industry is lucky to have that Tom Wheeler.”-Woman in the bathroom after Day
2 general session.
“Colly, what did he say?”-Tom Wheeler to Colly Myers, Symbian CEO, after
watching a video recording from the previous day when Microsoft’s Paul Maritz eluded questions from Wheeler about
whether Microsoft would work with the WAP Forum and Symbian.
“We’ve made it very difficult for our
customers to understand wireless.”-AirTouch’s Sam Ginn at opening session.
“Not gonna do it.
Wouldn’t be prudent.”-George Bush imitating Dana Carvey’s imitation of George Bush.
