VARBusiness Rewards High-Tech Innovation

Innovation: The introduction of something new--an idea, method or device.

In the technology world, it's about refreshing old technologies to maintain relevancy, bringing new ideas to the forefront and piecing together building blocks to create new systems.

The VARBusiness Technology Innovator Awards are given to vendors that push the envelope, building new products that solution providers can use to create systems, find opportunity and generate revenue.

Now in its fourth year, the project reveals compelling IT products delivered over the past 12 months. More than 650 products in 13 categories were submitted for consideration. The technology sets are Enterprise Software, VoIP/ Voice Communications, Servers, Managed Services, Client Computing, Wireless Technology, Printers, Security, SMB Software, Software Infrastructure, Storage, Displays and White-Box Components. Two awards were added: Technologist of the Year and Innovative Company of the Year.

Products were judged in two stages. First, VARBusiness' team of technology editors gave them a look; then a blue-ribbon panel of judges from the solution-provider community weighed in. The judges scored products on three criteria: how new and improved the technology is, price/performance ratio and money-making potential for VARs.

The award ceremony, to be hosted by VARBusiness publisher Robert DeMarzo, editor Lawrence M. Walsh and associate managing editor Cristina McEachern, will be presented at a gala on Oct. 23. The ceremony is part of XChange Tech Innovator, Oct. 22-24, in Huntington Beach, Calif.

NEXT: The Finalists