ShowStoppers press event rocks Consumer Electronics Show

More than 115 companies introduce new products,
sneak preview gadgets, tools for work, home and play

CLEVELAND, 17 Jan. 2006 – More than 115 companies introduced new products, demonstrated their latest gadgets, and sneak previewed promising new consumer electronics, business technologies and software for work, home and play at this year’s ShowStoppers media reception during the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Hundreds of reporters and analysts -- pre-qualified and hand selected -- attended the private event, including journalists from ABC News, Asahi Broadcasting, the Associated Press, Barron’s, BBC, Cargo, CBC, CBS News, CNET, CNN, Consumer Reports, Detroit Free Press, engadget, Entertainment Weekly, the Financial Times, Fox News, G4 TV, Gannett, Good Housekeeping, the Los Angeles Times, Men’s Health, MTV, NBC, the New York Times, Newsweek, NPR, PC Magazine, PC World, Popular Science, Reuters, the Rocky Mountain News, Runner’s World, San Diego Union Tribune, San Jose Mercury News, Sirius Satellite Radio, Stern, the Sydney Morning Herald, the Times of London, USA Today, US News & World Report, the Wall Street Journal, Walt Disney, the Washington Post, Yahoo and ZDF.

They saw live demos from industry leaders and discovered new companies – among them Actron, AutoXray, Aliph, AskMeNow, ATO, Banshee Audio, Brookstone, Browster, Cellfan.com, Cree, Davis Instruments, D-Link, Dymo, eMagin, EPOS, Griffin Technology, H20 Audio, HAI (Home Automation Inc.), iGo – Mobility Electronics, InFocus, Jadoo Power Systems, Kingston, Klipsch, Kodak, Linksys, McAfee, Opera Software, OQO, Panda Software, Scratch-Less Disc, Sling Media, Sunbelt Software, Swissbit, Tao, Tenebril, Uniden, Xingtone, Xitel, Zone Labs and many others.

"I wanted to express our sincere gratitude for making our participation at ShowStoppers possible,” said Tom Harvey of theCommunications, which represented ShowStoppers sponsor H20 Audio. “We are in process of erecting a shrine so we can burn incense in your honor at the office. I told Eric Strauss at ABC -NY we felt being there was the most important piece of CES and that you all did a fantastic job coordinating the event."

Sponsors have already seen global coverage by, among others, ABC News, CBS News, the Courier-Journal, the Detroit Free Press, Fuel Cell Today, Geekzone, Inc., Lockergnome, Mobility Today, PC Magazine, PC World, Playlist, the Rocky Mountain News, SQL Server Magazine, Strategiy in the United Arab Emirates, TMCnet, USA Today, the Ventura County Star, the Wall Street Journal, and WinInformant.

“We appreciate the fact ShowStoppers doesn’t let just anyone in. It is important for us to spend our time with the highest quality editors, reporters and analysts,” said Alan Penchansky, president, The Pen Group Public Relations, which represented ShowStoppers sponsor Avanquest Software, a leading developer and publisher of business and consumer software for the global PC market.

ShowStoppers also hosted for the fifth consecutive year the PC World “Innovations Awards,” given to products that transcend the boundaries of computers and consumer electronics, push the limits of technology, define industry standards and raise the threshold for what is considered inspired and unique. Winners that received their awards during ShowStoppers included Airgo Networks, Apple, Avvenu, Creative Technology, Fujitsu, Google, JVC, Kodak, Maxtor, Microsoft, Mitsubishi, NEC, Nintendo, Nokia, Panasonic, Sling Media, Sonos, Sony, TiVo, Toshiba and Yamaha.

“Presenting our awards at ShowStoppers gives us a high profile while also providing an excellent experience for the award winners,” said Sandy Wong, senior director of marketing, PC World.

“I loved ShowStoppers. H2O Audio, Scratch-Less Disc, EPOS, Actron – these were priceless introductions,” said Eric M. Strauss, producer and host, ABC News.

“This was an effective, efficient event. The food spread looked great. We just wish we had time to have some. We were so busy at our booth that we ended up at Burger King at midnight,” said Peter Avritch from ShowStoppers sponsor 1stCertified.com.

In addition, celebrity sightings at ShowStoppers included NFL legends Troy Aikman and Boomer Esiason, and comedian Gallagher.

ShowStoppers will host press receptions at Interop, C3 Expo, NYC – October, and other trade shows. For information about sponsoring, please contact Dave Leon, 845-638-3527. Reporters who want to attend future ShowStoppers events should contact Steve Leon.

About ShowStoppers

Founded in 1993, ShowStoppers produces award-winning media receptions that have helped more than 1,000 companies introduce new products to more than 10,000 reporters. ShowStoppers is the fastest, easiest, most economical way to meet the press. Sponsors meet personally with reporters, editors and columnists from the best business, technology and consumer publications - as well as industry analysts and selected members of the investment community.