InterOp 2009: Big Networking in the Recession

InterOp, networking's largest tradeshow is underway this week in Las Vegas. But, with the world recession looming big, there's one big question. In the midst of a recession, will buyers actually show up?

InterOp is coming at a challenging time for vendors and their users. In addition to the world recession, tradeshows themselves are on a major decline, impacted not only by the recession, but fears of swine flu, in a time where buyers are moving increasingly to the web to research products and do self training.


According to Network World:

Despite the recession or perhaps in spite of it, there is no shortage of news and speakers scheduled for the event. If the early hype from the conference organizers is any indication, the winds of change – in terms of buyer sentiment – might be picking up.

A survey of over 900 pre-registered attendees released this week by the conference organizers reported that only 20 percent of attendee IT budgets will decrease in comparison with 2008, while 42 percent claimed that they budgets will increase over 2008.

If those numbers turn out to be true, 2009 might not be such a terrible year for IT after all. Then again, we're nearly halfway through the year now, and we all know how positive (or not) the economy has been so far.

So keep your fingers crossed, and let's watch for the reports on how InterOp turns out this week.