(Source: Business Wire)Spiceworks(TM), Inc. today announced the finalists for the Spicies(TM) Awards, - a competition in which IT small business professionals vote on their favorite technology products and services. Award finalists were selected based on the most popular products in use within the Spiceworks community - one of the largest groups of small business technology professionals in the world. Spiceworks users will choose the Spicies Award winners from among this group of finalists. The winners will be announced at the inaugural SpiceWorld 2008 conference taking place in Austin, Texas October 24th-25th.

"The finalists of the Spicies Awards represent the 'peoples' choice' of small business IT products and services," said Scott Abel, CEO of Spiceworks. "We congratulate them for their success in introducing new tools, services and platforms that are driving the next phase of innovation and creating real value for small businesses around the world."

The categories of the Spicies Awards range from best products to funniest moments in IT folklore. The full list of categories and finalists include:

-- IT Products and Solutions:

-- Anti Virus Software: AVG, Trend Micro, Eset NOD 32, Symantec, Avast!

-- Backup Software: Symantec Backup Exec, Acronis True Image, SyncBack SE, CA BrightStor, Microsoft Windows Backup

-- Email Server: Microsoft Exchange, MDaemon, Zimbra, Lotus Notes, Postfix, Kerio Mail Server

-- Network Equipment: Cisco, HP, LinkSys, NetGear, Dell

-- Web Hosting: GoDaddy, 1and1, Rackspace, Dreamhost, 123-reg

-- IT Services and Info:

-- Online Technology Vendor: Newegg, CDW, Dell, TigerDirect, Insight

-- Email Hosting Provider: Google, Live Office, Mailtrust, 1and1, Mi8

-- Online Storage Service: EMC Mozy, Carbonite, Jungle Disk, Egnyte, Symantec Online Backup

-- IT Certification: MCSE, CCNA, Network+, MCSA, A +

-- IT Moments and Miscellany:

-- IT Inaccuracy in a Movie: "Hackers", "Independency Day", "Swordfish", "Enhance that Image", "CSI"

-- User Avoidance Technique: "Reboot and Try It Again", "We're Working On It...", "It's On My List", "I'll get back with you...", "Submit a Ticket"

-- Funniest IT Clip, TV Show or Movie Scene: "The Website is Down", "The IT Crowd", "Office Space - the Printer Scene", "Your Company's Computer Guy" (Saturday Night Live), "Office Space - The Stapler Scene"

The Spicies Award finalists were selected from hundreds of top products and services used within the Spiceworks network. Winners will be chosen by the community of more than 450,000 Spiceworks small business IT professionals in 194 countries around the world. Additional information on the Spicies Awards can be found at http://community.spiceworks.com/group/show/299.

The finalists and winners of the Spicies Awards will be honored at SpiceWorld 2008. The two-day event features technologists, innovative small businesses and journalists participating in presentations, workshops and panels that will highlight best practices in IT management for small businesses. For more information on the SpiceWorld conference, visit http://www.spiceworld2008.com/.

About Spiceworks

Founded by network and systems management software pioneers, Spiceworks develops the first free collaborative IT management application that incorporates crowdsourcing to help over 450,000 small businesses simplify everything IT. Spiceworks makes it easy for IT pros to manage their networks, collaborate to solve technology problems, and find the best practices, products and services they need day-to-day. Spiceworks is a privately held company headquartered in Austin, Texas with funding from Austin Ventures and Shasta Ventures. For more information visit www.spiceworks.com.

Spiceworks is a trademark of Spiceworks, Inc. All other names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.