UK Technology Week kicks off today

The show which is now 3 years old brings together three shows in one exhibition - Comdex, Networld + Interop and Expo Comm - with products and services across IT, networking and telecoms all under one roof. UK Technology Week is the first show to address these converging markets and comes after two years of research by independent organisations, Spikes Cavell, Data Monitor and Hulme Associates which found a need to unite the various aspects of the industry in one exhibition.

GPT, Britain's largest telecommunications manufacturer is positive about the benefits of a united forum for the industry: "GPT and the market in general has long been saying that a London exhibition venue would be preferred over any other alternatives," says Jane Selvidge, a company spokeswoman. "This is exactly what UK Technology Week will deliver."

Sony agrees and will be making its debut at this year's exhibition. Sony spokeswoman Debbie Arnold is confident that choosing UK Technology Week will reap benefits for the electronics giant. "It's all about communicating new products and UK Technology Week is absolutely the forum for this," she says. For Sony, size is definitely important with its emphasis will be on the small. The company will be showcasing its latest notebook computer (VAIO - Video Audio Integrated Operation ), including the 505 model, which is the size of a B5 envelope and the height of a standard postage stamp.

Internet firm UUNet is also at UK Technology Week "showing off" its new transatlantic pipe, which, says company spokesman Richard Woods, "gives UUNet 535Mb/sec across to the US." He adds: "UK Technology Week is a key place for us to show off this technology."

ZDNet UK News is the official news source for Comdex UK.

The Comdex name is owned by Ziff Davis. Comdex is organised by EJ Krause.

For more information about UK Technology Week go here