FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

Important Dates
Nominations
Shipping of Products to Judges
Finalist Phase
Winners
Judging Criteria

IMPORTANT DATES

Nominations Open: September 30, 2008
Early Bird Deadline: Nominate by October  24, 2008 to receive a 20% discount off the registration price
Nominations Close: November 12, 2008
Finalists Announced: December 17, 2008
Winners Announced at SD West 2009: March 11, 2009

NOMINATIONS

What products are eligible for nomination?
Books, products and web sites. Books and products must have been published or had a significant version release in the current calendar year (November 2007 - November 2008) to be considered. Web sites may be nominated even if they originated before 2008. Products nominated should be stable with a track record of successful releases.

Is beta software allowed?
No. Beta software will not be considered.

Would a book with a major update (2nd, 3rd editions, etc.) qualify?
Yes.

How do you define General vs. Technical Books?
Books are considered “general” if they don't focus exclusively on a particular language or technology or too heavily on programming constructs.

What information is required to nominate my product?
When submitting your application, we ask that you provide:

• Contact Information
• Category (see Description of Categories)
• Sub-Categories (see List of Sub-Categories)
• Supporting Product Information (optional; must be submitted no later than November 12, 2008)
• A statement describing why your product is better than its competitors (no more than 250 words, 5 bullet points).
• Fee payment (credit-card only)

How many products can I nominate?
You can nominate as many as you like.

Will I have to pay a registration fee for each category that my product is nominated in?
Yes. Registration fees apply for each nomination.

What supplemental product information should be submitted?
You may submit a 5-minute Flash video, PowerPoint or webinar consisting of 5-10 examples of your product's most salient features and functionality. (The examples may be illustrated with static screenshots, real-time animation or an application demo.) White papers may also be made available to the judges.

Is supplemental information required?
Although the supporting product information is not a requirement for submission, it does help the judges understand your product and differentiate it from its competitors. We highly recommend that you submit any supporting information that is available.

In the past, my product was placed in another category. Why?
If you nominate your product in only one category, the judges may move it to a more appropriate category—especially if they are familiar with the product and your competitors. If your product is nominated in several categories, we will generally leave it where it is nominated. Note that companies often nominate their products in multiple categories for market positioning.

SHIPPING PRODUCTS TO JUDGES

When are products shipped to the judges?
As soon as the finalists are named, vendors are sent a list of judges, along with instructions to send a copy of their product/ book directly to each judge on the list within 2 weeks. Vendors are responsible for getting products to the judges; if the normal mode of distribution is by download, instructions, password and licenses must be provided.

How many products must be shipped?
There may be up to 15 judges, depending on the category. We will let you know how many copies are required.

FINALIST STAGE

Finalists will be announced by December 17, 2008. Product finalists are required to send a copy of their product — with a full, unrestricted license with no expiration date — directly to each judge in that category. If your product takes more than 30 minutes to install, you must submit, along with the product, a pre-built Virtual PC image configured with all the required components and dependencies required for your product to be evaluated. Products submitted with restricted licenses will not be considered.

In many instances, judges recommend Jolt finalist products to clients and peers. They stay informed about the tool landscape as they review other products — potentially mentioning your product in articles or to clients. One reason that the Jolts attract such eminent judges is that they receive the best software — not only to evaluate, but to add to their personal research libraries.

How are the finalists selected?
Judges select the finalists based on the application form, supporting material submitted, the buzz that your product has generated, their familiarity with your product, online reviews, peer reviews, and the information provided on your web site. We highly recommend that you submit a 5-minute Flash video, Power Point presentation or webinar highlighting your tool’s key features and differentiators.

WINNERS

When will the winners be announced?
Winners will be announced at the Jolt Awards ceremony March 11, 2009 at SD West in Santa Clara, California. If you are a finalist, please plan to have a representative present at the Awards.

JUDGING CRITERIA

How are the winners selected?
Our judges not only examine the standard criteria of audience suitability, productivity, innovation, quality, ROI, risk and flexibility, but also seek to honor products that are ahead of the curve. Jolt-winning products are universally useful; are simple, yet rich in functionality; redefine their product space; and/or solve a nagging problem that has consistently eluded other products and books.

Still have questions?
Please contact Jonathan Erickson.