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Microsoft at 3GSM 2006 - summary February 19, 2006 [General] | By Edward J. R. Microsoft Executive Meeting Center (EMC) was located at Hotel Catalonia Plaza, that was located on the other side of the main entrance - just across of a roundabout/square (the one you can see here between the towers, to the left): 
Here is another look at this hotel (from behind the trees): 
It was very good location - in fact it was the best off-site location because some other companies have their centers located several miles away from the 3GSM venue. Example: center of Motorola was in a hotel so far away that one would have to take taxi to get there (and that's why we missed unfortunately the press conference of Motorola). Here is closer look at the entrance of above mentioned hotel, where you can see some advertisements and funny text "Is that Microsoft Office in your pocket?" (please note ad with HP iPAQ hw6900 to the left of the girl with red hair, and the ad with T-Mobile MDA Vario to the right of her): 
At Microsoft Executive Meeting Center (it was underground! here is a photo of the reception of this center; behind the reception: small presentation of Windows Mobile handsets took place): 
... the press conference of Microsoft took place and individual meetings (like our interview with John Starkweather from Microsoft) with press and (mainly) with representatives of mobile operators and hardware manufacturers. Microsoft's mobile division had its own paparazzo, who was taking photos from all the important events and meetings (he also used special camera from Canon, that paparazzi usually use): 
... and his photos later on were the official ones that Microsoft was placing in press releases and in official pages on Microsoft's website. This paparazzo was good way to find out that something important was going on - once he appeared also Microsoft's top managers were having some important meeting or event. When it comes to area of 3GSM venue, outdoors the most visible place related to Windows Mobile, were these 2 pavilions of i-mate: 
... where we carried out the interview with CEO of i-mate. Quite big photos of various i-mate phones powered by Windows Mobile were placed on these pavilions, what brought a lot of publicity. We have even overheard that many people leaving or entering the hall 2 were noticing i-mate pavilions very well and were even praising i-mate phones! Yes, i-mate is slowly becoming a very known brand! At the exhibition, in hall 1, Microsoft had its own stand (behind which also stand of i-mate is visible): 
... with mini-stands of Microsoft partners and "Microsoft Theatre" (please note catchy slogan "Don't just go mobile. Go Windows Mobile."): 
... where presentations about Windows Mobile for passersby were taking place repeatively almost whole time! Obviously one of the highlights of 3GSM was keynote session of Steve Ballmer (the first time such high manager of Microsoft visited 3GSM): 
... who still didn't say that he loves mobile phones (although he did say that he loves mobile operators and mobile phone industry)... During Ballmer's keynote session also Suzan DelBene shortly presented some new handsets: 
... who was supposed (according to the schedule) to be a speaker during a session "Monetizing Off Portal World - Business Models for Mobile Search", but was replaced in latest moment by Brian Arbogast (who was more than happy to spread "Windows Live" gospel to mobile phone world): 
Conclusion: while Steve Ballmer could be a little bit more enthusiastic about mobile phones, and Microsoft could employ more attractive women for their stand, this 3GSM conference was all in all very successful for Microsoft, and thanks to great announcements from Microsoft partners (like i-mate Smartflip, i-mate JASJAM, Samsung i320, Fujitsu-Siemens Pocket Loox T830, etc) the future of Windows Mobile looks bright for anybody involved.  Post your comment (free registration is required to post, but if you register you can edit your posts later) [ 8 Comments ]
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