Microsoft Names 1998 MCSP Awards Finalists

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Microsoft Names 1998 MCSP Awards Finalists

REDMOND, Wash., May 5, 1998 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the finalists for its 1998 MCSP Awards, which recognize and reward the expertise of Microsoft® Certified Solution Providers (MCSPs), independent firms that develop and implement software solutions using Microsoft products and technologies. Twenty-seven finalists have been selected from entries submitted by members of the MCSP channel, which totals 14,000 organizations worldwide. Finalists are chosen based on their expertise and innovative approach to developing business solutions around principal market opportunities. The finalists will compete in nine categories, including Best Custom Application Development Solution, Best Communication and Collaboration Solution, and Best E-Commerce Solution.

“The MCSP awards finalists are developing industry-leading solutions in some of the most dynamic and emerging markets,”
said Sam Jadallah, vice president of the organization customer unit at Microsoft.
“We’re proud that they have chosen to work with us, because we rely heavily on organizations like these to give service and support to our mutual customers.”

Jadallah and Steve Ballmer, executive vice president of sales and support at Microsoft, are scheduled to announce the winners on May 31 in New Orleans at an awards ceremony during Fusion 98, Microsoft’s annual worldwide business symposium for its MCSPs. Award winners will be selected by Microsoft and industry leaders including Richard March of CMP’s Channel Information Services; Charles Pelton, executive editor of Information Week; Ed Sperling, editor in chief of Sm@rt Reseller; and Craig Zarley, channel editor of Computer Reseller News.

Nine Award Categories Recognize Excellence and Innovation

Microsoft will present a total of nine awards to its MCSPs:

  • Best Communication and Collaboration Solution. This category considers solutions that enable interpersonal and team communication and collaboration by providing a platform for publishing and sharing information. The finalists for this award are Hypermedia Systems Ltd. of Budapest, Hungary; TelSoft Consultants Inc. of Farmington Hills, Mich.; and Ultimus Inc. of Raleigh, N.C.

  • Best Custom Application Development Solution. These solutions focus on line-of-business applications custom-developed to meet a business challenge or solve a problem specific to the customer’s business. The finalists for this award are Daylight Software Inc. of Durham, N.H.; MicroOffice Ltd. of Budapest, Hungary; and Systems Interface Inc. of Nepean, Ontario, Canada.

  • Best E-Commerce Solution. This category focuses on the use of Internet technology to expand business reach and streamline business processes through the implementation of business-to-consumer or business-to-business solutions designed to sell, transact and engage. The finalists for this award are Adroit Innovations Pte. Ltd. of Singapore; Lante Corp. of Chicago; and Parian Development Group of Chicago.

  • Best Information Management Solution. These solutions demonstrate an integrated approach to managing and sharing an organization’s knowledge capital and investment. Important aspects include access to timely and reliable data to support decision-making; collecting relevant data, storing and staging it for future use, and making it available for users to extract, manipulate and analyze; and effectively supporting the ways companies exploit their data through the application of intranets, analysis tools, and data marts and warehouses. The finalists for this award are Highlander Business Solutions of Toronto; Ibertech Inc. of Hurst, Texas; and Micro Modeling Associates of Bethesda, Md.

  • Best Infrastructure Solution. This category considers implementations of Microsoft technology as the underlying architectural infrastructure for an organization, focusing mainly on desktop operating systems and management and on server and network operating systems and applications, with an emphasis on increasing productivity and flexibility while reducing costs. The finalists for this award are ASPECT Computing Pty Ltd. of Melbourne, Australia; Forte Systems Inc. of West Chester, Pa.; and Matrix Technologies Inc. of Pearl River, N.Y.

  • Best Small Business Solution. These solutions demonstrate innovative and effective approaches to applying Microsoft technologies in the small-business market (small businesses defined as having fewer than 50 PCs or 100 employees). The finalists for this award are Breakwater Consulting Inc. of Grand Rapids, Mich.; Intranet System AS of Lysaker, Norway; and Micro Computer Solutions Inc. of Louisville, Ky.

  • Excellence in ATEC Training. This category is for Authorized Technical Education Centers (ATECs) that provide value-added training solutions that result in customers’ successful use or adoption of the BackOffice® family of products. Training must be based on Microsoft Official Curriculum but may be supplemented by other training offerings. The finalists for this award are Boston University Corporate Education Center in Tyngsboro, Mass.; Infotec Commercial Systems Inc. of Santa Ana, Calif.; and Integrated Computer Management of Roseland, N.J.

  • Best Business Solution by an Independent Software Vendor. This category is for independent software vendors only and will recognize outstanding line-of-business solutions for vertical or horizontal markets. The finalists for this award are Software Guaranty Inc. of Toronto; Platinum Software Corp. of Irvine, Calif.; and Sunquest Information Systems Inc. of Salt Lake City.

  • Microsoft Certified Solution Provider Partner of the Year. The award for this category will be presented to the MCSP that most embodies what it means to team with Microsoft. Nominated by Microsoft field representatives, the finalists for this award are IntelliNet Corp. of Atlanta; Sequoia Diversified Products of Auburn Hills, Mich.; and TBA Inform
    á
    tica of Brasilia, Brazil.

Award Winners to Receive Recognition, Publicity

In addition to being recognized at the Fusion 98 awards ceremony, the MCSP winners in each category will be showcased in advertisements in major business and industry trade publications and on the Partnering With Microsoft Web site, a private site exclusively for MCSPs, located at https://mcsp.one.microsoft.com/awards.htm .

Microsoft Certified Solution Providers are independent organizations working with Microsoft that include a wide range of companies, such as systems integrators, custom application developers, installation and deployment service providers, business consultants, and training organizations. MCSPs add value by offering their customers a full range of services, including Internet, intranet and e-commerce solutions, line-of-business applications, and

client/server implementations. Currently, there are more than 14,000 MCSPs in more than 50 countries. For more information on the MCSP program, visit http://www.microsoft.com/certpartner/ .

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

Microsoft and BackOffice are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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