FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Innovation and Enthusiasm for Mac Platform Showcased at MACWORLD
Expo/San Francisco’99
Town Meeting, Conference Programs and Jobs’ Keynote Standing-Room
Only; Special Interest Areas, Corporate Buyers Alliance Attract High
Number of Participants
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 13, 1999 – Nearly 70,000 people flooded MACWORLD
Expo/San Francisco last week at the Moscone Convention Center to see
new products from more than 460 exhibitors, participate in leading
conference programs, hear Apple Computer Inc.’s interim CEO Steve
Jobs’ keynote and attend a first-ever Town Meeting, among other
activities.
The Town Meeting, held Jan. 4, kicked off MACWORLD Expo with nearly a
dozen industry-related experts-including key analysts and Apple
Computer executives addressing the state of the platform and new
emerging technologies. Speakers included; Paul Kent, MACWORLD
Expo/San Francisco conference chairperson, Bob “Dr. Mac” Levitus,
best-selling author, Tim Bajarin, president of Creative Strategies,
and Keith Geck, Apple Computer’s vice president of sales.
The Town Meeting filled seats quickly with creative professionals,
business professionals, and consumers, leaving standing room only.
On Tuesday, Jan. 5, Apple Computer Inc.’s interim CEO Steve Jobs
delivered the keynote address to nearly 5,000 attendees cheering and
applauding the new Power Mac G3, Mac OS X Server, a formidable array
of hot new titles confirming the Mac’s rebirth as a leading-edge
platform, and the five new colors of the iMac.
“We are very excited about the success of MACWORLD Expo/San
Francisco,” said Rob Scheschareg, MACWORLD Expo show director for IDG
Expo Management Co., producers of the show. “From the very start,
professionals and consumers alike crowded MACWORLD Expo to buy
product on the expo floor as well as to learn new techniques and
technologies. If the show floor and filled conference programs were
any indication, MACWORLD Expo attendees had their hands full sampling
new products unveiled by exhibitors at the show, and listening and
learning to Mac experts and industry analysts.”
The MACWORLD Expo Conference Program – featuring Macworld/Pro and
MACWORLD Expo Users conference seminars – reinforced its reputation
as one of the year’s top IT conference programs attracting Mac users,
digital content creative professionals, and first-time computer
users. Some of the most popular conference sessions, dealing with the
iMac, QuickTime, USB, content asset management, digital video and
FireWire, filled seats quickly, leaving standing room only and over
flow rooms for late arrivals.
“The Macworld Expo Conference program offers sessions that are
timely, topical, and packed with information. We worked closely with
Apple Computer and other Mac industry leaders to ensure MACWORLD Expo
conference sessions mirror what Apple is unveiling, along with other
leaders in the Mac community,” said Paul Kent, MACWORLD Expo/San
Francisco conference chairperson. “This was MACWORLD Expo’s most
colorful year from the Town Meeting to the Conference Program by
offering expert advice on newly unveiled products and targeted every
kind of Mac user, whether it be the creative professional, business
professional or consumer.”
MACWORLD Expo/San Francisco premiered two new Special Interest
Environments. The “Consumer Showcase,” including the Macintosh Gaming
Championship and Exhibits, and “Net Innovators” appeared on the show
floor alongside other successful and long-running MACWORLD Expo/San
Francisco special interest areas, such as: “Developer Central,” the
“Education District,” “Business Solutions,” “Extensions Workshop for
Creative Content,” “Digital Media Studio Featuring QuickTime,” and
“Digital Art Gallery.”
“By far, this was one of the best MACWORLD Expos for developers of
all kinds. The debut of the ‘Net Innovators’ environment was
wonderful — and ‘Developer Central’ continued it’s long running
success. Almost one-third of all MACWORLD Expo attendees came through
the two environments, and the vast majority of those attendees were
experienced in web, content, and application development” said Neil
Ticktin, publisher of MacTech and NetProfessional magazines, which
co-sponsored ‘Developer Central’ and ‘Net Innovators’ with Apple.
“The nearly sixty companies participating in these two environment
were thrilled with the discussions they held with show attendees.
Also, DevDepot sales were increased substantially from past
years. All in all, we can not be happier with the success of ‘Net
Innovators’ and ‘Developer Central’ at MACWORLD Expo.”
The Corporate Buyers Alliance, a new program, exceeded exhibitor and
attendee expectations. Qualified exhibitors participated in this
first-time program, which matched corporate buyers walking the show
floor with participating exhibitors offering volume sales incentives.
Retailers and exhibitors alike were besieged by customers looking to
purchase new hardware, Internet, multimedia, peripheral and software
products unveiled at the show. “Our booth was packed with customers
lining up to buy our products and see our demos,” said Nicole
Rowland, spokesperson for Aladdin Systems. “The excitement throughout
the expo could be felt all week and our sales were so great that we
are already looking forward to the next MACWORLD Expo.”
An on-site survey of attendees revealed nearly one third were
representing companies which employ 1,000 or more people. Of the
people attending MACWORLD Expo on behalf of their company, nearly all
– or 95 percent – are involved in purchasing hardware, software or
peripherals for their organization. The survey also revealed that 95
percent of all attendees said they came to MACWORLD Expo/San
Francisco to see new products, while 88 percent said they came to
learn about new technologies.
The number of attendees at this year’s MACWORLD Expo/San Francisco
was 69,800-slightly up from last year’s attendance of 68,000. The
number of exhibiting companies was also up from last year-464 from
450 last year.
For more information about upcoming MACWORLD Expos please visit the
Web site at www.macworldexpo.com
About MACWORLD Expo
MACWORLD Expo produced by IDG Expo Management Company, is the world’s
most comprehensive Macintosh OS event. MACWORLD Expo is the showcase
for products and services geared to professionals and consumers
involved in media and creative content development for corporate and
home applications. MACWORLD Expo leverages the loyal base of Mac OS
audiences in creative services, education, application development,
entertainment, small office/home office and Internet-based
environments. MACWORLD Expo offers professionals and consumers alike
the opportunity to discover the latest developments and hottest
products these markets offer. Multiple conference programs cover
beginning and advanced uses of the Mac. Macworld/Pro Conference
sessions offer a technology-intensive professional development series
for Macintosh design, management and networking professionals. The
Users Conference program covers beginning and advanced uses and
techniques in areas such as Internet, design, integration with NT
systems, education, content asset management, entertainment, and
more. MACWORLD Expo is sponsored by Mac Publishing, LLC, a joint
venture between International Data Group and Ziff Davis, and
publishers of Macworld Magazine, eMediaweekly and MacWEEK.com. For
more information on MACWORLD Expo call 800-645-EXPO or visit the Web
site at www.macworldexpo.com
About IDG Expo Management Company
Headquartered in Norwood, Massachusetts, IDG Expo Management Company
is a premium producer and manager of exposition and conference events
that shape the IT marketplace. IDG Expo Management Company is an
affiliate of the International Data Group (IDG) family of companies.
IDG Expo-produced events include the MACWORLD Expos in Boston and San
Francisco; ComNet in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco and E3 -the
Electronic Entertainment Expo produced for the Interactive Digital
Software Association (IDSA). Each year, more than 2,000 exhibiting
companies and more than 250,000 IT professionals attend IDG’s U.S.
events to buy, sell, learn about and influence the IT purchasing
agenda. IDG Expo Management Company was founded in 1979 as Mitch Hall
Associates. For more information, please call 781-551-9800 or visit
the company’s Web site at www.idgexpos.com
About International Data Group (IDG)
Headquartered in Boston, International Data Group (IDG) informs more
people world wide about information technology than any other company
in the world. With annual revenues of $2.35 billion, IDG is the
leading global provider of IT media, research, conferences and
expositions. IDG publishes more than 290 computer newspapers and
magazines and 700 book titles in 75 countries, led by
Computerworld/InfoWorld, Macworld, Network World, PC World, Channel
World, and the “_For Dummies” global product lines. IDG offers online
users the largest network of technology sites around the world
through IDG.net (http://www.idg.net), which comprises more than 240
targeted web sites in 55 countries. IDG is also a leading producer of
168 computer-related expositions in 35 countries, and its research
arm, International Data Corporation (IDC) provides computer industry
research and analysis through 49 offices in 42 countries world wide.
Company information is available at http://www.idg.com.
Press Contacts:
Michelle Lifton
IDG Expo Management Company
781-440-2827
Mlifton@idgexpos.com
Laura Erdman
Brodeur Porter Novelli
202-973-1386
Lerdman@brodeur.com