LG could join Nokia in leaving phone show

LG may follow Nokia in leaving Mobile World Congress this year. Following a rumor from within LG, the cellphone designer's Dutch division has reportedly confirmed to AllAboutPhones that it won't have a booth at the Barcelona show. Like Nokia, it will instead hold its presence and show any new models at a location outside of the event.

The Korea-based company's exit is justified by the source as a combination of rival advertising as well as the state of the event itself. Samsung appears to have bought the majority of hanging banner ads at the show and would effectively steal the limelight from LG, which had the run of the Mobile World Congress floor this year. Simultaneously, the show is no longer 'what it once was' and may not have the intended effect.

Both departures could prove major blows to the trade gathering and reflect an increasing belief that concentrating launches at industry-wide events has produced few results. Apple has been one of the quickest-rising smartphone manufacturers but has consciously avoided press events for the iPhone that it didn't directly control beyond the original Macworld appearance, while its close opponent Research in Motion will exhibit but often prefers to release new BlackBerries outside of trade events.

By Electronista Staff