Microsoft to End Participation in CES Keynotes After 2012

ces logoFollowing Apple's lead in pulling out of Macworld Expo several years ago, Microsoft today announced that next month's keynote presentation at CES in Las Vegas will be the company's last at the major consumer electronics show.

In its announcement, Microsoft cites many of the same factors addressed by Apple as reasons for its ending of trade show participation. Most notably, trade shows have become less relevant for new product announcements given the increasing connectedness and interactivity offered by the Internet and social media, and in many cases the scheduled nature of trade shows imposes undesired rigidity on timeframes for new product announcements.

Our industry moves fast and changes faster. And so the way we communicate with our customers must change in equally speedy ways. To ensure it does, we constantly challenge our assumptions. For example:

- What’s the right time and place to make announcements?
- Are we adjusting to the changing dynamics of our customers?
- Are we doing something because it’s the right thing to do, or because “it’s the way we’ve always done it”?

Microsoft points to its own media and developer events, social media tools, and even its retail stores as venues for connecting with customers that provide better opportunities than trade show keynotes.

Microsoft will maintain a presence at CES going forward with its employees attending the event, but the company will no longer participate in the opening keynote as it has routinely done, and will not sponsor a booth on the exhibition floor after 2012.

Top Rated Comments

dgree03 Avatar
156 months ago
Microsoft copying Apple strategy. What's new?

Too bad the Redmond copy machines don't realize that Apple and MS have different target audiences.

Wait apple owns that strategy? Did they patent that too? :rolleyes:
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nepalisherpa Avatar
156 months ago
Microsoft copying Apple strategy. What's new?

Too bad the Redmond copy machines don't realize that Apple and MS have different target audiences.

Copying Apple again

What grade are you guys in? 5th?
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
overcast Avatar
156 months ago
Microsoft copying Apple strategy. What's new?

Too bad the Redmond copy machines don't realize that Apple and MS have different target audiences.
You people seriously need to get over yourselves.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
inlovewithi Avatar
156 months ago
I like how Macrumors makes an Apple mention in a way that makes it seem like Microsoft is copying Apple on this non story. Great way to keep those who see Apple as a religion really riled up. I still haven't seen this news on non Apple tech sites, so it's odd to see it here.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dgree03 Avatar
156 months ago
Good, I generally don't care that a software maker(Microsoft) is at CES. I want to see innovative hardware...
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
0098386 Avatar
156 months ago
When I read the opening line to this article I thought to myself "Oh I bet this thread will be full of parody jokes about Microsoft copying Apple".

Turns out they weren't jokes.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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