Call for Entries: Best of TechEd 2009!

Best Microsoft Product: This award recognizes the most significant Microsoft product at TechEd 2009. Products must be demonstrated at the show, discussed in sessions, or announced at the event to be considered for the award.

Breakthrough Product: This award is for the best single product of TechEd 2009, and could be from any award sub-category. Note: Exhibitors shouldn't nominate products in this category, as judges will select the Breakthrough Product by choosing among nominees in all exhibitor categories.

Business Intelligence: The Business Intelligence Solutions category is used for analyzing and reporting on business data. This includes products that enable the use of OLAP, data warehousing, or data mining.

Database Administration: This category is designed for products that help you to manage data and databases. This category would include both relational database products themselves as well as products that are used to manage databases or replicate database data across between platforms.

Database Development: This category is for products that enable developers to create custom, data-driven applications for a variety of database platforms, including Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, and others.

Developer Tools: This category is for software that enables you to create applications. This includes editors, debuggers, testing and interactive development environments.

Hardware, Networking and Storage: This category includes computers, laptops, wireless devices, mobile devices, smart phones, KVMs, switches, and network appliances, as well as storage solutions like DAS, NAS and SAN.

Messaging: The Messaging category includes all products that are used to send messages. This includes exchange, e-mail, instant messaging, fax, mobility software, and VOIP solutions as well as both server and client technologies. However, it does not include messaging security products which fall under the security category.

Productivity & Collaboration: This category includes collaboration, workflow, SharePoint, and Microsoft Office related products. It also includes desktop utilities and other products that enhance personal productivity. It does not include products used to create applications which would go in the Developer Tools category.

Systems Management and Operations: This category includes systems and network management products. This includes products that are used to manage networks, monitor event logs, manage Active Directory, perform patch management, perform server provisioning, automate network operations, and deploy client software.

Security: The products in this category are focused primarily on security. This includes firewalls, security scanners and intrusion detection software. This category also includes products that may be related to other categories. For instance, a product focused on securing e-mail would belong in this category rather than messaging.

Software Components & Middleware: This category is for software products that facilitate building software applications. The products in this category are building blocks that are used to create programs. This includes middleware, as well as .NET components, Java, ActiveX, COM and class libraries.

Virtualization: The products in this category focus can focus on any aspect of virtualization technology, including desktop virtualization, server virtualization, application virtualization and OS virtualization.