This year MWC drew over 85,000 people from all around the world to see, “What’s next.” It was the who’s who and what’s what of technology and innovation now. The latest phones, ideas, and gadgets from wearables to cameras to headphones to interactive automotive apps were demonstrated in two massive exhibition centers full of 1,800 exhibitors showing the world how they’re steering tomorrow. It was a huge year for the internet of things and a generation that we’re excited to be a part of — even though I’m still waiting on my Lockitron order like most of you.
For us, it was an eye opening spectacle showcasing the scale of possibility that exists in this marketplace. We made great contacts with new partners, vendors and customers and got a sneak peek at some pretty cool tech on the horizon.
There were impressive keynotes from the likes of Zukerberg, Lance Howarth, Jan Koum and more. And the event was so big that there were app developer mini conferences. But of course the buzz is all around the tech. It’s the hotspot for new smartphone releases — mainly phablets. The Verge has a really nice capture of the big tech highlights.
Here are some lessons learned from the week of MWC 2014:
- Leave for the exhibition halls early unless you want to play taxi bumper cars
- Wear your boots that were made for walking
- Carry a lot of business cards
- Be ready to lose your voice
Of course, we took time to explore Barcelona and sampled a lot of local cuisine – especially the jamon iberico de bellota (AKA ham of the gods). It was a busy time full of meetings and shaking hands, and just trying to take it all in. But we’re glad to be back with a bigger perspective for our vision going forward.
