CEA Confirms It’s ‘Working With Microsoft’ on Exhibit Space for January CES

Days after IFA organizers’ revelation that Microsoft will mount an exhibit at the Berlin show in September to promote the release of Windows 10 (see 1504270040), CEA confirmed that it’s nearing a contract that would return Microsoft to the CES exhibit floor for the first time in four years. “We are working with Microsoft on space for 2016 but have not finalized a contract with them,” Karen Chupka, CEA senior vice president-International CES and corporate business strategy, emailed us Wednesday. CEA also is “waiting on a contract” from Microsoft’s “Xbox group” to exhibit at CEA’s inaugural CES Asia show in late May in Shanghai, Chupka said. “As a result we don't count either as an exhibitor until a final signed contract is received.” Microsoft ended its 14-year run as a CES exhibitor and keynoter with the January 2012 show, saying then that CES no longer served its needs “because our product news milestones generally don’t align with the show’s January timing” (see 1112230090). As for whether Microsoft will return to CES next January in a keynoting role as well as an exhibitor, Chupka said: “We haven’t confirmed all of our keynoters so I cannot answer this at this time.” Microsoft representatives wouldn't comment about their IFA and CES show participation.