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More exhibitors, dollars expected at imbX 2010

update As economic recovery gets underway, Asia's largest ICT tradeshow this month boasts more exhibitors and projected increase in telecom deals.
Written by Vivian Yeo, Contributor

update SINGAPORE--Asia's largest ICT tradeshow, the Infocomm Media Business Exchange (imbX), returns this month with more exhibitors and a projected increase in telecom expenditure, indicating that the economy is picking up, according to show organizer Singapore Exhibition Services (SES).

In a pre-show briefing Wednesday, SES said 1,921 exhibitors from 57 countries are expected to showcase their wares this year at CommunicAsia, which is parked under the umbrella imbX brand. Booth space taken up by exhibitors account for a 9 percent increase over 2009, within 58,000 square meters of exhibition area space, the organizer said.

Victor Wong, SES' project director for communications events, told ZDNet Asia that based on sourcing budgets indicated by pre-registered visitors, the value of deals to be made at the four-day event here starting Jun. 15 will reach US$3.5 billion, compared with last year's anticipated US$3 billion.

SES also expects trade visitors to this year's show to reach 54,000, an increase of 8 percent over 2009's 50,000.

Apart from featuring technologies such as LTE (long term evolution), next-generation networks and IPTV (Internet Protocol television), CommunicAsia will also throw the spotlight on mobile applications and independent software vendors (ISVs) to keep the event "relevant to our industry", said Wong. Mobile developers that will be on the showfloor include buUuk and Netbiscuits.

Despite the emphasis on mobile apps, several big handset makers will be noticeably absent from CommunicAsia2010. These include Korean consumer electronics giant LG, which Wong said pulled out at the "last minute", and Sony Ericsson. Nokia, which has been running its own Nokia Connection separately in the last several years, remains out of the show.

Nonetheless, CommunicAsia2010 will see stronger participation from Asian companies, particularly from China. With 199 exhibitors, an increase of 21 percent over last year, the country's contingent is the largest overseas delegation, noted Wong. Exhibitors from Hong Kong will also grow 17 percent to 54, while participating companies from Indonesia will number 38, a 35 percent jump over 2009.

New entrants to the show include Accenture and Skype.

Besides the flagship CommunicAsia summit and exhibition, other elements under imbX--Broadcast Asia, EnterpriseIT and Interactive DME (digital media & entertainment)--will return this year. The imbX Ministerial Forum will also take place on Jun. 14, while Singapore's iGov Global Forum on e-government will be part of the week's activities.

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