145,868 Industry Professionals Attend 2005 CES, Setting New Show Record -- With more than 22,000 international attendees and 40,000 senior level executives from 110 countries, the 2005 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) drew a record 145,868 industry professionals, January 6-9, 2005, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 2005 International CES was the largest in the show's 39-year history in terms of overall attendance, international attendance and exhibitor square footage. The record-breaking attendance for 2005 showed a nine percent increase from 2004, while attracting 51 percent of Fortune 500 companies. This year 2,500 exhibitors participated utilizing 1.5 million square feet of exhibit space. Leading global companies in the audio, accessories, broadcasting, cable, digital imaging, electronic gaming, emerging technology, home networking, home theater, mobile electronics, video and wireless industries attend the International CES. With more than 1.4 million square feet of exhibit space already sold, the 2006 International CES will be held Thursday, January 5 through Sunday, January 8, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Alternative Payment Methods (APMs) – comprising digital wallets, instant payments, and QR payment systems – are experiencing explosive growth that's reshaping the global financial services marketplace. According to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research , the combined global transaction value for APMs is projected to reach $142 trillion by 2030. What's particularly fascinating is the underlying driver behind this trend: a growing desire for financial sovereignty, with nations developing domestic payment ecosystems rather than remaining dependent on international financial networks. Payment Ecosystem Market Development In 2024, approximately 45 percent of the global population used digital wallets – a remarkable adoption rate for a technology that barely existed a decade ago. China leads this transition, with 95 percent of its population using WeChat's payment functionality. WeChat exemplifies the "super app" phenomenon, where payment capabilities are in...