EHX Spring 2008 Concludes with the Latest in Custom Home Electronics

Business Wire, March 17, 2008

Trend Spotting, Media Center Training and Emerging Technologies Take Center Stage

ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Electronic House Expo (EHX) Spring 2008, held in Orlando, FL, March 11-15, attracted thousands of industry professionals to one of the largest displays of custom electronics products in show history. EHX Spring 2008 is produced by EH Events and sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Association's (CEA[R]) TechHome Division. EHX Fall 2008 runs November 4-7 in Long Beach, CA, and EHX Spring 2009 will be March 10-14 once again in Orlando, FL.

The opening keynote panel on Thursday, March 13, featured Mike Seamons, vice president of marketing, Exceptional Innovation, moderating a panel of the industry's brightest minds. The panel focused on trend spotting, with topics ranging from servicing customers with service the ultimate goal, to the connected home to the future of Wi-Fi TV.

Wireless trends were heavily discussed with the Head Monster of Monster Cable, Noel Lee, joking that with the advancement of technology, soon he will have to call his company "Monster Cableless." Panelists predicted that displays will drive connectivity, upgraded design can increase sales and as new home sales drop, integrators and custom installers need to focus on the existing home market, which is largely untapped. Panelists included: Jeremy Burkhart, CEO, SpeakerCraft; Scott Evans, group manager, Microsoft; Doug Fikse, president, On-Q Legrand; Noel Lee, head monster, Monster Cable; Charlie Porritt, vice president of sales, Russound; David Rodarte, president, NuVo Technologies; and Mike Tangora, president, The CiAlliance.

EHX Spring 2008 also featured 300 companies introducing new products in the custom electronics market, including the latest in audio/video entertainment, digital convergence, home networking, home theater and video, multi-room audio, IP networking, lighting control, home automation and wireless networking. The focus of this year's event was education with a heavy emphasis on media center training. The EHX conference program included more than 50 core curriculum seminars in product, system design and business training. One hundred manufacturer training sessions along with one and two day workshops focused on start-up business essentials, mastering multi-room audio, high-end theater and home design, plus CEA-CompTIA DHTI Certification Prep classes.

CEA researchers Shawn DuBravac and Steve Koenig kicked off Friday with the EHX Wake-Up Call Breakfast where they presented results from CEA's Sixth Annual State of the Builder Technology Study. The presentation focused on mega trends identified as: price deflation, collapsing convergence, sales channel proliferation, rise of software and services and interoperability issues. Overall, satisfaction is high across custom installers.

At the conclusion of the presentation attendees broke out into round-tables to discuss how to best excel in the current economic market, which builders present the greatest opportunity for custom integrators, how to keep satisfaction high and best ways to develop the 30-second company pitch. The session also encouraged home builders to leverage their expertise, educate custom installers on differentiation and market technology features effectively.

EHX offered daily networking opportunities and after hours events. The EHX Mixer on March 13 set the scene for networking among industry professionals, followed by a live musical performance at EHX After Hours by John Gorka, an icon of folk music. The annual Mark of Excellence Awards banquet, honoring industry leaders in the connected home market, was Friday, March 14, at the Rosen Centre Hotel.

About EHX

Electronic House Expo, a Tradeshow Week magazine Fastest 50 event for five years running, is the fastest growing trade event of the $13 billion custom electronics industry. Held twice annually and sponsored by CEA's TechHome Division, EHX attracts a large and dynamic audience of custom electronics integrators, retailers and allied trades to interact with leading suppliers of audio/video entertainment, digital convergence, networking and communications, comfort and control, and security and electrical products. For more information, visit www.ehxweb.com.

About CEA:

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the $161 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. More than 2,200 companies enjoy the benefits of CEA membership, including legislative advocacy, market research, technical training and education, industry promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES - Where Entertainment, Technology and Business Converge. All profits from CES are reinvested into CEA's industry services. Find CEA online at www.CE.org.

UPCOMING EVENTS

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Digital Patriots Dinner
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April 2, 2008, Washington, DC
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CEA Washington Forum
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April 2-4, 2008, Washington, DC
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International CES/Hometech
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May 25-27, 2008, Dubai, UAE
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ConnectionsTM: The Digital Living Conference and Showcase
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June 24-26, 2008, Santa Clara, CA
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SINOCES 2008
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July 10-13, 2008, Qingdao, China
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CEA Industry Forum
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October 19-22, 2008, Las Vegas, NV
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Digital Hollywood
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October 27-30, 2008, Hollywood, CA
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EHX Fall 2008
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November 4-7, 2008, Long Beach, CA