SHORTENED CeBIT DRAWS HIGHER QUALITY VISITORS

Record 6,500 high-tech marketers report strong ordering activity

(PRINCETON, NJ - The question mark looming over the move to shorten CeBIT
from 8 days to 7 while raising ticket prices was replaced with an
exclamation point at show's end, as exhibitors gave positive accounts of
the productive and manageable crowds visiting their booths Thursday, March
14, through Wednesday, March 20, in Hannover, Germany. With 600,000
visitors (755,000 in '95), CeBIT '96 was characterized by a higher
proportion of professionals (77 percent v. 71 percent in '95) and greater
internationality, thanks in part to a jump in attendance by visitors from
Asia (up 2,500 to 12,400). 

While attendance was by design whittled and refined, the number of
exhibiting companies zoomed from last year's 6,111 to 6,507, reflecting
growth in the software, telecommunications and security industries and
enabled by the Hannover Fairgrounds' expansion in preparation for the
world's fair four years hence. Nine of 10 of CeBIT's exhibitors indicated
plans to return in 1997. 

USA #1 in non-German exhibitor presence

As America's high-tech industry increasingly looks beyond its borders to do
business, the U.S. presence at CeBIT also rises. Genevieve Tondi,
International Sales Director for Atlanta-based

Infographix, a maker of digital color printers appearing at CeBIT for the
third time, sums it up thusly: "When Infographix first came to CeBIT in
1994, we were a company of only 6 people with no international
distribution channel. Today, thanks largely to CeBIT, we have tripled out
business-with 70 percent of our sales now overseas. We'll never stop
coming here." Infographix, exhibiting in the USA Software Pavilion, was
one of 491 American companies participating in CeBIT direct from the U.S.
Some 350 of those were found in 8 USA Pavilions showcasing American
technology innovations in: Office Automation; Software; Microcomputers and
Peripherals; Multimedia; Networking; Communications; CAD/CAM; and Security
and Card Technology. In addition, the State of California Pavilion
featured 41 companies. 

Other countries outside Germany with a strong CeBIT presence were Taiwan
(339), Great Britain (282), France (127), Australia (116) and Switzerland
(114). 

Miniaturization, integration and the Internet

As with nearly all things technical or commercial, the Internet proved a
major influence at CeBIT '96. From the new SET standard (Secure Electronic
Transactions) to the platform-independent programming language Java to the
many new software and consulting firms formed to provide access to the
World Wide Web and similar network circuits, the Internet's presence was
considerable. It was not alone, however, as a noteworthy trend: 

* Applications integration was prevalent among makers of both handheld
mobile communications devices and laptop computers, further blurring the
line separating data communication and data processing. 

* "Traffic telematics" applications such as fleet management, car emergency
call systems and individual orientation aids were showcased, combining
global positioning technology with GSM (Global System for Mobile
Communications). 

* Virtual reality as used for design studies and installation tests and new
rapid prototyping systems joined process and product integration as
important factors on display in the "C" technologies sector. 

* CeBIT's fast-growing software sector featured Internet- and Web-related
products such as new browsing programs and video sequence integration.

* Videoconferencing systems mainly based on ISDN technology but also a
handful using the newer ATM technology, were on display as aids to
telecommuting, telemedicine, and other "tele-" fields.

* Multifunction chip card systems, network security and biometric
identification systems figured strongly in CeBIT's security and card
technology sector. 

The next computer and communications exhibition taking place on the
Hannover Fairgrounds is the new CeBIT HOME (August 28 to September 1),
bringing together some 650 makers of information, communications and
entertainment technology and services for the home and home office. Up to
150,000 distributors, agents, retailers and end-users are expected to
attend. 

CeBIT Hannover next takes place March 13 to 19, 1997. For more information,
please contact Hannover Fairs USA, Inc., at 103 Carnegie Center,
Princeton, NJ 08540; phone: 609-987-1202; fax: 609-987-0092. Information
is also available on the Web at http://www.messe.de. 
 
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