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22

Feb

The ten things you need to survive Mobile World Congress

Written by Ian Hood

Once again Babel will be fielding a full team at Mobile World Congress this year to serve all our clients in the mobile sector. Over the years we've been attending we've learnt a few survival tips and thought it was about time we passed them on:

1. Trainers (or other comfortable shoes)
   Despite my email last year suggesting that high heels aren't the most appropriate footwear for MWC, we witnessed quite a few people (mostly women) ignoring the advice. This year, if the public transport strike goes ahead as planned, it's going to be doubly important - the taxi queues are going to be mind-blowing. You might even think about investing in one of these:
   http://bit.ly/wiK4g2
   
   
2. A travel SIM
   The regulators may be starting to crack down on roaming rates but it's still likely to cost you a bomb for voice, and particularly for data, if you're making heavy use of your 'home' operator's service. Don't count on finding a free WiFi network – if you've found it, so will 60,000 other people. At the very least, make sure you have the best roaming deal your operator can give you and perhaps consider a travel SIM card.
    
3. Spare battery
   Since you'll be spending a lot of time doing business on your iPhone/Android/Windows smartphone, you can bet the battery is going to be flat just when you don't need it to be. Consider taking a spare or an external auxiliary charger pack. We've found this is particularly useful in the early hours of the morning after one of client parties...
    
4. First aid kit
   According to the younger members of the Babel team this should include:
   a. Blister plasters (shoes again)
   b. Headache tablets
   c. More headache tablets
    
5. Mints
   Apparently (I wouldn't know myself) these are very useful for customer / prospect / journalist / analyst meetings after a heavy night. I mention it here because last year was 'the year of the great mint shortage' at MWC. In previous years these were a popular giveaway but in 2011 the factory must have burnt down and they were more difficult to find than a Windows Mobile user.
    
6. A list of great places to eat
   Spain has a great culinary tradition but you won't find it anywhere near the Fira if past years are anything to go by. We don't publish our own list of favourites because then we'd never get a seat but if you talk to us nicely we might let you know.
    
7. A score card
   We like to amuse ourselves by spotting and ranking the tackiest PR activity at the event. Hot favourites can always be found in the mobile porn sector – is an ill-fitting Snow White costume on a porn star ever appropriate?
    
8. A Taser
   It is a slightly bizarre suggestion I know but I'm told by the female members of the Babel team that one would be extremely handy to fend off unwanted attention during the event. It's certainly true that the industry remains male dominated but I think this may be a little extreme!
    
9. Trainers (or other comfortable shoes)
   Yes, I know I'm repeating myself but it really is important. The girls on the CBOSS stand have an excuse since they are getting paid to look glam (sort of), but you are going to be doing a lot of walking. It's even possible to look cool in trainers although admittedly, the level of 'cool' is inversely proportional to age.
    
10. A sense of humour
    It's the biggest event of the year but stress levels are high and you have to remember that things will go wrong. People WILL be late to meet you, you WILL be late to meet them and some piece of technology WILL go wrong. That's the unfortunate reality of MWC but if you take just one thing off this list, it's a sense of humour that will ensure you survive each little crisis.