November 21

• Exhibit layout restructured to reflect user needs
• New signposting aids visitor orientation
• SME sector specifically targeted

At next year's CeBIT, which takes place from 9 to 15 March 2006, Hall 1 takes on a whole new look, with a reorganized layout that makes it much easier for visitors to find what they are looking for. In effect Hall 1 forms the hub and centrepiece of the show, and for 2006 it will be clearly divided into three separate sections: the west end of the hall is dedicated to displays of “Digital Imaging and Office Solutions”, the east end houses “Information Management”, and the central section is set aside for corporate presentations by the industry's global players.

Exhibit layout restructured to reflect user needs

The display category “Digital Imaging and Office Solutions” at the west end of the hall encompasses printers and multifunctional systems, together with accessories and a complete range of offerings for digital imaging. The east end of Hall 1 is the main display area for suppliers of document management systems (DMS), storage solutions and software solutions for the management of business data . Larger concerns with their full-range coverage of the market are concentrated in the central section of Hall 1. Among the major players presenting universal business applications here are Datev, Hitachi, IBM, EMC, Fujitsu-Siemens Computers, NCR, Novell, Sun Microsystems and Wincor Nixdorf. Other big-name companies displaying professional solutions for the digital business world include Brother, Casio, Epson, Konica Minolta, Kyocera Mita, Panasonic, Sanyo Fisher, Sharp, Toshiba and Xerox. Also present in Hall 1 with new, enlarged display areas are BenQ, LG and Samsung, all of whom have additional stands in the telecommunications section of CeBIT.

New signposting aids visitor orientation

More emphasis on practical business needs – and more networking opportunities

Next year's show also places more emphasis on practical business needs and offers more opportunities for networking. In each display category visitors will find special presentations designed to highlight the latest developments in ICT in a practical and easy-to-understand way. The “DMS Forum”, for instance, will be hosting a whole series of talks and discussions on different aspects of the theme “IT-based document management”. Meanwhile the parallel presentation “Digital Imaging” focuses on digital photography, covering every stage of the process from image capture and editing to final printout.

SME sector specifically targeted

One of the key target groups for all the exhibiting companies in Hall 1 is the SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) sector. For this reason the businesses exhibiting at the show will be presenting solutions specifically targeted at this sector and offering professional advice and guidance for visitors working in smaller enterprises. In addition, all the relevant lecture events will be broadcast live or on demand on the website www.cebit-mittelstand.de . Prospective visitors can go online first to check out the complete range of offerings for the SME sector at CeBIT. At the show they can then head for the stands of selected exhibitors in Hall 1 and get professional advice tailored to their specific business needs.

urther information about CeBIT 2006 in general and about the individual display categories can be found on the Internet at www.cebit.de .