For the third year in a row

Jul 9, 2010 09:59 GMT  ·  By

Steve Ballmer will kick off the upcoming edition of the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) confirmed officially. The 2011 Consumer Electronics Show might be six months away, but CEA moved fast to ensure that Microsoft’s Chief Executive Officer will be available to deliver the opening keynote. The world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow will take place between January 6-9, 2011, in Las Vegas, Nevada, as usual.

And in a sense, it will be nothing short of business as usual for Ballmer. This is the third year in a row that Microsoft CEO will deliver the preshow keynote address at International CES. The keynote address has already been scheduled for Wednesday, January 5, 6:30 p.m. in the Las Vegas Hilton Center.

“As leader of one of the world’s most innovative technology companies, a keynote address from Steve Ballmer is the perfect way to kick off the 2011 International CES,” noted Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CEA. “Microsoft’s entrepreneurial spirit and drive have been major forces behind the success of the company and its impact on the global consumer technology industry. We look forward to hearing Steve’s strategic vision for the future of Microsoft and our industry.”

In 2010, Ballmer presented the CES keynote sharing the stage with Robbie Bach, Microsoft Entertainment and Devices Division President. I covered the event, and some Softpedia readers might remember CES 2010 in particular because it brought with it the announcement of the public Beta for Windows 7. Just days after Ballmer’s keynote Microsoft gave green light to Windows 7 Beta downloads.

Ballmer and Bach also shared the limelight for the International Consumer Electronics Show 2009 keynote. For those that don’t know, reserving the opening keynote of CES for Microsoft is somewhat of a tradition, stretching almost 20 years back. However, CES 2009 was the first time that Ballmer went on stage to open the tradeshow, as the honor had been reserved for Microsoft Co-founder Bill Gates. In this regard, the 2008 CES keynote was the last one for Gates.