In slightly over every week’s time (February 26-29) round 85,000 or so attendees will descend upon the Fira de Barcelona for Cellular World Congress 2024. Over the previous few years, the present has turn into arguably a very powerful cell occasion of the yr. Telephone makers, telecoms and quite a lot of different tech distributors, journalists and analysts converge to debate what the subsequent yr will maintain for the trade.

Like each different main in-person occasion, the previous couple of years have been rocky for MWC. In 2019, the present hit 109,000 guests — not fairly CES numbers (which hit ~175,000 that very same yr), however nonetheless a powerful turnout for what’s finally a considerably extra narrowly targeted present. COVID hit the present arduous for a couple of years (be part of the membership).

After many main vendor withdrawals and weeks of handwringing, the GSM Affiliation (GMA) canceled the 2020 occasion. A considerably scaled again model of the occasion occurred the next yr, with a tough cap on attendance. 2022 noticed the beginnings of a bounce again to 60,000 attendees, whereas final yr hit 88,500. Organizers anticipate an analogous determine for this yr’s occasion. The quantity remains to be down considerably from the present’s top, however MWC nonetheless qualifies as a big present.

It’s a very good bit more durable, nevertheless, to guage the present’s present degree of significance for the trade. That is due in no small half to some macro tendencies which have impacted just about each tech trade tradeshow. Even previous to the pandemic, giant distributors had begun migrating to their very own standalone occasions, in order to not get misplaced among the many noise. COVID solely expedited the development, as firms had been compelled to determine stay occasion streaming.

A number of the largest trade names now not have a serious presence. Take Samsung, which has taken to asserting its new flagships throughout the once-slow weeks between CES and MWC. As we head into this yr’s occasion, I’d like to inform you that — as with CES — small, fascinating startups have rushed in to fill that void, nevertheless it’s probably not the case. Not less than it’s nowhere close to the diploma of what we’ve seen from the Vegas occasion.

There’s a respectable sufficient startup presence at MWC, although it takes the type of its personal sister occasion. 4FYN (that’s 4 Years From Now) is celebrating its tenth yr of existence in 2024. Hopefully that may translate into an thrilling exhibiting. The occasion is run by the identical group in the identical venue. I’ve come to think about it because the Cellular World Congress equal to CES’ Eureka Park: a giant, cacophonous room stuffed with startups. There are actually worst methods to spend a day for work.

For the businesses that take part on the present ground and in pitch-offs, it’s an opportunity to get an viewers with MWC’s giant and engaged viewers. For us, it’s a possibility to take a look at smaller corporations that may have in any other case flown below the radar. The occasion isn’t unique to European startups, however they have an inclination to dominate for causes of proximity. It’s rather a lot simpler to swing over to Spain than it’s to fly throughout an ocean and a continent or two to be able to hand around in the neon pit of despair that’s Las Vegas, Nevada.

Should you’re planning to indicate off some fascinating new tech, tell us right here.

A number of the tendencies I anticipate dominating the dialog embody a continued deal with health-centered wearables, together with newer kind components just like the sensible ring. Head-worn shows have at all times had one thing of a presence on the present. It appears to be among the many larger exhibits for HTC Vive, as an illustration. Within the wake of Apple’s Imaginative and prescient Professional launch and Qualcomm’s dedication to AR and VR, I count on to be speaking rather a lot about this as soon as the present kicks off.

MWC can be a enjoyable present for idea gadgets. That is the place Lenovo/Motorola shine. The truth is, the extra I give it some thought, the extra I’m satisfied that Lenovo is having probably the most enjoyable among the many world’s main shopper electronics producers. Count on every part to fold and/or slide. Some shall be pure ideas, however Lenovo’s not afraid to launch some actually, delightfully bizarre stuff. There’s even a “clear laptop computer” at present rumored for the occasion.

Talking of rumors, Nothing’s mid-tier 2a handset is pegged for a March 5 launch (albeit an apparently restricted one right here within the U.S.). Carl Pei’s previous firm, OnePlus, can even be current. Final yr’s present discovered the corporate leaning into its personal line of idea gadgets. This yr, in the meantime, it’s rumored to be readying the discharge of the OnePlus Watch 2.

Extra broadly talking, count on AI in every single place at MWC, however be ready to chop by means of the BS (don’t fear, we’re right here to assist). Samsung broke the “generative AI smartphone seal with the Galaxy S24 line,” and now it’s going to be out in full kind with functions starting from useful to ridiculous. I’m cautiously optimistic in regards to the proliferation of AI gadgets within the mildew of the Humane Pin and Rabbit R1. As with CES, I anticipate robots getting a second to shine on the occasion, albeit primarily from European firms this day trip. There’s additionally the matter of that Xiaomi automotive.

Above all, it is a large present for telecos, and sure, the 6G conversations have already begun. Bear in mind earlier than the inevitable deluge, nevertheless, that we’re nonetheless within the VERY early stage of growth. No normal has been agreed upon and we’re doubtless ~4 years out from truly seeing appropriate gadgets. Nonetheless, 5.5G/5G superior may be very a lot a actuality being pushed by Chinese language corporations, specifically. Count on to listen to rather a lot about this — and different issues — from Huawei, which has spent the final a number of years slowly clawing its manner again up after dropping entry to Google and Qualcomm merchandise.

Additionally very actual and more likely to be very current at this yr’s present is Wi-Fi, which succeeds Wi-Fi 6E as the newest wi-fi normal. TechCrunch shall be stay and current at MWC, as nicely.