This announcement was re-assuring given the backdrop of earlier controversies sorrounding the premier event.

The tenth edition of Bangalore IT.in will have a new location, new focus and a new theme. It is scheduled to take place from October 29 to November 1 at the larger Bangalore International Exhibition Centre premises on Tumkur Road.

Bangalore IT.in 2006 attracted only 250 companies including 160 international firms such as Texas Instruments, Xerox, WEP, Infosys, Cognizant, Reliance and Wipro. Trade delegations from Britain, Australia, Barcelona, New Zealand, Bavaria, China, Baltic, Taiwan and Germany participated in the exposition. The organisers had even conceded that there was a significant drop in numbers of attendees/visitors/participants.

And who can forget this?

The inaugural ceremony of Karnataka’s showcase IT event Bangalore IT.in 2006 was marred by a few Kannada activists armed with black flags and shouting slogans, “Down with IT and BT.” They marched close to the podium minutes before the opening, taking organizers and the guests including Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy, Sir Michael Arthur, the British High Commissioner to India, and state government officials by surprise

The previous year – 2005 – gather even more attention when several Bangalore-based IT companies decided to boycott the annual IT show, irked as they were by the State Government’s `empty promise’ to improve the city’s infrastructure, a promise which had prevented them from boycotting IT.in 2004!! And who can forget the dig that Mr Dayanidhi Maran, Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology made, while announcing the launch of Bangalore IT.in, assuring Bangaloreans that the government will “do everything from our side to help you navigate easily from your homes to office.”

Though IT.in 2005 had 270 companies, including 160 international firms from 18 countries, showcasing their technologies and products, the event was marred forever by the political tamasha that preceded the event. Chief Guest H.D Deve Gowda made history by saying “Bangalore has grown enough” during the inaugural ceremony leaving everybody present speechless!! When it was all over, the question was even posed: Had IT.in outlived its purpose? Was it a white elephant? Did Bangalore really need IT.in to re-inforce its status?

Anyway. The purpose of looking back at the previous 2 years events is not be be a killjoy. Just that, in the process, the question that begs asking is this – How much of the question sorrounding infrastructure that was asked in 2004 & 2005 improved that will have IT companies clamour to be onboard IT.in 2007? For one, the approach from Tumkur Road to this years event location is a matter that needs foremost addressing; however, this will “…be widened well in time” says Secretary for IT and BT M.N. Vidyashankar. The second point is that given the high occupancy rates of hotels and their astronomical room rents, is there enough rooms for participants and attendees?

Lets wait and watch as events unfold!