CEA Creates Wireless Unit

Staff On Jan 22 2001 - 8:00am

LAS VEGAS -The Consumer Electronics Association has created a Wireless and Communications Division that will be open to manufacturers and retailers to help increase retail sales of wireless products, president Gary Shapiro announced during CES.

The division's mission is to help grow the wireless sector through such efforts as retail training, market and consumer research, promotional programs, and issue advocacy, the association said. Audiovox Corp. CEO John Shalam will represent the Wireless Communications Division on the CEA board of directors until a division meeting is held to name a chair.

The division will focus on such wireless services and products as phones, PDAs, handheld PCs and Internet appliances, and its tasks will include the development of a wireless retail sales training and certification program and a national database of wireless retailers.

The division will also work to facilitate convergence among consumer electronics and wireless products. Other proposed projects include the development of wireless conference tracks and special events at International CES.

CEA's executive board has approved the initial funding to launch the division and hire a new full-time staff person.

"CEA created this new division because wireless technology is one of the fastest growing consumer product categories," said Shapiro. "With more than 200 wireless companies exhibiting at CES, 50 companies already members, and many of our other members adding wireless applications to their existing products, there is substantial interest in CEA and CES from the wireless community."

The association also cited the "lack of existing industry programs to address the specific business needs of this rapid growth area of the consumer electronics industry."