Microsoft Corp. today announced the winners of the eighth annual Retail Application Developer (RAD) Awards. The annual awards program recognizes application developers that make the best use of Microsoft� technology to provide business benefits to customers in the retail and hospitality industries.

"The RAD Awards program gives us the opportunity to recognize application developers for their excellence in offering provable, outstanding, Microsoft-based business solutions to users in the retail and hospitality industries," said Tom Litchford, director of marketing and channel of Retail and Hospitality Industry Solutions Group at Microsoft. "We are always extremely pleased with the tremendous participation by the leading retail and hospitality solution developers in the RAD Awards program. All entrants offer innovative line-of-business technology solutions that enhance a company's business agility."

The RAD Awards program allows application developers to submit their solution for consideration by an expert panel, including members of the press, analysts, consultants, academics and retailers. Contestants' solutions are scored according to the following criteria: quantifiable business benefits, best use of available Microsoft technology, ease of adoption, and best integration and exploitation of Web services technology.