LAS VEGAS-Bill Gates told a packed audience at the Consumers Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week that technology has become commonplace.
Because as of this Christmas my parents have joined the world of people who use wireless phones (with a little arm twisting from their children), I would agree. That is the “common” thermometer for me.
But Gates only briefly talked about the wireless industry at CES. He showed a slide of the wireless devices that now carry some form of Microsoft software and stated that Microsoft was pleased to be working with eight “great” wireless vendors and several “great” wireless carriers, including AT&T Wireless and Verizon Wireless, to complete the seamless computing experience link to wireless devices, so users can access Outlook and Calendar on their handsets.
My interpretation: Yes, Microsoft aims to continue running the world through “seamless computing,” it acknowledges that wireless is a piece of that, and it needs to handle the players carefully. This relationship is still not complete.
From there it was all about digital imaging, television, Internet and multimedia stuff. Cool stuff. Lots of TV stuff. And a cool appearance by Jay Leno who helped show off some of Microsoft’s new multimedia offerings for the home and quipped, “As Americans get fatter, our televisions get thinner. Otherwise there wouldn’t be room in the living room for both of us.”
At press time, as I wait for the show floor to open and the conference to actually begin (Gates was the pre-show keynote), I expect to see a lot of TVs and not a lot of wireless. Not in the pure sense anyway. Wireless as it relates to the rest of the big consumer electronics world. Yes, still an important element.
As CEA President Gary Shapiro introduced Gates, he welcomed attendees to the “coolest technology show in the world.” And wireless is a part of that, a part this year a bit overshadowed by flat-screen televisions.
I think Bill Gates must be reading RCR Wireless News because he also spoke of the consumer being the big winner these days in the whole technology realm. The consumer was named RCR Wireless News’ 2003 Person of the Year. Either he reads us or it’s that “great minds think alike” thing.
For the “pure” wireless folk, I guess it is a good thing that the industry’s “coolest” show is just around the corner. Hopefully, it will be cool and at the same time get to the heart of the challenges before the industry as it faces its next chapter.
