Microsoft Wins Twice among Manufacturers Honored with Channel Intelligence Awards at the 2005 Channel Summit

Business Wire, March 1, 2005

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Computing, Consumer Electronics, Toys and Tools Companies Recognized for Sending Qualified Sales Leads to Multi-Channel Retail Partners

Microsoft Corporation won twice among a field of 23 honorees who received Channel Intelligence Awards at the 2005 Channel Summit, held last week in Orlando, Fla.

The award winners represent companies who have successfully implemented Channel Intelligence online commerce services to deliver significant qualified sales leads to multi-channel retailers, such as Amazon, Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, Digitally Unique, The Home Depot, OfficeMax, Lowe's, RadioShack, Sears and many others.

Microsoft led the way buy winning two Channel Intelligence Awards at the 2005 Channel Summit. Other companies receiving awards for most selling opportunities in various industry categories include: Acer,

BenQ, Brother, D-Link and Dymo; eMachines, FujiFilm, Hewlett Packard, Hitachi and Kodak. Additional awards winners include Lexmark, Logitech, Mattel, Raxco Software, and Samsung; SanDisk, Sharp, Stanley, TRENDware, TrippLite, Verbatim and Viewsonic.

"The key to creating broader selling opportunities through the channel is by giving valuable information to the customer when and where he or she is ready to make a product purchase," said Ben Jenkins, Trade eMarketing Manager at Hewlett Packard. "HP works with Channel Intelligence to support the sale of all consumer products, such as digital cameras, home printers, plasma TVs and personal computers. We're pleased to receive the Channel Intelligence Award and happy that our relationship continues to grow for the benefit of our customers."

Channel Intelligence, a Florida-based commerce data interchange services company, hosted the 2005 Channel Summit, which brought together industry leaders in the computing, consumer electronics, toys and tools markets involved with multi-channel retailing. Nearly 85 manufacturers, retailers, resellers and distributors were represented at the inaugural Channel Summit, where industry leaders shared their insights, challenges and solutions for improving channel collaboration and increasing online and offline retail sales.

"These are the companies that are doing the best job at sending leads to their channel partners within their specific product categories," said Alan Fulmer, vice president at Channel Intelligence. "As we continue to grow our client list beyond the existing 100 manufacturers, we'll refine the categories to better reflect significant selling opportunities. These awards are a way for retailers to better understand which companies are doing the most to deliver qualified sales leads through the channel."

About Channel Intelligence - http://www.channelintelligence.com -

Founded in 1999 and headquartered near Orlando, Fla., Channel Intelligence develops suites of commerce data interchange services, which enhance the online and offline sales process among manufacturers, retailers, value-added resellers (VARs) and consumers. Channel Intelligence counts among its client base many Global 500 companies in computing, consumer electronics, toys and tools, serving more than 100 manufacturers and 400 retailers worldwide with SellPath(SM) Services and BrandPath(SM) Services that increase channel sales. Channel Intelligence also offers commerce data and product content syndication services, which are built upon the Commerce Data Interchange (CDI) platform.