Scenes from CTIA 2013 (pictures)

LAS VEGAS -- As we expected, CTIA 2013 was a bit quiet this time around. Not only were there fewer handset announcements (click here for a full list), but also a move to the Sands Expo from the immense Las Vegas Convention Center meant smaller and less elaborate company booths. That said, Ericsson definitely took the prize for establishing a presence with these illuminated sails that rose far above the convention floor.

CTIA typically doesn't attract the hottest celebrities, but Jennifer Lopez showed up to announce Viva Movil, a new Verizon Wireless brand aimed at the Latino community in the United States.

A company called MVP showed sports-themed wireless speakers that look like drink coolers you'd take the game. If you'd like, you could play a round of beanbag toss.

Fewer people meant fewer crowds roaming the Sands, but the show floor still could be a busy place.

This booth offered a place to charge an iPhone. Surprisingly for a wireless show, it didn't get much use.

As in the past, CTIA had a large international presence. Huawei was next to a booth promoting wireless companies from Ontario, Canada.

For the most part, though, major handset manufacturers stayed away. This tiny stand was all we could find for Sony and its Xperia phones.

But as in recent years, smartphone case manufacturers took up a lot of space on the show floor.

Russian company R.BOT was back to show its robots that can be used as educational aids. These models used a tablet for a face.

Cadillac brought in a 2014 ATS Coupe to demonstrate its CUE connected car technology.

Is this really a switchboard? No, it's just a way for Verizon to demonstrate its Verizon Messaging solution, which uses the carrier's cloud service to deliver messages to multiple devices for a single user simultaneously.

AT&T showed one of its small cells. These miniature base stations can be used to extend network coverage in poorly served areas. They range in price from just $150 to $5,000.

Alternatively, you can just get a standard-size cell tower like this one.

This is the last CTIA to be held in the spring. Next year, the trade group will consolidate the two annual events into one show in the fall. It will come back to the Sands Expo in September 2014.