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
Enterprise Software: Business Objects XI Release 2, Clearwell E-mail Intelligence Platform, Cognos 8 business-intelligence platform and Sage CRM SalesLogix
VoIP/Voice Communications: Cisco IP Interoperability and Collaboration System, D-Link Wi-Fi Phone (DPH-540 and DPH-541) and Linksys One Hosted Services Router
Servers: HP ProLiant DL580 G4 Server, HP rx6600 Server and IBM BladeCenter HS21
Managed Services: Citrix GoToAssistant 7.0, IBM Express Managed Services Portfolio and Microsoft Exchange Hosted Service
Client Computing: HP Compaq NC 2400, Samsung Q1 UMPC and Symbol MC 9097 Mobile Computer
Wireless Technology: Iomega StorCenter Wireless Network Storage 1TB, Meru All-Wireless Backbone System and Zyxel's X-550 Xtreme MIMO Wireless Broadband Router
Printers: Fujitsu ScanSnap fi-5110EOXM, HP Color LaserJet 4730mfp Series and Lexmark X644e multifunction printer
Security: McAfee Total Protection Suite, SonicWall SSL VPN 2000 and 3Com TippingPoint X505
SMB Software: 01 Communique I'm In Touch Corporate Server and Business Objects Crystal Vision Server
Software Infrastructure: Altiris Software Virtualization Solution, Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition and VMware Infrastructure 3 (ESX Server 3 and VirtualCenter 2)
Storage: EMC Clariion AX150 Series, IBM Continuous Data Protection for Files and Intel SS4000-E Entry-Level Storage System
Displays: Philips 200P7 LCD, Samsung SyncMaster 215TW, ViewSonic NMP-500 Network Media Player and ND4200-LS Net IP integrated display
White-Box Components: AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor, Raritan Computer KIRA1000 and Verified by Intel Barebone Notebooks
VARBusiness received nearly 70 nominees for the Technologist of the Year award; the field was narrowed to 10 semifinalists.
The Innovative Company of the Year is awarded to the vendor with the highest cumulative score in the TI judging. The finalists are IBM, Lexmark and 3Com.
The names of award winners will be posted at www.varbusiness.com on Oct. 23.