Mobile World Congress: The year's best smartphone party

 If you're a smartphone fan, you probably know that Mobile World Congress (MWC) is a big deal. And if you don't know about it but still love gadgets and technology, there are very good reasons why you should care. I'll explain.

To put it simply, MWC is the most important wireless trade show of the year. It's bigger thanCES (where, no offense to the esteemed David Katzmaier, phones tend to get buried by TVs), and it blows the doors off the U.S.-centric CTIA. It wasn't always this way, particularly when the show was still in Cannes, France, but when it moved to Barcelona in 2006, MWC went global and came into its own. Indeed, it was already huge when I first attended in 2008 and every successive year it's grown larger. More than 67,000 people from just about everywhere descended on Barcelona last year and I suspect that just as many will return next week. 

Of course, a trade how is really about what happens. And in that respect, MWC hasn't and won't let us down. The above photo gallery will take you on a guided tour of the last five years, but a short list would include the launch of the Sony's Xperia series and HTC's One family, powerful camera phones like Nokia's 808 PureView, the Samsung Galaxy S2, the Sony Xperia Play, andthe second oldest Android phone. Microsoft has used MWC as a global stage, as well. In 2010, it rolled out Windows Phone 7; in 2011, it sealed its partnership with Nokia, and in 2012 it unveiled Windows 8.

So, yes, a lot happens in Barcelona in February. Of course, the drawback of a big event like MWC is that announcements can get lost in the noise. That's why HTC decided to hold its own eventearlier this week for the HTC One and Samsung isunwilling to share the stage when it releases theGalaxy S4 (Samsung will show other devices, though). Google is scaling back its presence, as well (sorry pin collectors), but I promise that there will be plenty to savor. Consider that Asus skipped CES entirely last month to deliver a "metallic miracle" at MWC, and big players like Nokia, LG, Sony, and even Ford are planning press events. What exactly we'll see remains a mystery, but bigger screens, lots of Android, more powerful camera phones, and even a mobile OS from Firefox could top the headlines.

Sunday, Feb. 24

Huawei
The emerging Chinese manufacturer should introduce one premium Android device and it could surprise with a few more.
Time: 2 p.m. in Barcelona

Monday, Feb. 25

Nokia
Nokia usually goes all out at MWC and we expect a decent showing this year, as well. Look for new Windows Phone devices.
Time: 8:30 a.m. in Barcelona

Asus
As I mentioned above, Asus is bring a mystery metallic device to Barcelona. We can't wait to see what it is.
Time: 1:30 p.m. in Barcelona

ZTE
Also from China and an emerging player in wireless, ZTE promises a full gallery of new devices. Last year, for example, it introduced 15 handsets.
Time: 4 p.m. in Barcelona

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