Post-CTIA show syndrome

Excited by the initial buzz of CTIA, Red Bull and Vegas, (Did I mention how much I love this city? It’s perfect. Just perfect.) I made some wild claims early last week.
I said the wireless industry was “back to full strength” and that this year’s CTIA Wireless 2008 event covered at least 9,745 hectacres of exhibit space and was attended by more than 4 million people.
However, after some further reflection (and the Red Bull letdown that I so hate) I feel the need to temper those remarks.
The industry seems robust again, but this year’s event was not quite the blockbuster event I had previously preached.
(And I say this with full knowledge that the wireless industry finally, and wisely, has crowned a Miss Playboy Mobile. This achievement is long overdue)
Nevertheless, it’s difficult to remember any defining moment from this year’s event. If I was forced to choose something that was talked about during the keynotes that will likely have the biggest impact on the wireless industry over the next year, it would have to be FCC Chief Kevin Martin’s decision to oppose Skype Ltd.’s petition for unencumbered access to wireless networks. And Martin was not even scheduled to speak at the show until the last minute.
(This observation does not include Richard Branson’s hijacking of the keynote stage with his plans to send a handful of “attendees” to Mars. That was classic and such stunts need to be included in every CTIA keynote.)
The keynotes packed a lot of big-name pizzazz. Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel, Microsoft, Vodafone, Yahoo, Nokia-Siemens, Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Nortel. These companies by and large control the domestic and a good portion of the international wireless market, and yet all I can remember from the event is something Martin said.
I know it’s never a good idea to force news when there is no news to announce, but this is the biggest domestic wireless-only show of the year and you would think one of these companies could have some industry-changing insights.
Perhaps the glut of events put on throughout the year dampen the ability to spring news on the masses, but this is the big show and as such seems to deserve some big news.
I have a suggestion: The powers-that-be at the various companies that decide what to announce at the 2009 CTIA Wireless event should have a little Red Bull in Vegas when making their plans. And I’m willing to fly out to help, if need be.