ISPA’s first Internet Industry Awards a success

24 February 1999

ISPA, the Internet Service Providers Association, today held its first Internet Industry Awards at the Café Royal in Piccadilly, bringing together the key people who have helped develop and create one of the fastest-growing business sectors this century.

The Awards are the first of the kind in recognising the growing importance of the Internet industry and are designed to reflect the broad nature of the industry, from Internet service providers and Web site designers to industry suppliers and manufacturers.

The winners for the 15 awards, drawn from a shortlist of three, were chosen by a panel of industry experts, including Derek Wyatt MP, Chair of the Parliamentary All Party Internet Group, Dr Roger Till, Director of e centre ^uk and Phil Sayer, Head of Telecommunications at Reuters. TV Entertainer and comedian Tom O’Connor compered the evening, which began with a black tie gala dinner.

Tim Pearson, Chairman of ISPA, said, “The awards were given by the industry to applaud individuals, companies and products whose achievements are worthy of special attention. They are unique in that they give the Internet industry the opportunity to acknowledge the tremendous strides made by this young and fast-moving sector.”

Ends

Notes to Editors:

1. The Winners:

Award Winner Sponsor

Best ISP E Commerce Service: Netbanx Sun Microsystems

Best ISP Product: ZycomBarclays Capital

Best ISP Web site: Which on-line Ciscom

Best Consumer Customer Service: Internet ONE Nortel Networks

Best Business Customer Service: UUNET BT Net

Most Useful Software: Microsoft's IE Compaq

Best New Platform: iMac Europay International

Best Hardware Supplier: Compaq AOL UK

Most Innovative New Product: Telinco's VPOP UUNET

Best Software Supplier: Macromedia Global Internet

Best Service Supplier: BTNET Mitsubishi Electric Internet Services

Best European: ISP EasyNet Total Network Solutions Ltd

Best Business ISP: Planet On-line Ascend Communications Europe Ltd

Best Consumer ISP: Freeserve Microsoft

Personality of the Year: Peter Wilkinson, Future Publishing

creator of Freeserve

2. The Judges:

Derek Wyatt MP, Chair of the Parliamentary All-Party Internet Group

Dr Roger Till Director of e centre ^uk

Phil Sayer Head of Telecommunications at Reuters

Marcus Austin Editor of Internet Works

Tanya Norse European Channel Development Director for Mediasurface

Jeff Zie Creative Director of Sky Interactive Programming

3. The ISPA Awards had the support of Future publishing, leading publishers of Internet titles including Internet Works and .Net, and Mecklermedia, organisers of the leading international Internet Trade events, ISPCON and Internet World.

4. The UK Internet Services Providers Association (ISPA UK) was set up in 1995 as a trade association to represent UK companies in the Internet sector. ISPA web page: http://www.ispa.org.uk Awards web page: http://www.ispaawards.org.uk/

5. For additional details please contact Nicholas Lansman on 0171 976 0679 or email: secretariat@ispa.org.uk