CeBit America, held in New York for the first time last week, has drew about 15,000 attendees. Show organizers said they expected 20,000 to 25,000 attendees. Although not the same scale, CeBit German show had drew more than 560,000 people this year.

CeBit America isn't designed to have the scale of the German version, which draws ordinary computer shoppers as well as businesspeople.

Nevertheless, the quality of CeBit America attendees was good, said the organizer. For 2004, the organization's goal is to exceed 20,000 to 25,000 attendees and to draw more businesspeople rather than just technology specialists.

Like many trade shows in the financially strapped technology industry, Comdex has seen declining attendance. To survive, shows have tightened their focus to specific sectors of the industry.

CeBit organizers have adopted a hybrid plan that recognizes the specialization of vertical markets but also the fact that many computer equipment buyers have to make decisions spanning a broader range of the industry.

By: DocMemory
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