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Welcome to Mobile World Congress (photos)

Two days before Mobile World Congress begins, CNET captures the huge amount of work it takes to build a major trade show.

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1 of 12 Kent German/CNET

Bienvenidos

Mobile World Congress takes place this week at the Fira de Barcelona, a huge complex of several exhibition buildings that sit beneath the city's Montjuic park, the Catalan Museum of Art, and the site of the 1992 Olympics.

Though the show doesn't officially begin until Monday, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, and Samsung have press conferences Sunday night (9 a.m. PT).

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2 of 12 Kent German/CNET

Fira de Barcelona

As we've told you before, it's a big place. It's so big, in fact, that it needs an enormous map.
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3 of 12 Kent German/CNET

Android

We knew Android would be big in Barcelona this year. This sign just proves it.
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4 of 12 Kent German/CNET

Samsung

As in past years, Samsung is promising to "unpack" something on the night before the show begins.
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5 of 12 Kent German/CNET

Inside Hall 8

I forgot my hard hat so I couldn't get inside Hall 8, but Moto's booth looks like it was imported from CES. Most handset manufactuers will set up in Hall 8, which is the largest at the show.
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6 of 12 Kent German/CNET

Inside Hall 8

Across the way will be booths for Cisco and AT&T.
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7 of 12 Kent German/CNET

Samsung and LG

Further on you could catch a glimpse of the booths for Samsung and LG.
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8 of 12 Kent German/CNET

Setting up MWC

Guys in hard hats are everywhere.
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9 of 12 Kent German/CNET

T-Mobile

T-Mobile's pavilion will occupy its usual place next to a reflecting pool. This year, however, it's a bit more imposing.
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10 of 12 Kent German/CNET

Ericsson

A worker puts the finishing touches on the Ericsson booth.
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11 of 12 Kent German/CNET

Setting up MWC

Meanwhile, other workers take a break.
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12 of 12 Kent German/CNET

Placa d'Espanya

As you climb the steps to Montjuic, the show complex stretches all the way back to the Placa d'Espanya.

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