[2] Successful Launch of Internet Device Builder Conference Brings Together Emerging Community of Internet Appliance Innovators.

Business Editors

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 10, 2000

Penton Media Inc.'s Internet Device Builder Conference and Showcase (iDB) successfully debuted this week at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Silicon Valley, CA. iDB brought together more than 700 industry professionals who are leveraging the power of the Internet in non-traditional applications.

Electronics designers, engineers, and technical entrepreneurs attended conference sessions covering a wide range of the core technologies that are spurring the growth of connected devices including Java, industrial controls and instrumentation, Windows, and embedded development. The most popular sessions selected by the 172 conference attendees were those exploring wireless Internet applications, browsers and connectivity, software development, and semiconductor solutions.

Another 531 industry professionals in addition to the above conference participants attended the showcase portion of the event. The iDB showcase featured 29 select exhibiting companies who have established an early presence in the Internet device market. Larry Mittag of exhibiting company Stellcom was excited about the focused draw of the event. "These attendees are precisely the audience we're looking for" said Mittag. "They're developers who are looking to add Internet functionality into their products."

There was standing room only in a keynote presentation by Sun Microsystems' (NASD:SUNW) co-founder and chief scientist Bill Joy, a noted visionary of ubiquitous computing. Mr. Joy urged the audience of engineers to always keep the primary function and end-users of their products in mind. "Devices should be what they are," said Joy. "There's no reason why a smart thermostat should have a complex operating system... it should be a thermostat." Joy also praised the positioning of the event. "The future will be populated with many small, dedicated, connected devices. Whether this happens sooner rather than later depends on good design and engineering. Events like this will help us to get it right."

Event Director Bill Rutledge was happy with the outcome. "Every group of participants was pleased with the results. The conference attendees, the speakers, the exhibitors all derived value from the event. More importantly, they all believe that this event will grow with the market," said Rutledge. "We've established a great foundation on which to build."

The next Internet Device Builder Conference and Showcase will co-locate with Fall Internet World, October 24th to 27th, 2000 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. iDB is produced by Penton Media Inc.'s Electronics Events Group, producer of Wireless Symposium/Portable by Design. For more information, log on to www.iDeviceBuilder.com or call 1-888-947-3734.

Penton Media, Inc. (NYSE: PME) is a leading diversified business media company that produces market-focused magazines, Web sites, tradeshows, and conferences. Penton serves the electronics; design/engineering; Internet/IT; natural products/food/retail; manufacturing; management; supply chain-aviation; government/compliance; mechanical systems/construction; and leisure/hospitality markets. For more information, visit www.Penton.com