Two weeks after Microsoft announced the finalists and winners for the 2009 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards, Microsoft EMEA published its own list of partner companies that needed to be recognized for the innovative use of the company's technology. At the end of the past week, Microsoft Central and Eastern Europe unveiled the finalists of the 2009 Worldwide Partner Conference Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards. The Redmond company plans to recognize partners at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2009, planned for July 13–16 in New Orleans.

In the software giant's perspective partners are a critical aspect of its success. Local companies from around the world, labeled Microsoft Registered, Certified and Gold Certified partners, take the Redmond company's software products in markets beyond its reach, where otherwise the technology would have prohibitive costs, or not be available at all.

“Partners are the key to igniting business innovation through great technology as well as helping customers drive down costs,” explained Charles Arizmendi, area director for partners at Microsoft Central & Eastern Europe. “Congratulations to the 2009 Partner Award finalists, who have demonstrated a superior level of expertise as well as a focus on delivering customer value. We look forward to seeing these partners fulfill their limitless potential as they continue to provide customers with world-class Microsoft solutions.”

Microsoft explained that the finalists were selected from a vast number of partners. In this regard, the software giant pointed out that it had received approximately 2,000 entries from partners worldwide. Below you will be able to find a list with categories and finalists, according to Microsoft:

 

 

Advanced Infrastructure Solutions, Active Directory Partner of the Year

DPA SIA, LatviaDigital Design, Russia

Advanced Infrastructure Solutions, Windows Desktop Deployment Partner of the Year

SIVECO ROMANIA SA, Romania

Business Intelligence Partner of the Year

NPS D.O.O., Slovenia

Custom Development Solutions, Application Infrastructure Development Partner of the Year

Span d.o.o., Croatia

Custom Development Solutions, Smart Client Development Partner of the Year

E Smart Systems, Serbia

Custom Development Solutions, Web Development Partner of the Year

ecommerce.cz, a. s., Czech RepublicAplana Software, Russia

Hosting Solutions Partner of the Year

NetDirect s.r.o., Czech Republic

Information Worker Solutions, Enterprise Content Management and Forms Development Partner of the Year

SOFTSERVE, Ukraine

Information Worker Solutions, Portals and Collaboration Partner of the Year

Competentum Group, Russia

ISV/Software Solutions Partner of the Year

TETA S.A., Poland

Learning Solutions Innovative Partner of the Year

Compendium Centrum Edukacyjne Sp. z o.o., Poland

Licensing Solutions, License Delivery Partner of the Year

D A Q U A S spol. s r.o., Czech Republic

Licensing Solutions, Software Asset Management Partner of the Year

IPR-INSIGHTS, Hungary

Microsoft Dynamics Distribution Partner of the Year

XAPTHungary, Hungary

Microsoft Dynamics Financial Services Partner of the Year

E-consulting, Ukraine

Microsoft Dynamics Manufacturing Partner of the Year

New Dimension, Kazakhstan

Microsoft Dynamics Public Sector Partner of the Year

GMCS, Russia

Microsoft Dynamics AX Partner of the Year

CSF POLSKA SP Z O O, Poland

Microsoft Dynamics NAV Partner of the Year

NPS d.o.o., Serbia

Mobility Solutions Business Application Partner of the Year

SAGRA TECHNOLOGY SP Z O O, Poland

Mobility Solutions Integration Partner of the Year

LOGOTEC ENGINEERING S.A., Poland

Mobility Solutions Partner of the Year

LOGOTEC ENGINEERING S.A., Poland

Networking Infrastructure Solutions Partner of the Year

NetDirect s.r.o., Czech Republic

Newly Recruited Partner of the Year

Infobox, Russia

OEM Hardware Solutions, System Building Partner of the Year

M SAN GRUPA d.d., Croatia

Small Business Specialist Partner of the Year

Digital Design, Russia

Software-plus-Services Development Partner of the Year

NetDirect s.r.o., Czech RepublicAplana Software, Russia

Software-plus-Services Integration Partner of the Year

ICZ a.s., Czech Republic

Unified Communications Solutions, IM/Presence Partner of the Year

CPU d.o.o, Serbia

Unified Communications Solutions, Messaging Partner of the Year

CPU d.o.o, Serbia