1. Scope: The product must be directly related to enterprise database management or enterprise application development. In other words, the product must be of interest to DBMS readers.
In addition to obvious categories such as database servers, administration tools, application development tools, packaged applications, and data warehousing or decision-support products, nominees can include a broad array of related tools and technologies such as electronic commerce tools, many forms of middleware, design and modeling tools, testing tools, reusable code ranging from frameworks to components, and much more. On the other hand, many important technologies are outside the scope of DBMS Magazine and will not be considered. For example, networking products play essential roles in corporate information systems, but most are not specifically related to databases. If you can clearly explain how a new product relates to "enterprise database management and/or enterprise application development," please nominate it.
2. New: The product must have been available to customers for two years or less. Shipping products are eligible if the 1.0 version was released on or after January 1, 1996. Beta, alpha, and prototype versions of products are eligible if the vendor can demonstrate key features of the software. Products that exist only on presentation slides, press releases, or brochures are not yet eligible.
Preference will be given to brand new products as opposed to upgrades of existing products or new products derived from previous products. Startup companies exemplify the kind of innovation sought, but established companies that introduce completely new products will also be considered.
Each finalist must arrange a product demonstration. Final decisions will be made by the editor-in-chief. There will be no appeals process, but products may be renominated next year if they still meet the eligibility requirements.
These are two separate awards programs. The Editorıs Choice Award complements but does not replace the Readersı Choice Award.
DBMS has conducted an annual Readersı Choice program for many years. The Readersı Choice Awards are based on a tally of votes by DBMS readers who complete a ballot included with a midyear issue. Because readers vote for their favorite products, they must have had some experience using these products. In most cases, products that win Readersı Choice Awards are established market leaders that have already gained a significant installed base, usually after shipping for at least two years.
In contrast, the Editorıs Choice Awards will recognize emerging products that demonstrate potential but have not yet become established in the market. Emerging products usually have not been used by many customers. Those customers who do use emerging products typically do so in test or evaluation mode rather than applying them in live production systems. Emerging products are highly unlikely to garner enough votes to win a Readersı Choice Award.
The Readersı Choice Awards program bestows awards based on product categories such as database server, application development tool, CASE tool, and so forth. Unless there is a tie, only the product with the most votes in each category receives an award. The Editorıs Choice Award is based on the editorıs judgment, not on votes. Also, the Editorıs Choice Award is not based on product categories. If two of the five most impressive new products happen to compete in the same category, both can win awards if they pursue unique approaches to a similar problem. Nor is there a predefined category that must have a winner selected.
Both awards convey great prestige, and the winners should be very proud of their accomplishments.