The Consumer Technology Association is set to host the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas next year. However, four technology companies from around the world have moved away from the decision to participate in the exhibition.
Amazon, Meta, Twitter and T-Mobile have withdrawn their names due to fears that the new variant of the Covid-19 could be infected with Omicron. Earlier this year, the exhibition was announced to be completed online only. But in an announcement in April, the Consumer Technology Association said the 2022 exhibition would be held in person. However, in case of participation, the organizers arranged for the participants to be shown the information of vaccination. But fears of an Omicron infection have forced companies to change their minds.
In a statement to Bloomberg, Amazon stated that they will not be physically present at the center of the event due to the rapid transmission and instability of the Omicron variant of the Covid-19. The company's smart home subsidiary Ring will also not participate. On the other hand, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, said that they will not take part in the exhibition directly due to health concerns caused by Covid-19. A spokesman for the company told Engadget that the company would do its best to join the virtual exhibition. In particular, this initiative is to continue working with the Call to Action (CTA) on display. This is important for Meta, Meta customers and business partners.
Similarly, Twitter has moved away from the decision to participate directly in the Consumer Electronics Show due to the rising rate of infection in Corona last week.
Along with Meter, this platform is also thinking of joining virtually. Even T-Mobile, the show's sponsor, has backtracked on its decision to attend and is considering limiting its activities to the show.
In a statement, the platform said that the organizers have taken various security measures to protect those who will be attending the exhibition and we also have many preventive measures. We also take the safety of our team and other participants seriously. In addition to these organizations, Pinterest and iHeartRadio have changed their decision to participate. Although much remains to be learned about the Omicron variant of the Covid-19, researchers say that the rate of infection is higher. In addition, vaccines such as Synovac and Cinnofarm do not provide adequate protection against this variant.
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is the busiest time on the technology calendar. Here various organizations showcase their own device-gadgets as well as discuss new trends. It is held in hotels and convention centers around the world. Earlier, the exhibition was able to attract more than 180,000 visitors. It was organized virtually last year with the help of the Consumer Technology Association. At the time, the organization said the safe gathering of thousands of people around the exhibition was almost impossible.
In an interview with the BBC, Gary Shapiro, the exhibition's organizer that year, said he hoped the 2022 exhibition would be "massively crowded". However, there must be social distance and hygiene system.