Editor’s note: Local Tech Wire will feature on-site reports all three days of CTIA Wireless 2004. Contributor Cindy Stranad is reporting from the world’s largest wireless trade show.

ATLANTA — Want a sneak peek at the hottest wireless devices in the consumer and business markets? CTIA’s Wireless Showcase brings the frontrunners to the finish line.

This collection of the latest and greatest in wireless will be on display beginning today at CTIA Wireless 2004, March 22-24 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

“Everyone is interested in the next, new thing, and today’s greatest gadgets are wireless. The Wireless Widget showcase is a glimpse into the phones, headsets, applications, chargers and other tools and toys that consumers and businesses will be seeing in the months to come,” said Steve Largent, president and chief executive officer of The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA).

“The Widgets showcase is where wireless trends come to life in full color and sound. You can experiment with the latest wireless innovations and better understand the future of the wireless industry.”

Here are a baker’s dozen of products and services to be launched this week:

1. 6620 Imaging Phone from Nokia – What more could you ask for in one sleek device – digital camera, video, RealOne player, Bluetooth, instant messaging, EDGE (enhanced data rates for global evolution) capability, and more.

2. AirCard 775 from Sierra Wireless – Featuring anywhere-access to EDGE, GPRS (general packet radio service) and GSM (global system for mobile communications) networks, this quad-band card allows for wireless connectivity at speeds reaching up to three times faster than GPRS networks.

3. DC600 Wireless Adaptor from Motorola – Provides a quick, efficient way to turn non-Bluetooth enabled Motorola phones into Bluetooth enabled devices.

4. FastForward from Cingular Wireless – Forwards calls from a wireless phone to a landline number at no loss of minutes to the customer.

5. Gameboard EGB-10 from Sony Ericsson – Two-handed, snap-on, console-style game controller with eight-way navigation and four action buttons for enhanced mobile gaming.

6. Hiptop Communicator from Danger, Inc. – Not just a mobile phone. Device includes Internet access, email with attachment capabilities, instant messaging, organizer functions, digital camera accessory, keypad, and more.

7. NASCAR Cup Series i736 wireless phones from Nextek – Get NASCAR wireless content delivered to your phone. Features NASCAR-inspired wallpapers, ring tones and applications.

8. Portable Wireless Speaker HF800 from Motorola – Innovative, versatile speaker is portable for conference-quality audio in the home, office or car.

9. P900 from Sony Ericsson – Easily connects to a user’s PC or Mac for quick and easy downloads and file transfers. Features include a CommuniCorder for capturing digital images or video clips, MP3 Player, 65,536 color-touch screen, and more.

10. SCH-i600 from Samsung and Verizon Wireless – This all-in-one device provides familiar applications from Microsoft Windows including Internet Explorer, MSN Messenger and more. Users can sync info directly from their PCs and over-the-air using Verizon’s Wireless Sync.

11. Sprint PCS Vision Video Phone VM4500 from Sprint PCS– With Sprint PCS Vision and PCS Ready Link walkie-talkie service, this phone allows users to take and receive pictures, digital video clips, browse the Internet at speeds faster than most dial-ups, and more.

12. Treo 600 Smartphone from palmOne, Inc. – Simplify your professional and personal life. Seamlessly combines a full-featured mobile phone, Palm OS organizer with wireless applications and even a digital camera.

13. xCELLaCHARGER from xCELLaCHARGE, Inc. – Charge virtually any mobile phone battery in 10-25 minutes, without any model specific adapters.

Thousands of new products and services will be unveiled over the next 72 hours. And what do manufacturers, carriers and service providers have in mind? Work better, smarter and faster today in tomorrow’s world.

CTIA: www.ctia.org

Cindy Stranad is a contributor to Local Tech Wire and also handles marketing and promotion for LTW. She can be reached at cindy@localtechwire.com