Microsoft Corp. today announced the finalists for the global Microsoft� Certified Partner Awards. Finalists were selected from nearly 900 entries submitted by partners worldwide. Forty-five finalists in nine categories were determined, based on their innovative use of Microsoft technologies to develop exemplary solutions for their customers. The winners will be honored at Fusion 2002, Microsoft�s premier annual partner event.

"Each year Microsoft recognizes certified partners that have demonstrated excellence in a variety of areas," said Rosa Garcia, general manager of the Partner Sales and Marketing Group at Microsoft. "We look for partners that have achieved outstanding customer impact and optimization of Microsoft technologies to solve a business need. This year, selecting the finalists was especially difficult because we were overwhelmed by the innovative business solutions being implemented around the world by Microsoft Certified Partners. It was an honor for us to receive so many amazing business applications of our products."

Microsoft Certified Partner Award finalists will be honored from each of the following categories: Microsoft .NET Application of the Year, Anti-Piracy Advocate of the Year, Business Intelligence Solution of the Year, Collaborative Solution of the Year, E-Commerce Solution of the Year, Infrastructure Solution of the Year, Microsoft Certified Technical Education Center (Microsoft CTEC) Solution of the Year, Packaged Application of the Year and Small-Business Solution of the Year.