What to expect from the CTIA show in San Francisco

By Giselle Abramovich

September 10, 2008

The wireless world of CTIA

New technologies, new products and new business models are the key topics of conversation at this year’s CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment 2008 show in San Francisco.

The conference expects that regulars and newcomers alike are sure to find something innovative and exciting at this event.

The show will feature main stage keynote interviews with industry experts from companies like Yahoo, Nextel, T-Mobile, Clearwire and Verizon Wireless.

Afternoon sessions are dedicated to in-depth tracks on each of the major content areas.

Each track will include a series of product demonstrations, presentations, interviews, feedback sessions and structured networking opportunities.

Mobile music, video, advertising and social networking will be the key content areas covered by the show’s sessions.

Sessions on mobile music will outline the future of music content on mobile phones including ringtones, ringback tones, full-song downloads, sideloading, bundling, artist participation, promotional opportunities and mobile ticketing.

Mobile video-related sessions will get attendees up-to-date on on-demand video, streaming TV, original content, repurposed content, film, TV, animation and news.

A handful of sessions concentrate on examining the various ways that mobile entertainment is drawing advertisers to mobile content through consumer acceptance, subsidized content and marketing.

Mobile social networking and user-generated content will be present at the show’s sessions as well. Discussions on monetizing content, mobilizing social networks, participation in TV and events and blogging will educate attendees.

The show will also educate attendees on the current state of the mobile industry.

Harris Interactive researchers will present key study findings about how teens across America feel about mobile phone usage, their behaviors, desires and aspirations for the future of mobile communications and entertainment.

Other topics at the show include, the meaning and impact of "open" networks, guidance on bringing mobility and profitability to one’s enterprise.

A lot of companies are making announcements at the show.

For example, mobile ad network Quattro and uLocate have launched a location-based advertising service.

The deal extends Quattro’s In-App Network by leveraging uLocate’s Where application to deliver location-based overlays for Quattro’s iPhone ad units.

In addition, Quattro and uLocate will develop new ad-sponsorships for location-based keyword search, widgets and map options within where.

Also, Sonic Boom, a developer and publisher of personalized mobile entertainment, today announced that it has appointed Jason Gall as vice president of sales and products.  Gall was previously the senior manager of digital media for Boost Mobile.

Mobile Marketing company QuickMobile has released a new version of its Contextual Mobile Marketing Platform.

The company’s contextual mobile marketing platform allows brand managers and marketers to create permission-based campaigns that provide consumers with personalized, timely and relevant information on their mobile device.

Version 2.0 includes new permission-based features, the ability for customers to create multi-layered campaigns and two new applications – Mobile Polling and Mobile Results.

Overall, the CTIA Wireless IT & Entertainment 2008 conference is jam-packed with educational opportunities. But the show is also great for meeting fellow mobile marketers, getting an idea of the competitive landscape and just plain old making friends.