CeBIT 2008 starts in Hanover – with sunshine

Computer trade fair CeBIT opened on the 3rd of March in Hanover. German chancellor Angela Merkel is hoping to get a taste of the most important innovations at the trade fair on a tour this morning. She officially opened the trade fair, together with French president Nicolas Sarkozy, EU Commission president José Manuel Barroso and Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer, the evening before.

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Contrary to experience and initial expectations, the weather is currently sunny. The weathermen are, however, predicting traditional changeable CeBIT weather with rain and snow showers and a maximum temperature of around 6°C.

This year CeBIT is one day shorter and has a new structure with three sections. The "Business Solutions" section will provide businesses with answers to questions on software and services. The "Public Sector Solutions" section will exhibit modernisation opportunities, in particular for public administration. "Home & Mobile Solutions" will show products and services for personal use. Halle 1, the largest hall where CeBIT started, will remain closed this year. The new structure should make the trade fair more popular among exhibitors and thus more competitive.

The number of exhibitors has fallen by about five per cent compared to last year, to just over 5800. Exhibition space has fallen by more than ten per cent to around 240,000 square metres.

(trk)