CES 2009 Preview: Why Mobile WorkHorse is THE Blog for CES Coverage

This Thursday, January 8 marks the start of the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), running in Las Vegas through Sunday, January 11. And while there will certainly be no shortage of blogs and news outlets covering the plethora of tech news that will emerge, there’s only one destination for the kind of mobile specific, in-depth analysis you’ve come to expect from my CIO.com blog: The Mobile WorkHorse. Here’s why.

As you may or may not know, CIO.com is an IDG-owned website, as are a variety of additional tech sites including the venerable PCWorld.com, the esteemed Computerworld.com and the uber-popular Macworld.com. As such, all of these publications, and more, share online content. Because these three tech powerhouses will also be at CES and they’re news outlets first and foremost, CIO.com, will utilize their great CES news coverage—freeing me up to skip all the press-release-rehashing and focus on the best-of-the-best mobile products at the show, and more importantly, what it all means to you, the business user.

In other words, don’t expect any write-ups of jawdroppingly large TV sets or funky new iPod paraphernalia here.

What you can expect is information on, and images of, the latest products and services for your BlackBerry or other smartphone, laptops or other mobile computers and wireless goodies.

With more than 2,700 exhibitors and upwards of 1.7 million net square feet of exhibit space, CES 2009 will be a veritable tech amusement park, and I’m flying to Vegas tomorrow morning to make sure I get there with plenty of time to prepare for the chaos.

I’ve got briefings scheduled with all the major handset heavies, including Palm—which was also kind enough to invite me to its VIP event, where the new “Nova” mobile OS and an associated device will be touted—Research In Motion, Nokia and (hopefully) Windows Mobile. (Still working out last minute details with the WinMo folks.)

I’ve also got a variety of appointments with some interesting mobile/wireless industry folks from groups like the CDMA Development Group and the USB Implementers Forum, both of which I expect to deliver some valuable insights into their respective fields.

To whet your appetite for all the good stuff I’ve got coming for you, here’s an image of the as-of-yet-unreleased BlueAnt Q1 Bluetooth headset. If you haven’t already heard of the company, BlueAnt is an Australian firm that makes some very impressive Bluetooth, hands-free headsets, including the popular V1, which is great for advanced or demanding users because it’s completely voice-enabled.

Though the BlueAnt Q1, pictured above, won’t be available until at least the second quarter of 2009, I’ve been assured that I’ll get some hands on time with it at CES, along with a “wind machine” to put it through the motions. (More images and details on the BlueAnt Q1 coming this week.)

Also, don’t forget to follow Mobile WorkHorse on Twitter, where I’ll be posting all of my CES 2009 coverage. (For an insider’s look at the show itself—and, of course, the after parties—follow my personal Twitter feed, as well. But be forewarned: It’s N(always)SFW, especially when I’m in Las Vegas. 😉

AS