The Mobile world congress opens at a newer larger capacity venue in Barcelona Monday Feb 27th, expecting around 67,000 delegates, over the four day event, that will make it the largest in the MWC's 18 year history.

This used to be the ultimate place to announce your new all singing and dancing handset but the larger smartphone manufacturers have taken to announcing significant new models with their own event, rather than sharing the limelight with every other operator in the industry.

However, any company remotely connected with communications will be taking its senior guys there to promote latest gadgets, with over 1500 stands exhibiting at this very popular venue. Possibly not quite as popular as the huge annual Consumer Electronics show in Las Vegas every January, where there is substantial crossover, that attracts 150,000 delegates to the famous strip but Barcelona is such a great city and will host the event for at least 5 more years.

Connectivity is one of the key topics this year, whether in your car, on the move, through your watch and the continual fight for a share of the tablet market will no doubt spill on to this particular stage.

Smartphone manufacturers are also now looking at the markets that can't afford £500 for the new upgrade so expect some low end devices to be on show aimed at emerging markets.