Saying that, “trade shows have become a very minor part of how Apple reaches its customers,” Apple Inc. has announced that the company’s participation in Macworld Expo 2009, will be it’s last.

“The increasing popularity of Apple’s Retail Stores, which more than 3.5 million people visit every week, and the Apple.com Web site enable Apple to directly reach more than a hundred million customers around the world in innovative new ways,” the statement explained.

Apple has been gradually withdrawing from trade and consumer shows in recent years. Macworld Expo was the last major show in which the company regularly participated.

Not only will Macworld Expo be Apple’s last appearance at the show; the statement revealed that, for the first time in ages, Apple CEO Steve Jobs won’t personally deliver the keynote address. Instead, Apple’s Senior Vice-President of Worldwide Marketing, Philip Schiller, will speak at the January 6 event. That announcement has sparked speculation within the volatile Apple fan community, that Jobs may be preparing to follow in the footsteps of his arch rival these past 30 years, Microsoft’s (MS) Bill Gates, and ‘step back from day-to-day operations’ at Apple.

Macworld Expo 2009 runs from January 5 through 9, 2009, at San Francisco’s Moscone Centre.