Microsoft announces 2012 CES will be its last
Microsoft announced on Wednesday that the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show, at which its CEO Steve Ballmer will give the keynote address, will be the last show the company attends.
In its announcement, Microsoft said that the way the company must communicate with its customers has changed. After consideration, Microsoft officials decided that this January's CES will mark Microsoft's last keynote presentation and booth.
"We'll continue to participate in CES as a great place to connect with partners and customers across the PC, phone and entertainment industries, but we won't have a keynote or booth after this year because our product news milestones generally don't align with the show's January timing," said Frank X. Shaw, corporate vice president of corporate communications at Microsoft.
The decision comes three years after Apple decided the 2009 Macworld Expo would be its last. Like CES, Macworld was, at the time, held in early January, though next year's 2012 Macworld|iWorld Expo will kick off on Jan. 26, a few weeks after CES occurs from Jan. 10 through 13.
In 2009, Apple said that trade shows had become "a very minor part" of how the company reaches its customers. Apple now introduces its products with its own media events, free of trade shows that are scheduled well in advance.
Microsoft said Wednesday that it will hold its own events in the future to announce products, while it will also reach out to customers through social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. The company also plans to reach consumers through its website and retail stores.
"Microsoft has enjoyed a close to 20-year working relationship with the Consumer Electronics Association -- and we look forward to working with CEA for many years to come," Shaw said.
Ballmer will kick off this year's CES with a keynote presentation the evening of Jan. 9. The Microsoft CEO also delivered the keynote address at last year's event, in which he highlighted Windows Phone 7 and demoed Windows running on ARM's system-on-a-chip architecture.
In its announcement, Microsoft said that the way the company must communicate with its customers has changed. After consideration, Microsoft officials decided that this January's CES will mark Microsoft's last keynote presentation and booth.
"We'll continue to participate in CES as a great place to connect with partners and customers across the PC, phone and entertainment industries, but we won't have a keynote or booth after this year because our product news milestones generally don't align with the show's January timing," said Frank X. Shaw, corporate vice president of corporate communications at Microsoft.
The decision comes three years after Apple decided the 2009 Macworld Expo would be its last. Like CES, Macworld was, at the time, held in early January, though next year's 2012 Macworld|iWorld Expo will kick off on Jan. 26, a few weeks after CES occurs from Jan. 10 through 13.
In 2009, Apple said that trade shows had become "a very minor part" of how the company reaches its customers. Apple now introduces its products with its own media events, free of trade shows that are scheduled well in advance.
Microsoft said Wednesday that it will hold its own events in the future to announce products, while it will also reach out to customers through social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. The company also plans to reach consumers through its website and retail stores.
"Microsoft has enjoyed a close to 20-year working relationship with the Consumer Electronics Association -- and we look forward to working with CEA for many years to come," Shaw said.
Ballmer will kick off this year's CES with a keynote presentation the evening of Jan. 9. The Microsoft CEO also delivered the keynote address at last year's event, in which he highlighted Windows Phone 7 and demoed Windows running on ARM's system-on-a-chip architecture.
Comments
Sounds like a good business decision for MIcrosoft. Less chance of Balmer making an idiot out of himself.
sound familiar? (read: apple and macworld).
The difference being that Apple had big announcements of its own to make and wanted to do so without the distraction of a show and the activities of other participants. There's not much speculation out there these days that Microsoft has much that's new or surprising to bring to the party. Better to stay away and avoid disappointing media and showgoers.
You mean we won't get to hear him next year when he crows about
how strongly developers have jumped all over Windows8 ?
I get that every year these shows get bigger, but only because large companies keep sending people. These companies will wise up and have the vendors come to them. If you can't come to me I don't need to sell your product.
What product milestones ??
Getting rid of Ballmer would be getting rid of product "Millstones".
I am an Apple fanboy, but this is not a commentary on MS. Rather it is an insult to the trade show industry. Shows like CES are going to die, not next year but in my lifetime. Right or wrong these shows are no longer relevant. A companies website gives more info than the clueless sales person standing in companies booth.
I get that every year these shows get bigger, but only because large companies keep sending people. These companies will wise up and have the vendors come to them. If you can't come to me I don't need to sell your product.
You're absolutely right. The modern trade show is an outmoded vehicle for communicating. Why should a company spend literally 10s or 100s of thousands of dollars to put on a mini show at a trade show for a few days to interact with a few hundred people when that money could be better spent on other marketing and relationship-building efforts?
In its announcement, Microsoft said that the way the company must communicate with its customers has changed. After consideration, Microsoft officials decided that this January's CES will mark Microsoft's last keynote presentation and booth.
They're going to try honesty for a change? Maybe give up promoting their vapour and/or bloat ware? Oh wait, THAT'S why they will no longer be involved in future events of this nature. Nothing to talk about.
At least that means that we don't have to suffer that embarrassing prancing, shrieking, punching the air and jumping about of the company's head monkey anymore.
As the popular AI meme goes - "Link Please"!
Seriously, which event did this happen in? I wanna check it out on Youtube. I love a good laugh.
As the popular AI meme goes - "Link Please"!
Seriously, which event did this happen in? I wanna check it out on Youtube. I love a good laugh.
Really? Never seen it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvsboPUjrGc