If attendance at major industry trade shows is any indication, things are looking up. At least, they’re looking up for the wireless industry. I’m not sure how wireless trade show attendance translates to the wider economy, but if it does, it’s a good sign.

CTIA is projecting 40,000 attended last week’s conference in Las Vegas, although final figures won’t be in for about a week. That tracks about 26 percent ahead of last year’s event. Not bad, especially when you consider that most companies either are or should be carefully watching every expenditure, big and small, including travel.

So what were the big themes to emerge? Nothing too surprising. The industry is trying to figure out ways to address mobile broadband demands, watching new handsets roll out, competing on the nation’s “fastest, biggest, best” networks and swimming in apps and app stores. 

Of the new device launches, a lot of people were expecting to see more Androids, and last week did not disappoint. Two devices especially stand out: the Samsung Galaxy S, which features Samsung’s ultra-brilliant AMOLED display technology, and the HTC EVO 4G, which is expected to be the first 3G/4G Android handset when it launches this summer with Sprint. Samsung seems to be rolling out more high-end devices, and Sprint – well, it just plain needed to get a combo 3G/4G handset into the market.

Outside of product launches, trade shows are always good for the keynotes and messages from thought leaders in the industry. One thing that can’t go unnoticed – as the nation evaluates the National Broadband Plan – is the United States’ leading role in wireless broadband.

It’s one thing for the chairman of CTIA to point out the achievements of the U.S. wireless industry. But it’s further testament when René Obermann, CEO of Germany’s Deutsche Telekom, says that growth of wireless data use in the United States has increased almost three times the rate of Europe. Of course, Obermann has a vested interest in the U.S. market since DT is the parent of T-Mobile USA, but it’s telling nonetheless, especially when you consider DT’s global presence and all the rumor mongering about what DT could do with T-Mobile USA in the future.

On the networks side, it was reassuring to hear T-Mobile USA say it plans to roll out HSPA+ across its network nationwide. Last year at 4G World, the carrier announced it had turned on HSPA+ in Philadelphia and further rollouts were expected, but I say “reassuring” because it didn’t do an about face and change direction. Verizon Wireless made multiple network-related announcements last week, including a dozen on backhaul as it relates to LTE.

Does the industry still have a lot of issues to deal with? Of course. Last week’s conference provided reminders and a chance to take stock of some of the issues we’ll see over the coming months. Developers still have to deal with fragmentation. The industry continues trying to deliver solutions to prevent people from texting while driving, a problem it helped create.

Spectrum is a big concern, as are solutions to most efficiently use existing spectrum. And as AT&T executives pointed out, the industry needs to find the right amount of regulatory oversight – the less, the better, in their opinion – to keep money flowing from the private sector and innovation growing. Sounds like CTIA, and the industry at large, has its work cut out for it.