Barcelona's 3GSM Convention Has All Eyes On Apple

Apple is set to steal the show at 3GSM Convention as the company will display the cell phone/Mp3 player of the future with the iPhone. This is the first time that Apple will be on the same stage of the other main players in the industry. It was like a sizmec earthquake that hit companies as the iPhone has stolen the spotlight on Research in Motion's Blackberry and Motorola's vast array of handheld devices. As Nokia and Sony Ericsson release their latest high end products, they probably are anxious as to see if anyone really even cares and that their products will be lost in the iPhone onslaught.

"The issue with the iPhone is that very few people have seen one or had a chance to play with it. Is it really a sea change? Is it really that revolutionary? That's hard to assess without getting your hands on it," Matthew Hatton of Yankee Group tells Dow Jones Media Group.

The bright side for the companies that will compete with the iPhone is that they will know exactly what they are up against. Only Cingular and Apple Execs have had access to the phone for extended periods of time. The convention will allow industry people to see exactly what makes the iPhone tick and probably will be able to point at the shortcomings of the device might be.

1,300 companies will be at 3GSM this year. Sony Ericsson's W880i Walkman and Motorola's KRZR K3 will be other hot topics at the convention.