COMMTEL, the annual computer exhibition showcasing the latest in computing, computer shopper, software office equipment and accessories, opens in Jeddah today. Being held with the support of the Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, Dr. Mohammed I. Al-Suwaiyel, governor of the Communications & Information Technology Commission, will inaugurate the international expo at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s International Exhibition & Convention Center on Madinah Road at 5 p.m.
Dedicated to business, large and small, CommTel offers company chief executive officers, IT managers, professionals and entrepreneurs with a forum to see the latest technology, communication systems and office environments, all under one roof.
More than 120 local and international companies are participating in the 19th edition of CommTel. Taiwan is repeating its participation in the show, with over 20 companies offering a wide spectrum of products and services. CommTel also features a vast variety of business communications and mobile phones, aside from the latest innovations in PC and IT. It has three distinct sections - one for the corporate sector, second, the “Shopper” for the computer and IT buff and retailers, and third, a dedicated section for female students, businesswomen and women professionals.
The Shopper section provides multiple opportunities in a market whose annual sales of computer and computer-related products are estimated to be in excess of $800 million. The section targets the amateur PC and gadget buffs, aside from the retail buyers around the Kingdom. The event also affords an opportunity for businessmen, traders and investors to find their suppliers from among exhibitors.
Whether interest is in the most current hardware and software, or simply the latest electronic games, mobile phones and computer-related accessories, visitors will find the latest products on display.
Among the factors contributing to the increasing interest in the show are the growing number of landlines, increased use of the Internet, phenomenal growth in mobile phones, aside of course from the steep growth in households with personal computers and constant updating of new technology.
A symposium is also being held for three days from Monday in conjunction with the CommTel exhibition, which is organized by Al-Harithy Company for Exhibitions Ltd. (ACE).
King Abdul Aziz University’s department of IT is organizing the symposium with presentations on related topics — “Electronic University” by Dr. Tareq ibn Fouad Hamdi of Information Technology Center, “Internet Programming Technology” by Dr. Hussein Al-Barhoumtoshi of College of Science and “Electronic Trade” by Dr. Fahad ibn Yousef Al-Aitani of College of Economics & Management.
The show, which coincides with the reopening of schools for a new academic session, is expected to be a big draw for students, teachers and education professionals. In fact, it incorporates back-to-school displays to cater for the requirements of teachers and students, especially computer software and programs.
In its last year’s five-day session, CommTel 2003 had set an overwhelming record in visitor attendance, close to 80,000 visitors.
“CommTel has an outstanding track record for over a decade now as a prominent international event featuring IT, computer shopper and business communications,” a spokesman for the ACE said.
The exhibition has developed in line with global technological advancement and the Kingdom’s economic development as marked by the wide use of Internet and the expanded use of mobile phones in the past six years.
The Jeddah-based ACE, which has been creating partnerships over the past 25 years by organizing various international and national trade exhibitions, has emerged as a leading event organizer. “The first to own dedicated exhibition venues and organize international trade shows in the kingdom, the ACE has staged in excess of 300 successful exhibitions in the city across a wide range of industry sectors since the late 1970’s,” the ACE spokesman added.
The CommTel will run daily from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. up to Thursday.