SYSTEMS is closing its gates for the last time in 2008 with a total of 1,061 exhibitors and some 39,000 visitors, having largely reached this year's objectives.
 
The program of related events, which consisted of 13 different events, saw record-breaking attendance. Some 4,000 participants attended events including Communication World, Internet World, Marketing Performance Day, the Microsoft Technical Server Summit and the Oracle Enterprise 2.0 Conference. For the first time ever, the International Congress Centre Munich (ICM) and the rooms that are available alongside the halls were completely booked to capacity during the 4-day event.

The hot topics at this year's SYSTEMS were Green IT, Unified Communications and IT Security. The jobs initiative, which Munich International Trade Fairs organized for the second time with exhibitors, partners and sponsors, featured a diverse range of attractions that met with a great deal of interest among young IT professionals and job applicants alike. The fair's classic exhibition sectors were rounded out by 6 central SYSTEMS Forums as well as a number of smaller forums that revolved around individual exhibitors, areas or specials.

Despite these balanced results, the 27th SYSTEMS is ending its nearly 40-year history as one of the largest and most important B2B exhibitions in the ICT industry and passing the torch to a completely new event that will celebrate its premiere in October 2009. Munich International Trade Fairs will announce details before the end of this year.

At a press conference on Wednesday, October 22, 2008, Klaus Dittrich, Managing Director of Munich International Trade Fairs, said:
 
"SYSTEMS is closing this year in a strong position, and not just in numbers. We also consider the return of several key international IT heavyweights such as Dell, Kyocera Mita, Microsoft, Oracle and Sun Microsystems a major success. They have enhanced the attractive range of solutions, innovations and lectures at the fair with additional, trendsetting ICT highlights. The audience of trade visitors appreciated the related events at this year's fair.

Closing down an exhibition like SYSTEMS that has successfully maintained its market position for 40 years and has outlasted a number of well-known international ICT exhibitions is not the most obvious course of action. Still, it is time for something new. Time to give the ICT market innovative and flexible platforms for sales, marketing and communications. Now the "Grande Dame" of this sector is passing the torch to a new generation of live events. We would like to thank our exhibitors and visitors, many of whom have been with us for decades, and look forward to seeing them again in 2009."  

As a result, Munich International Trade Fairs will continue to provide the ICT sector attractive platforms for their marketing communications as the long history of an ICT institution draws to an end.