Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to Deliver Preshow Keynote Address at the 2012 International CES

Arlington, Va., July 6, 2011 – The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)® announced today that Steve Ballmer, Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft Corporation, will deliver a preshow keynote address at the 2012 International CES®. Owned and produced by CEA, the 2012 International CES, the world's largest consumer technology tradeshow, is scheduled January 10-13, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"We are pleased to welcome Microsoft back to the CES keynote stage," said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CEA. "From mobile to desktop to gaming and beyond, Microsoft has a significant impact on all aspects of the consumer technology industry, and Steve Ballmer's keynote is a great way to kick off the exciting 2012 International CES. We are excited to hear Microsoft's latest initiatives and Ballmer's vision for where consumer technology is heading."

Ballmer's preshow keynote address is slated for 6:30 p.m., Monday, January 9, in The Venetian. Microsoft has used the CES keynote stage in previous years to unveil innovative new products, including the original Xbox and Avatar Kinect.

The full line-up of 2012 International CES keynote addresses will be announced in coming months.

The 2012 International CES will feature more than 2,700 global technology companies unveiling the latest consumer technology products and services across 15 major product categories including the latest in audio, automotive electronics, connected home technologies, digital imaging, electronic gaming, entertainment/content and more. For more information on the 2012 International CES, visit CESweb.org.

About CEA
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the $186 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. More than 2,000 companies enjoy the benefits of CEA membership, including legislative advocacy, market research, technical training and education, industry promotion, standards development and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA also owns and produces the International CES – The Global Stage for Innovation. All profits from CES are reinvested into CEA's industry services. Find CEA online at www.CE.org and www.Innovation-Movement.com.

As for where Google fits with those three key rivals, Schmidt says the search company has “tried very hard to partner with Facebook” and that the social network has “done a number of things which I admire.” He’s particularly keen on how Facebook handles user-identity, with the imminent +1 for websites launch described as “not directly” chasing the social network but obviously an attempt to build Google’s social strategy. Nonetheless, Schmidt says he takes the blame for Google’s slow reaction to online identity, saying he recently dug out a four year old memo saying the company must address the issue but that “I failed to do it.” “A CEO should take responsibility” he admits, “I screwed up.”

“I’m not sure what to say about Microsoft and Nokia” Schmidt demurred, questioned about the two companies’ partnership on Windows Phone, expected to lead to the first Nokia WP7.1 device in Q4 this year. “We would have loved and we would still love to have Nokia be an Android licensee.” As Schmidt sees it, one of the main challenges facing Windows Phone and platforms other than Android and iOS is developer investment: “many people do not have a third choice” to build apps beyond the Apple and Google platforms, since simply catering for those two is a considerable amount of work.

Meanwhile, a demo of Google Wallet revealed that, while it will initially demand an Android phone, Schmidt envisages it spreading to other platforms in the future. “Within a few years almost all of us will be using this mechanism” he claims, pointing to the fact that the necessary chip could be embedded in a sticker slapped on the back of any handset.

Questioned on Android and Chrome OS, Schmidt again said that the former is for touch devices and the latter is for keyboard devices like the upcoming Chromebooks. “There’s a possible merge point in the future” he admits, but right now they’re different devices. Similarly, while developers may be considering dropping specific iOS and Android app programs and instead looking to generic HTML5 apps, Schmidt thinks that would be premature: something many years away from now.

Finally, the Google chairman made a few comments about security, pointing out that Chromebooks would be more internet-protected thanks to the features in the Chrome browser. “You could also use a Mac instead of a PC” to be more virus-resilient, he quipped.