The landmark tech industry event will be relaunched by United Business Media as a virtual trade show in November.

Antone Gonsalves, Contributor

March 5, 2010

2 Min Read

United Business Media, which bought the Comdex brand in 2006, says it will relaunch the once mighty Las Vegas trade show as a virtual event in November.

Virtual Comdex, which will take place Nov. 16-17, will be built on a globally enabled technology platform that will feature a virtual version of the city of Las Vegas that offers the city's dazzling lights without the traffic jams, crowds, and long taxi cab lines of the old Comdex, which has been shuttered since 2003.

UBM, which publishes InformationWeek, bought the Comdex brand as part of its acquisition of MediaLive International in 2006. At its peak, the trade show attracted more than 200,000 visitors a year and 2,300 IT exhibitors from around the world.

The virtual Comdex is being launched by UBM's Everything Channel unit. "When Comdex first launched, it was positioned as a show for the technology sales channel, we are pleased to bring it back to its initial mission," Robert Faletra, chief executive of Everything Channel, said in a statement released Thursday.

The Comdex virtual environment will be created by UBM Studios, a creative and strategic marketing agency specializing in such projects. The environment will include:

  • A Grand Hall of Masters for showcasing keynote speakers.

  • A Conference Hall offering technical, product, channel and business training for technology sellers through online content and conference tracks.

  • An Exhibit Hall, which will have booths and pavilions where technology vendors can meet sellers to discuss strategies, product value and programs.

  • Hospitality Suites to host private meetings, briefings and cocktail parties with customers, partners and media.

  • A Media Room to host registered journalists and industry analysts and provide a place where exhibitors can brief reporters, editors and analysts.

  • The CRN Test Center, which will release live reviews and demos of the industry's latest technology.

Attendees of Virtual Comdex may visit exhibitors' digital booths and participate in webcasts and webinars.

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