Mobile and Wireless: Mobile World Congress 2012: Sights and Sounds

BARCELONA, Spain - The Mobile World Congress is the wireless industry's premier annual conference, drawing vendors and attendees from across the globe to discuss, compare and collaborate on the most advanced mobile technologies. In 2011, more than 60,000 people headed to Barcelona to participate in the four-day event, with even more expected to have attended this year. More than 12,000 mobile application developers are expected to attend, as well as more than 3,000 CEOs and 1,400 exhibitors spread out across eight halls. As usual, competition for eyeballs was fierce, with Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt's keynote address standing out as the must-see event. Google's massive Android display featured a variety of interactive attractions, and attendees could get a caricature sketch by local artists at Samsung's booth, which heavily showcased the company's Galaxy Note 10.1 with the S Pen. Warm weather and sunny skies kept the hectic crowds in a positive mood whenever they ventured off the show floor (or out of the media center, as the case may be), as deals were made, ideas exchanged and photos taken. Here is a glimpse into this year's show.