Internet World awards ring local, not regional, complains judging panel

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