Mobile Electronics In Full Gear At 2006 International CES

More than 300 Mobile Exhibitors and 40 Conference Sessions Reflect Market Strength at CES.

Arlington, Virginia 12/22/2005, The latest in automotive technology including car audio and video, navigation systems, satellite radio, security and telematics will be on display at the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES®), the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow, January 5-8, 2006, in Las Vegas Nevada.
“With more than 300 mobile electronics exhibitors, the International CES is the world’s largest showcase for in-car technologies,” said Karen Chupka, vice president of events and conferences at the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA®), the producer of the International CES. “Everyone from top automotive executives and mobile electronics manufacturers to service providers and installers flocks to CES each year to see the latest developments in the $7 billion U.S. mobile electronics market. It’s the only show that brings together all the major players in the industry and showcases how mobile electronics play into the overall CE market.”

Some of the major mobile electronics exhibitors at CES include Alpine, Audiovox, Blaupunkt, Clarion, Delphi, Directed Electronics, iBiquity, JL Audio, Johnson Controls, Kenwood, Mitek, Pioneer, Rockford, Sony and XM Satellite Radio. The majority of mobile electronics exhibitors are located in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC).

Mobile technology is highlighted on the show floor at two specialized TechZones in the North Hall. The Automotive Aftermarket Showcase features the latest products and accessories in the automotive aftermarket industry, while the Digital Car/Telematics TechZone focuses on convergence, communications, entertainment, navigation and security technologies that make car travel easier and more enjoyable.

With partner programs and more than 40 conference sessions dedicated to mobile electronics, there is a compelling mix of educational opportunities for this market at the 2006 International CES. Attendees can learn industry trends and projections, investigate new technologies, improve installation techniques, enhance retail sales efforts and gain industry certification, all in one place.

The Car Technologies track covers new technologies and recent advances in the mobile electronics market. With sessions such as Opportunities in In-Vehicle Entertainment, Generation GPS and Automotive Telematics: Enabling Vehicles for Wireless Services, the Car Technologies track includes broadband communication, portable digital media, satellite, wireless connectivity and new uses for GPS technology.

Other conference sessions with a mobile electronics focus include:

• Entertainment on to Go: Products, consumer needs and purchase expectations for digital entertainment outside the home.
• Radio - Poised for a Comeback: Satellite radio vs. digital terrestrial radio.
• Tracking the Industry - an Economic Perspective: A look at the key variables and leading indicators that impact the CE industry.
• What a Consumer Wants: A panel of retailers discusses changing consumer attitudes.
• Industry Vision vs. Consumer Desire: What products succeed and why.

The Mobile Electronics Certified Professionals (MECP) Installer Training returns to the 2006 International CES to offer training and testing for professional installers. MECP training includes courses on security and wiring, routers, upholstery, plaster and fiberglass and liquid plexi. The International CES also welcomes back the Select Products MECP Installer Challenge where the industry’s top installers compete to build the best car in only four days.

Another partner program, the IEEE International Conference on Consumer Electronics (ICCE), sponsored by the IEEE Consumer Electronics Society, also presents technical papers and panel discussions on automotive entertainment and information. Topics include navigation, audio/video systems, driver assistance, networks, communication aspects, sensors and controls.

CEA also will showcase the Your Ride Your Way campaign at the 2006 International CES. The campaign, a joint effort between CEA and the Mobile Enhancement Retailer’s Association (MERA), is an initiative that supports consumers’ ability to use consumer electronics products in the vehicle, while acknowledging that consumers need to have choices when it comes to repairing, replacing and enhancing the electronics systems in their vehicles. The Your Ride Your Way initiative will be showcased at the Experience CEA booth in the Grand Lobby of the LCVV.

For more news on CES, including the full conference schedule and speaker information, visit www.CESweb.org, the interactive source for CES information before, during and after the show.

About CEA:
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the consumer technology industry through technology policy, events, research, promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA represents more than 2,000 corporate members involved in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and integration of audio, video, mobile electronics, wireless and landline communications, information technology, home networking, multimedia and accessory products, as well as related services that are sold through consumer channels. Combined, CEA’s members account for more than $122 billion in annual sales. CEA’s resources are available online at www.CE.org, the definitive source for information about the consumer electronics industry. CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES - Defining Tomorrow’s Technology. All profits from CES are reinvested into industry services, including technical training and education, industry promotion, engineering standards development, market research and legislative advocacy.

Contact Information

Leah Arnold

Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)

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