CMP Media's VARBusiness Lauds 15 Top IT Vendors For Supporting Solution Provider Community

Fifteen leading information-technology (IT) vendors, identified by their solution provider partners as providing the highest levels of satisfaction, received top honors in the Annual Report Card (ARC) awards program from CMP Media's VARBusiness magazine. They were honored at a ceremony held on Aug. 26, at the XChange '03 Conference in Orlando, Fla.

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In addition, the biweekly magazine that provides strategic insight to technology integrators, presented Channel Executive of the Year and Lifetime Achievement awards at the elegant, multimedia ceremony.

Now in its 18th year, the ARC is based on a survey of approximately 5,000 solution providers who evaluate more than 70 vendor programs in 18 product and service categories. Overall category winners are:

   Alcatel - Communications Networking Solutions
   AT&T - Business Class and IP Data Services
   Cisco - Wireless LANs
   Hewlett-Packard - Advanced Desktops and Workstations (tie);
    Entry Level Servers
   IBM - Mobile Computing, Network Storage and Midrange Systems
   Intel - Desktop & Server Processors
   Maxtor - Enterprise Disk Drives (tie)
   Microsoft - Enterprise Operating Systems; Data Management Software;
    Web Apps & Tools
   Samsung - Display Technology
   Seagate - Enterprise Disk Drives (tie)
   Sun Microsystems - Advanced Desktops and Workstations (tie)
   Symantec - Security Management Software
   Tivoli - Storage Management Software
   Western Digital - Desktop Disk Drives
   Xerox - Network Color Printers

In addition, VARBusiness editors selected Kevin Gilroy, Hewlett-Packard's vice president and Americas Commercial Channels general manager as Channel Executive of the Year. He was cited for working hard to preserve a channel voice in a company going through tumultuous change.

The editors also selected Frank Vitagliano, vice president-distribution channels management, of IBM's Personal Computing Division, to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. Vitagliano was honored for his 30 years of dedication to the IT industry, during which he developed long-lasting partnerships with solution providers, distribution executives and peers at other vendor organizations.

"The VARBusiness Annual Report Card is the most significant benchmark of vendor/partner relationships in the industry because winners are selected by their own solution providers," says Editorial Director Robert C. DeMarzo. "There is no better gauge of a company's success than the satisfaction of its customers."

The more than 650 attendees included the award-winning companies, VIP solution providers, VARBusiness staff and event sponsors. Microsoft Corporation was the 2003 platinum sponsor. Gold sponsors were AT&T, Hewlett-Packard Company, Lexmark International, Oracle Corp., Sun Microsystems, Symantec Corp. and Veritas Software Corp.

A complete listing of overall and category winners is posted on the Web at www.varbusiness.com/arc. A comprehensive VARBusiness Annual Report Card editorial package including spotlights and profiles will appear in the magazine's Oct. 13 issue.

Methodology

The survey was conducted with support from Bernett Research Services, a Boston-based, data-collection company, and Answers Research, a Solana Beach, Calif.-based market research and consulting firm. Interviews were conducted via the Web and telephone from late May through late July among solution providers that qualified on the basis of recommending, reselling or supporting the vendor product/service.

About VARBusiness Magazine

For the past 16 years, VARBusiness' strategic resources have been the gateway to the Solution Provider community. VARBusiness provides strategic insight for technology integrators through industry-defining research, in-depth editorial, channel events and innovative Web services, enabling these IT professionals to make educated decisions for their businesses, partnerships and customers. VARBusiness has been the recipient of numerous industry awards for both editorial content and design. Additional information about VARBusiness products, events and services, is available at its Web site, www.varbusiness.com.

About CMP Media

CMP Media LLC (www.cmp.com) is a leading integrated media company providing essential information and marketing services to the entire technology spectrum -- the builders, sellers and users of technology worldwide. Capitalizing on its editorial strength, CMP is uniquely positioned to offer marketers comprehensive, integrated media solutions tailored to meet their individual needs. Its diverse products and services include newspapers, magazines, Internet products, research, direct marketing services, education and training, trade shows and conferences, and custom publishing.

   Contact:  Gordon Plutsky
             VARBusiness Magazine
             (516) 562-7766

             Jason Chupick
             Plesser Associates
             (212) 420-8383 x208

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SOURCE: CMP Media LLC

CONTACT: Gordon Plutsky of VARBusiness Magazine, +1-516-562-7766; or
Jason Chupick of Plesser Associates, +1-212-420-8383 x208, for VARBusiness
Magazine

Web site: http://www.varbusiness.com/
http://www.cmp.com/

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