Jobs bows out of Internet expo

The Internet World expo will go on, but it won't include an opening keynote presentation by Apple Computer chief executive Steve Jobs, according to organisers of the annual industry gathering.

Dara Tyson, director of public relations for organiser eCRM, told ZDNet US on Thursday that Apple's chief executive has withdrawn from the event, which runs from 3 to 7 April at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

She said eCRM is working on a replacement speaker for Jobs, who was scheduled to speak on 5 April. While she declined to identify the new keynote presenter, Tyson said it would not be an Apple executive. She added that Apple, which is listed as a co-sponsor of the event, will exhibit at the show, despite Jobs' absence. However, she declined to comment on reasons for Jobs' withdrawal. Neither was Apple available for comment.

Jobs' appearance at Internet World precipitated some controversy among British Mac fans when the company pulled out of Apple Expo UK 2000 in October. That show had also been scheduled for the first week of April and was to have included a presentation by the Apple chief executive.

At the time, sources said the company had decided to pull its support for the show -- which was subsequently cancelled -- because Jobs' appearance in London would have interfered with a keynote position at the Los Angeles show.

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