Hot off the heels of last month's Internet World Asia Industry Awards,
held in the Lion City, the cream of Asia's 'Net crop trod the red carpet
and awaited its accolades of regional excellence.
In theory, at least.
In practice, the gala affair rang distinctly local, offering
Singaporeans the chance to nominate Asia's stellar Internet players;
with home-grown talent viewed, mostly, as the regional benchmark.
"A lot of the nominations were unknown to many of the judges, as they
were Singapore-based," said Ms Carolyn Ong, senior reporter of the South
China Morning Post's Technology Post, herself a judge.
"The nominations didn't make sense - and the judges didn't have a say on
who we could nominate".
Audited by Price Waterhouse Coopers, the verdict on Tom.com's scoop of
Internet start-up of the year sent ripples of disbelief throughout
audience and judge ranks.
Stunned responses ranged from "surprised" to "how, or why, did the hype
win out"?
Nevertheless, categories which characterised the awards included the
impact award for charitable contribution to the 'Net community -
watching seminar impressarios IandIAsia.com taking home the trophy.
Tussling for pole-position in the Internet service provider of the year
category proved a tougher call - as then Cable & Wireless HKT (PCCW HKT)
and StarHub Internet reached an amicable tie.
Saluting the finance providers that back Web promise, the investor/
venture capitalist of the year was scooped up by Japan's Softbank; with
Malaysia's Asiatravelmart.com and Lion City business-to-business
services provider, WizOffice, tying neck-and-neck for the best ecommerce
company award.
Breaking ground in the cluttered Web design market, the SAR's Lemon.com
won out for its innovative provision of emarketing and ebusiness
solutions; while Singapore's Creative Technology Ltd reigned supreme in
the hottest Internet hardware product category.
India's Easydiary.com picked up the accolade for killer application of
the year for its Web-calendar and scheduling service.
'Net stockbroker Boom.com proved its competitive edge, dominating the
best B2C Internet site category.
Hitting the spot for Internet company of the year and best B2B Internet
site, the Lion City's Advanced Manufacturing Online (AMO) won out in the
high-tech manufacturing supply chain sector.
Winning, and taking all, AMO chairman and CEO Mr Wong Toon King
continued the category wipe-outs - snapping up the highly-prized win of
Internet visionary of the year.
