All roads lead to Berlin from Aug.31 to Sept. 5 as the Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA), Europe's biggest consumer technology event, kicks off. Media days are slated for Aug. 29 and Aug. 30, with the opening press conference starting at 1pm on Wednesday, Aug. 29. With tech giants like Samsung, Sony, LG, Microsoft, and HTC (to name a few) gearing up to unveil a gamut of devices, gizmo buffs are in for a spectacle.

For companies looking to establish a stronghold and create a lasting impact, the IFA is the ideal platform to showcase the bevy of products on offer to consumers. Take a look at what may be in store.

Sony

Rumors claim that Sony is set to promote its new range of Xperia handsets with a vengeance. Sony is expected to unveil its Xperia T (codenamed the Mint or LT30i). The Xperia T would be an addition to the existing Sony Xperia line up: Xperia S, Xperia P, and Xperia U. This new Sony offering is expected to boost the company's smartphone market presence.

The new smartphone is expected to sport a 4.3-inch HD display and a dual-core 1.5GHz processor with 1 GB of RAM. The Xperia T will likely feature a 13-megapixel camea and will run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Samsung

At IFA 2011, Samsung took the world by surprise with the launch of its Galaxy Note "phablet". The Galaxy Note's success story has established that a market exists for 5-inch-plus smartphones.

Samsung will be hosting its Unpacked event on Aug. 29, and tech experts and fans predict that the Galaxy Note 2 will see the light of day. Codenamed the GT-N7100, the Galaxy Note 2 is being touted as the next big thing. The Galaxy Note 2 is rumored to sport a 5.5-inch screen and will likely have a quad-core Exynos processor, clocked at 1.6GHz, with 1.5GB of RAM. It will allegedly feature a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera and 4G LTE data speeds. The Note 2 is also expected to run the latest Android OS - Jelly Bean.

LG

Traditionally, South Korean LG has used the IFA platform to showcase its TV technology. However, 2012 will be a different ball game as LG channels its energies into the smartphone arena, attempting to cut into Samsung and Apple's market share. LG is expected to launch a new Android flagship smartphone dubbed the Optimus G.

The 4.7-inch smartphone will sport an IPS True HD display with 280x720 resolution, a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera, 4G LTE connectivity, 2GB of RAM, and Optimus 3.0 user interface. The Optimus G will have Android 4.0 ICS out of the box. A Qualcomm quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, clocked at 1.5 GHz, is expected to power the device. If rumors are accurate, then the Optimus G could well be the first quad-core device in the U.S.

HTC

HTC's presence at the IFA 2012 is a given; however, the surprises awaiting consumers remain shrouded in mystery. If rumors are to be believed, HTC may unveil its 5-inch flagship smartphone for 2012 at the event. The grapevine is also abuzz with rumors (courtesy of several leaks) that the HTC Proto (the One V's successor) will make its debut at the IFA.

The 9.62mm thick HTC Proto's specs indicate that it is similar to the One V; however, its design bears resemblance to the Desire C. The smartphone will likely sport a 4-inch WVGA display, a dual-core 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 5-megapixel rear-facing camera, 768MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, 1650mAh battery, Bluetooth, Beats Audio, and microSIM and microSD slots. The HTC Pro is expected to come pre-loaded with Android 4.0 ICS.