Microsoft to pull out of CES keynote, booth

The Jan. 9 keynote presentation of Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) will be the company’s last at the annual industry extravaganza.

In a blog item posted Wednesday by Frank Shaw, corporate vice president of communications, Microsoft said this year’s booth, usually one of the most prominent at the show, will also be the last.

“We’ll continue to participate in CES as a great place to connect with partners and customers across the PC, phone and entertainment industries, but we won’t have a keynote or booth after this year because our product news milestones generally don’t align with the show’s January timing,” Shaw said.

In recent years, Microsoft has held more of its own events throughout the year to announce new products or to reach specific audiences.

CES’ organizer, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), noted in a statement that Microsoft has delivered the keynote for 14 years but acknowledged that both the association and Microsoft “have agreed that the time has come to end this great run.”

The Microsoft keynote, which usually kicks off the giant show, has been a major draw. Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and Ballmer used the occasion to introduce and show off new products and discuss their vision of the industry.

CES, held in early January in Las Vegas, is one of the largest industry trade shows.