"Comdex Chicago 2002 successfully mobilized the high tech community around the topics of eMobility and security and gave the industry a view on how to integrate these technologies efficiently in corporate environments," said Monica Vila, president, Comdex.

The keynote speakers also addressed the topics of eMobility and security as Sanjay Kumar, CEO of Computer Associates, one of the five presenters, stressed: "To maximize the return on their investments in eMobility, organizations must reduce their ownership costs through automated management and more efficient use of their information assets. Those organizations that successfully meet these challenges will gain significant competitive advantage as the growth of wireless technology continues to accelerate."

Other keynote presenters were Jim Balsillie, chairman of Research in Motion; Dean Douglas, general manager of Wireless e-business, IBM Global Services; Bill Clift, CTO at Cingular Wireless, and Edward Newman, chairman, president and CEO of Xybernaut Corporation.

Complimenting the central theme of the trade show was the International Conference on Wearable Computing sponsored by Xybernaut. It focused on how businesses can increase worker productivity and derive a competitive advantage by deploying wireless mobile technologies.

• Research in Motion showcased the Java-based BlackBerry Handheld with integrated phone for GSM/GPRS networks in North America. The BlackBerry 5810 incorporates the BlackBerry wireless e-mail solution with the convenience of a built-in phone. Users can also take advantage of SMS and wireless Internet services. In the U.S., both AT&T Wireless and VoiceStream are now accepting orders for the BlackBerry 5810. In Canada, Rogers AT&T Wireless recently signed on to launch the device and service.
• Computer Associates announced partnerships with Sprint PCS and CompuCom to offer its Unicenter management software as part of a mobile service desk package, and the beta release of Advantage Wireless Integrator, a set of mobile application development tools.
• IBM Global Services said its piloting a wireless LAN implementation at Shell service stations called e-Stations, in which a wireless LAN gathers information from pumps, tanks, car washes and convenience stores and sends it to regional headquarters, thus allowing the station to be managed remotely.
• Dell Computer introduced two new notebook computers that feature wireless connectivity and mobile video technology. The Inspiron 8200 and Latitude C840 incorporate the latest chip from Intel, the Pentium 4 processor, which makes the device twice as powerful as its predecessors.