Nobody leaves empty-handed

It's that time of year again. Christmas card catalogues are raining down onto my desk, I've just discovered I had rather less central heating oil than I'd imagined (none), making me not the most popular person on the home front, and journalists everywhere are sharpening their list-writing pencils. It's gong-time!

Never one to shy away from a challenge, this year I am leaping onto the bandwagon, with a hatful of trophies to bestow upon the  doubtless grateful players in our world of IT mobility. As my awards are virtual in nature, I shall give them virtually my name; I am proud to present the "Dons" for 2004. Not all recipients are deserving of a shinyDon of course, so the least accomplished performers will be getting "Donkeys" instead.

Let's kick off with a big one, the Don for "Best Performing Vendor". Here, we have an embarrassment of riches. During the course of the year, our manufacturing partners have raised a crop of new and improved products positively cornucopian in quantity and variety, bristling with innovative features to tempt the most jaded IT buyer. Add to that some sterling efforts in brand building and lead generation, and my cup is overflowing!

All of our vendors are worthy of praise, and I nominated every one of them, but the Don cannot be shared. Cognisant of the upset that can be caused by insensitive terminology-after all, none of these noble enterprises is a loser- there will be no winners. The Don for BPV goes to Symbol. While we wait for the applause to fade, I will fill you in with the reason for the committee's decision.

Unambiguous commitment

PartnerSelect represents Symbol's unambiguous commitment to the twotier distribution route to market. Other vendors have declared similar intentions, and many demonstrate a similar modus operandi. However, Symbol is clearly leading the way, and its partners have been reaping the enefits all year. Congratulations!

"Greatest New Product" is another eenly fought category, so let's review he nominees: Symbol's MC9000 series terminals have enjoyed much success nd its WS2000 wireless switch has redefined the entry level for wireless networking; both Metrologic and Datalogic have introduced fine bluetooth-equipped scanners for cordless data capture, while Microvisions neat little Flic scanner
represents stonking value. RFIDcontinues to tease us, and Zebra has responded with its new R2844 desktop printer/encoder, but I feel that this technology still has a way to go before becoming mainstream. In the here-and now, the Don for GNP goes to Psion Teklogixs Workabout Pro hand-held computer.

Paradigm Distribution has a special history with Psion Teklogix, and we're blessed with a loyal base of successful Workabout resellers. The new machine can be configured to the exact requirements of the end-user and its pricing is extremely keen for a Windows CE.NET-based rugged terminal. From its memorable trade launch at WilliamsF1, it was clearly on course to be a winner, so the boys and girls in Bourne End take the chequered flag.

Inspiring
Vendors have once again excelled themselves in terms of their various trade presentations around the world, keeping us up to date with new products and sales strategies. It would be too easy to confer the Don for "Best Vendor Event" to the supplier who took us the furthest or dined us most extravagantly. But my hat comes off to Zebra for having the chutzpah to bar distributors from its "Run with Zebra" roadshow in Northamptonshire. My mobile printer resellers tell me it was inspiring. Well done, the Don for BVE is yours!

I can sense that your coffee is getting cold and you're itching to start dancing, so I'll cut the rest of this star-spangled ceremony short. The Don for "Most Outstanding Software" goes to Pendulum, the RAD (rapid application development) tool for Pocket PC. My special Don for "Journalistic Endeavour" goes to Martyn Broadhead for his timely, no-nonsense appeal for prudence to be
exercised in matters of credit. It graced these very pages in the September issue and absolutely glowed with common sense. Hear, hear! There are numerous more awards to be made but a man in the corner is signalling frantically for me to wind up. So perhaps, just to round things off, you'll all join me in a collective jeer for the "Industry's Daftest Instance Of Totally Ignorant Crassness". The Donkey for IDIOTIC goes to...(to be continued).

Ralph Donohoe is managing director of Paradigm Distribution. Paradigm Distribution offers trade customers the world's best available products for auto ID and data capture applications. More than simply delivering the best products at prices designed to maximise profits for channel partners, the company has earned a reputation for providing unparalleled pre- and post sales support, including access to technical experts to ensure that partners' businesses win orders and fulfil them successfully.

Paradigm 2004 Catalogue

Our 2004 Catalogue contains all the latest product information and specifications. We offers trade customers the world's best available products for auto ID and data capture applications. Order the catalogue now!