Intel cancels Taiwan forum due to economy

From CNET News.com: Production isn't the only thing being scaled back at Intel because of the world economy. The world's largest chipmaker will cancel its developer conference in Taiwan this year and scale back the one in Beijing.

The Intel Developer Forum in Taiwan typically takes place in October, while China IDF is in April. The IDF in the United States in September will not be affected, Intel said Monday. The Beijing IDF will be shortened to a one-day event. It is typically two days.

Intel uses the IDF to launch many of its products and technologies. For example, the new Core i7 chip was launched at the U.S. IDF last year.

"It's the economy," said David Dickstein, an Intel spokesman. "The reaction we've gotten from exhibitors and sponsors when we told them about the scale-back in Beijing and cancellation of Taiwan, actually was overwhelmingly positive. They're saying it helps with their bottom line."

Attendance will fall dramatically in Beijing. "Before we would bring more than 100 international press to the event. But now the event is really geared toward the local community. We're looking at under 1,000 attendees instead of 5,000 plus," he said. Dickstein said he is working on ways to bring Beijing IDF to the world. "We're looking at a virtual conference," he said.

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