LAS VEGAS, USA: More than 2,700 global companies, including 300 new exhibitors, unveiled an estimated 20,000 new technology products across 1.7 million net square feet of exhibit space this week at the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow, electrifying the technology industry and helping lead the way to economic recovery.

New trends unveiled at the 2009 CES will shape the future of consumer electronics, including 3D HDTV, advances in OLED, green technologies, Internet TV and digital entertainment. Produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the 2009 International CES ran January 8-11, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Despite a subdued economy, excitement exuded from the International CES show floor, with the sheer volume of innovative products, the quantity of senior level executives from the consumer technology and related industries, the international participation from companies and government officials and the partnerships and deals at the show,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CEA. “More consumer technology business deals start at the International CES than any other event on earth. The success of the 2009 International CES gives us optimism that innovation will restart the world’s economic engine.”

“The level of excitement on the CES show floor was at an all-time high with ground-breaking technologies such as the Palm Pre, Sony’s flexible OLED display, 3D HDTV, Yahoo!’s TV Widget, LG’s Watch Phone and a 1/3 inch thin energy efficient Plasma HDTV from Panasonic,” said Karen Chupka, senior vice president, events and conferences, CEA. “Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer announced Windows 7 Beta at his pre-CES keynote and the download response was so high, it overloaded their systems.”

In addition to the hottest gadgets, the 2009 International CES featured addresses from dynamic industry leaders including Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer, Sony’s Sir Howard Stringer, Ford’s Allan Mulally and Intel’s Dr. Craig Barrett and Cisco’s John Chambers as part of the Technology and Emerging Countries program.

The 2009 CES was a celebrity-filled event which featured entertainment and sports figures including Tom Hanks, Alex Trebek, Jimmy Fallon, Stevie Wonder, Counting Crows' Adam Duritz, Usher, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Reggie Jackson, Dr. Oz and Ludacris.

“The 2009 CES was very successful for Sharp, because the show’s attendees, while fewer in total number, were the people that we really wanted to talk to,” said Judah Zeigler, Associate Vice President, Retail, and Consumer Marketing Group, Sharp. “When you have fewer people to the show, but they’re the right people who want and are capable of doing real business, everybody wins and the 2009 CES delivered.”

“This CES has had the most CEOs in attendance since I can remember and they are on the show floor. If you are not here at CES you are not in this industry,” said Randy Fry, president of Fry’s Electronics.

CEA conducts an independent audit of International CES attendance in order to ensure the accuracy of data regarding the show. Preliminary estimates suggest attendance at the 2009 International CES will be more than 110,000, with the final verified number to be released in about 90 days. At the close of the 2008 CES, CEA estimated 130,000 attendees, and the verified audited attendance of 141,150 was released in the spring of 2008.

At its meeting on the third day of CES, the 45 members of the CEA Board of Industry Leaders, which includes top executives from large and small manufacturers and retailers, reported to CEA staff that the 2009 International CES succeeded beyond all expectations and that CEA should strive to restrict future attendance to 2009 attendance levels. Steps taken by CEA to manage show attendance this year included a new $100 pre-registration fee implemented on November 1.

“Our board concluded that it is essential to have the right people attend CES. Board members reported getting more business done this year than at any prior show. One board member reported his company scheduled 450 customer meetings prior to CES and every one of those 450 meetings took place at the show. Quality trumps quantity when it comes to exhibitors and attendees conducting business at CES,” said Shapiro. “CEA’s research shows that on average, each CES attendee holds 12 meetings at the show, making CES a smart, strategic and economical business decision.”