I have some history in the wireless telecommunications business, dating back 12 years now. So attending this year’s Mobile World Congress (MWC), the most expansive wireless telecom show on earth comes with great pleasure.
The convergence of wireless telecom, computing and entertainment is evident throughout MWC-targeted marketing. Unlike the United States, most of the world accesses the Internet through their wireless handsets. Thus mobile-enabled social networks like Facebook and Mosh are extremely hot this year, and also hold great promise for future marketing. Additional highlights include Robert Redford’s speech on Wednesday.
There’s a lot of big money in town, too. For example, huge placards from Samsung in almost every square and circle.
Of course, there’s bad marketing, too. Is this ridiculous or what? LG’s marketing campaign here in Barcelona’s Mobile World Congress is "Smartly Intelligent." Even I — a person often accused of treating the English language like Patton on a military campaign — hate ad slogans like this. It drives me crazy in an Eat, Shoots and Leaves kind of way. Stupidly Dumb would be better!
Of course, minor annoyances like this are quickly forgotten in beautiful Barcelona.
Another report from the Mobile World Congress will be posted this Tuesday!
Are you still in Barcelona?
I’m in Barcelona until through the 13th.