CRN recently held their renowned Outlook Awards 2006 ceremony. The air was electric as eveyone waited to hear which companies were this year's channel leaders.

CRN's Outlook Awards are the channel's most prestigious and respected event and this year was no exception. All of the major players were represented at the awards dinner held at The Venue, Melrose Arch, with approximately 200 guests attending. The awards were based on a survey conducted by CRN over a two month period, whereby 360 different reseller companies and over 1500 votes- the largest sample size ever- voted for their best vendor and distributor within various categories. This year's categories were hotly contested and in order for a nominee to even compete, they needed to obtain a minimum of 10 votes.

The CRN team would like to congratulate all the winners and thank them for yet another successful and very enjoyable awards evening. We would also like to thanks our sponsors Lenovo, Asus, Corex, and IBM.

Channel Champion winners

Audio visual: Samsung
Components: ASUS
Digital cameras: Canon
Desktop computers: HP
Handheld devices: HP
Display panels: Philips
Impact printers: Epson
Large format printers: Kyocera Mita
Laser MFDs: Samsung
Notebooks: Lenovo
Inkjet printers: HP
Laser printers: HP
UPSs and data centre: MGE and APC
Enterprise LAN: 3Com
Enterprise networking products: HP Procurve
SME LAN products: D-Link
SME networking products: 3Com and HP
SME wireless products: Netgear
Security information management tools: CA
Infrastructure software: CA
Business intelligence: SAS Institute
Network security software: McAfee
Threat management tools: Symantec
Systems network management software: IBM Tivoli
Development tools software: IBM
CRM: Accpac
Database software: Microsoft
Desktop operating systems: Microsoft
Intranet tools software: Microsoft
Server operating systems: Microsoft
Enterprise business applications: SAP
Graphic software: Adobe
Email collaboration software: Microsoft
Client server processors: Intel
Entry and midrange servers: HP
Network storage hardware: HP
Integration middleware: Oracle
Blade servers: IBM
High end servers: IBM
SME business applications: Pastel
Enterprise wireless products: Cisco Systems
VoIP: Cisco Systems
External storage: Iomega
Inkjet MFDs: Lexmark
Storage management software: Symantec

Distributor of the Year winners

Distributor of the year award: Comztek, runner up Rectron
Enterprise wireless products: Comztek
Development tools software: Comztek
Enterprise LAN products: Westcon
VoIP: Westcon
SME LAN products: Duxbury
SME networking products: Pinnacle Micro and The Disti
Enterprise networking products: Comstor
SME wireless products: Rectron
Client server processors: Rectron
Systems and networking management software: Comztek
Networking security software: Comztek
Components: Corex
Consumables: ACT
Desktop computers: Pinnacle Micro
Audio visual devices: Axiz
Display panels: Tarsus Technologies and ASBIS
Inkjet MFDs: Rectron
Inkjet printers: Rectron
Impact printers: Esquire Technolgies
Handheld devices: Pinnacle Micro
Large format printers: Tarsus Technologies
Laser MFDs: Sahara Computers
Notebooks: Tarsus Technologies
Digital cameras: TVR Computers
UPSs: Rectron
Laser printers: Mustek
Security information management tools: Workgroup
Peripherals: Sahara Computers
POS solutions: Proscan and Pinnacle Micro
Database software: Comztek
Graphics software: Comztek
Threat management tools: Workgroup
Business software suite: Workgroup
Integration middleware: Comztek
Storage management software: Comztek
Enterprise business applications: Sparnoon
Blade servers: Tricontinental Distribution
Infrastructure software: Sparnoon
High end servers: Axiz
Entry and midrange servers: Axiz
SME business applications: Silverhedge
External storage backup: Storgate
Network storage hardware: DCC