Variety the spice of life at CeBIT 2005

"Get the spirit of tomorrow" is the slogan CeBIT has picked for this year’s show, to be held between 10 - 16 March in Hanover, Germany. Some 500,000 people are expected to visit Europe’s biggest ICT trade fair.

CeBIT expects 6115 exhibitors from 65 countries, only slightly up on last year, when 6109 exhibitors came to Hanover. However, the organisers say they are happy with the numbers.

Which is nice, because ICT shows haven't been doing well lately. The ailing Comdex show in Las Vegas was off last year, but hopes to return in November. Last year, CeBIT had an average of 3,400 more visitors per day than the year before - the first such rise in three years.

Although last year’s decision to allow entertainment and consumer gadgets at the show floor didn't go down well with some exhibitors, the trend will continue this year, as several companies plan to show DVD recorders. Intel will showcase its new Centrino technology, which was launched this week.

The application of information and communications technology in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is expected be a core topic, and for the first time a sub-category is being devoted exclusively to ICT outsourcing as part of the Business Processes category in Hall 8. ®

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