GERMANY: Exhibitors unveil new high-tech gadgets at the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin

New high-tech gadgets went on display at the IFA, the world's biggest consumer electronics fair, when it opened on Friday (September 1) in Berlin. A huge variety of new digital gadgets and digital appliances which create an entertainment centre in the comfort of your own home are some of the delights on offer for trade fair visitors with deep pockets. The IFA fair, which stands for "International Radio Communication" exhibition, takes place in Berlin from September 1 -6. This year, over 1000 exhibitors will display their wares from the spheres of television, music players and home electronics to the public for six days. For the first time in more than 50 years, the IFA will take place every year The focus of this year's IFA will once again be the digital home. The new high-definition televisions, blue ray DVDs and the interlinking of the computer and television are at this year's IFA no longer a thing of the future. The world's consumer electronics giants will certainly be hoping to convince consumers to ditch the old and embrace the new as they unveil a fabulous array of cutting edge wares. IFA-Director, Jens Heithecker, told Reuters TV this year's IFA will once again focus on high definition television and new high resolution DVD formats, which are being brought on to the market. From this year onwards, the IFA will once again begin taking place annually, instead of biannually as in previous years. Heithecker said with ten thousand new products coming on to the market annually, the trade fair should take place more frequently: "75 percent of all products in the shops are less than a year old, and all these market realities argue for the fact that the industry wants to communicate every year with the retailers and with the public, so the industry needs an annual trade fair," Heithecker said. Many of the exhibitors also intend to promote their wares to potential customers in preparation for the Christmas shopping period. German Marketing Director for Philips Consumer Electronics, Corry Mueller-Theile explained that the IFA sets new trends, which may then influence Christmas trading. "This year the main themes are flat-television, HD-TV and Blue Ray. And we think that the German market trends are shown at the IFA, to be able to kick start the season and to show the potential for Christmas trading," he said. High-resolution DVDs will also be on display at the trade fair, and the two new formats which hope to succeed the current DVD. Nico Jurran, a reporter from the computer and technology magazine "CT" said that the mutually incompatible formats, Blue Ray Disc and HD DVD are battling for market dominance. Other new technological wares on display at the fair include the Samsung SGH-900 mobile phone featuring a television screen.

ITN Source | September 2, 2006

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