We're still weeks away from the January 10, 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), and yet it's been making headlines for months. First, we learned that popular men's television channel Spike TV was named an official partner. Then, we discovered that video game giant Nintendo is slated to make an appearance at the upcoming trade show. Today's news, however, is not so positive.
The Washington Post reports that 2012 will be Microsoft's final year at CES. Microsoft, which has been the show's "anchor company" for years, has decided to pull out after this year's show because "it no longer fits its needs and its timing does not always mesh with its product announcements."
Microsoft's announcement is a particularly huge blow because, according to Wired, the corporation has delivered the keynote at the event for 14 years. It begs the question: Now that Microsoft has decided to not appear after 2012, who will take over? Some speculate that Samsung, which has a dominant seat in the world of Android, may be a good fit.
Others wonder if Amazon, Google or Apple may take over the keynote.
No matter what, the promotional electronics trade show will go on! As Rotman Epps told Wired, "CES is bigger than Microsoft — it has become the most important place for partners in the tech ecosystem to connect and do business."
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