Four on the floor: Day 1

Gulf News Web Sub-Editor Morven Philp approached a variety of different people attending this year's Gitex technology fair and asked them why they were there.

The HTC stall is one of the most predominant of the Consumer Electronics hall. Sanjeeta Chaterjee was present at last year's Gitex, and says that the company's stand is twice as big as the previous year, reflecting a great 12 months for the company within the Middle Eastern mobile phone market. While her stall may have grown, she says that she has noticed a drastic decline in some of the major electronics companies displaying at the event.

Lieutenant Mohammad Al Obaidly has been to Gitex a staggering eight times in his role of promoting the Abu Dhabi Police stall. He believes Gitex is a great platform to promote the role of the police not only as enforcers of the law, but to help forge better relations between the police and the public. Among the services on display, the police are promoting a new radar system for traffic offenses, a new website and improved e-services.

It's the first time at Gitex for Derick A. Vessaoker, a Sales Manager at the Abcom Solutions stand promoting a new line of Hitachi projectors. Originally from India, he now lives in Dubai. Vessaoker said the stall has generated a large amount of interest in the Consumer Electronics stall, but hopes it will get even better at next year's event.

Cherry Rungcharoenpornpajee works at the stall for Thai company SVOA, which specialises in customising laptops with bright and colourful designs. She came all the way from her hometown of Bangkok to take part in Gitex, and it is her first time at the expo. Overawed at the size of the event, she says the company has taken several orders for customised computers and says the stall has had plenty of interest.