SINGAPORE : One of Singapore's biggest IT exhibitions kicked off on Thursday at Suntec Singapore.

The IT Show 2008 is into its 20th year and it is bigger than ever with more than 800 vendors.

The exhibition boasts four levels of consumer technology goods and some major discounts and freebies.

Last year, the IT Show generated some S$48 million. This year, organisers expect that number to go up by another S$5 million.

Within the first two hours of its opening, there were already 29,000 visitors who splurged S$890,000.

Over the last two decades, the focus has been shifting towards entertainment.

Melvin Koh, General Manager, Eastern Directories, Organiser of IT Show 2008, said: "Consumers today are looking into entertainment. And with entertainment expectations growing, in fact more products (have been) launched over the years."

Yet to be commercially available here, a dancing MP3 player was one of the hot new products being showcased. A conferencing device by a Singapore company was another hit at the show.

While many people say the best deals can only be found on the last day of the show, early birds get their rewards too. Some exhibitors were giving away free tech toys to early customers. Some lucky ones even got Nintendo Wii sets for free.

However, it is not just all about good bargains and freebies. For this year's show, organisers are going green for the first time.

Anjna Vij Nihalani, Director, Marketing and Communications, Suntec Singapore, said: "SembCorp brings their trucks here as well as the compactors and an average of 15 to 20 trucks per day over the next four days will come and recycle the 78 tonnes of waste that will be brought in by the IT Show."

The IT Show will run till this Sunday and admission is free. - CNA/ms