In a little bit over every week’s time (February 26-29) round 85,000 or so attendees will descend upon the Fira de Barcelona for Cell World Congress 2024. Over the previous few years, the present has turn into arguably an important cell occasion of the yr. Telephone makers, telecoms and quite a lot of different tech distributors, journalists and analysts converge to debate what the following yr will maintain for the trade.
Like each different main in-person occasion, the previous few years have been rocky for MWC. In 2019, the present hit 109,000 guests — not fairly CES numbers (which hit ~175,000 that very same yr), however nonetheless a powerful turnout for what’s in the end a considerably extra narrowly targeted present. COVID hit the present arduous for just a few years (be a part of the membership).
After many main vendor withdrawals and weeks of handwringing, the GSM Affiliation (GMA) canceled the 2020 occasion. A considerably scaled again model of the occasion occurred the next yr, with a tough cap on attendance. 2022 noticed the beginnings of a bounce again to 60,000 attendees, whereas final yr hit 88,500. Organizers anticipate the same determine for this yr’s occasion. The quantity continues to be down considerably from the present’s top, however MWC nonetheless qualifies as a big present.
It’s a great bit more durable, nevertheless, to evaluate the present’s present degree of significance for the trade. That is due in no small half to some macro tendencies which have impacted just about each tech trade tradeshow. Even previous to the pandemic, massive distributors had begun migrating to their very own standalone occasions, in order to not get misplaced among the many noise. COVID solely expedited the development, as firms had been compelled to determine stay occasion streaming.
A few of the greatest trade names now not have a significant presence. Take Samsung, which has taken to saying its new flagships throughout the once-slow weeks between CES and MWC. As we head into this yr’s occasion, I’d like to let you know that — as with CES — small, fascinating startups have rushed in to fill that void, however it’s probably not the case. A minimum of it’s nowhere close to the diploma of what we’ve seen from the Vegas occasion.
There’s a first rate sufficient startup presence at MWC, although it takes the type of its personal sister occasion. 4FYN (that’s 4 Years From Now) is celebrating its tenth yr of existence in 2024. Hopefully that may translate into an thrilling exhibiting. The occasion is run by the identical group in the identical venue. I’ve come to consider it because the Cell World Congress equal to CES’ Eureka Park: a giant, cacophonous room filled with startups. There are actually worst methods to spend a day for work.
For the businesses that take part on the present flooring and in pitch-offs, it’s an opportunity to get an viewers with MWC’s massive and engaged viewers. For us, it’s a chance to take a look at smaller corporations that may have in any other case flown underneath the radar. The occasion isn’t unique to European startups, however they have a tendency to dominate for causes of proximity. It’s quite a bit simpler to swing over to Spain than it’s to fly throughout an ocean and a continent or two with a purpose to hand around in the neon pit of despair that’s Las Vegas, Nevada.
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A few of the tendencies I anticipate dominating the dialog embody a continued concentrate on health-centered wearables, together with newer kind elements just like the good ring. Head-worn shows have all the time had one thing of a presence on the present. It appears to be among the many larger reveals for HTC Vive, as an example. Within the wake of Apple’s Imaginative and prescient Professional launch and Qualcomm’s dedication to AR and VR, I count on to be speaking quite a bit about this as soon as the present kicks off.
MWC can also be a enjoyable present for idea gadgets. That is the place Lenovo/Motorola shine. In truth, the extra I give it some thought, the extra I’m satisfied that Lenovo is having essentially the most enjoyable among the many world’s main shopper electronics producers. Count on every thing to fold and/or slide. Some will likely be pure ideas, however Lenovo’s not afraid to launch some really, delightfully bizarre stuff. There’s even a “transparent laptop” presently rumored for the occasion.
Talking of rumors, Nothing’s mid-tier 2a handset is pegged for a March 5 launch (albeit an apparently restricted one right here within the U.S.). Carl Pei’s outdated firm, OnePlus, may even be current. Final yr’s present discovered the corporate leaning into its personal line of idea gadgets. This yr, in the meantime, it’s rumored to be readying the discharge of the OnePlus Watch 2.
Extra broadly talking, count on AI in every single place at MWC, however be ready to chop by the BS (don’t fear, we’re right here to assist). Samsung broke the “generative AI smartphone seal with the Galaxy S24 line,” and now it’s going to be out in full kind with functions starting from useful to ridiculous. I’m cautiously optimistic concerning the proliferation of AI gadgets within the mildew of the Humane Pin and Rabbit R1. As with CES, I anticipate robots getting a second to shine on the occasion, albeit primarily from European firms this day out. There’s additionally the matter of that Xiaomi car.
Above all, this can be a large present for telecos, and sure, the 6G conversations have already begun. Bear in mind earlier than the inevitable deluge, nevertheless, that we’re nonetheless within the VERY early stage of improvement. No commonplace has been agreed upon and we’re possible ~4 years out from truly seeing appropriate gadgets. Nonetheless, 5.5G/5G superior could be very a lot a actuality being pushed by Chinese language corporations, particularly. Count on to listen to quite a bit about this — and different issues — from Huawei, which has spent the final a number of years slowly clawing its manner again up after dropping entry to Google and Qualcomm merchandise.
Additionally very actual and prone to be very current at this yr’s present is Wi-Fi, which succeeds Wi-Fi 6E as the newest wi-fi commonplace. TechCrunch will likely be stay and current at MWC, as effectively.