Darmstadt/Bonn, 30 August, 2007 - Softwareload, a Download Portal from Deutsche Telekom, today announced the awards for its “Software of the Year”. Internet users could choose their favorite program in 10 categories between 16 July and 16 August, 2007. Over 50,000 people took part, casting in excess of 600,000 votes. A high-class jury of experts had already nominated a total of 100 software titles to be considered in the competition.

German Software Impresses
Two-time winner of the first ever awards from a software download portal was Adobe. The software house got the most votes in the categories “Multimedia” and “Internet”. Other well-known names such as Kaspersky Labs, Buhl Data Service and Nero were also recognized. The German winners were O&O Software, TuneUp Software, S.A.D. and Brockhaus Duden New Media. The program xp AntiSpy won the special prize in the “Freeware” category. This free tool backs up an operating system and increases security. The award and Euro 5,000.00 prize money went to the developer, Christian Taubenheim.

Awards give Guidance
Dirk Lebzien, Senior Manager of Softwareload, handed over the awards during a special presentation at the Internationalen Funkausstellung (IFA) in Berlin, Germany. “I’m delighted of course with the number of participants. I am convinced that our customers have given a great seal of approval to the quality and user-friendliness of the programs through their objective voting” said Lebzien. “The awards act as a guide for buyers. They can now consider the votes from a total of ten categories when making their next purchase.” Software load awarded a total of Euro 10,000.00 in prize money during the ceremony.

The 100 programs nominated for awards were selected by an expert jury of internet experts and journalists in July, 2007. The jury included, amongst others:

• David Göhler, Editor in Chief of PC Magazin & magnus.de
• Andreas Perband, Editor in Chief of PC WELT
• Carsten Scheibe, Trade Journalist
• Jörg Schieb, Freelance Journalist and Computer Book Author
• Christian Spanik, Editor of CHIPtv
• Dr. Mario Tobias, BITKOM
• Rainer Wagenhäuser, Trade Journalist

More detailed information on the “Software of the Year” awards is available on request from the Press Office at Softwareload at e-mail address softwareload@webershandwick.com

About Softwareload
Under www.softwareload.de, internet users can download the software of their choice direct onto their computer. Over 18,000 titles are available, either as full versions, free or shareware and these titles are organized into nine main categories. To assist in navigation and product selection, users have at their disposal a detailed search function, test reports from renowned trade magazines, user reviews of individual products and editorial contributions on current software topics.

About O&O Software

O&O Software GmbH has been developing "Tools for Windows" since 1997. Customers include home users, SMEs, public institutions and global business groups. These tools are effectually sold directly and by using our partner network and are available in more than 50 countries. The product portfolio includes applications for performance optimization, system administration, data restoration and the secure deletion of data. O&O products have been judged as technologically leading in numerous tests. You can find more information and free trial versions of all products on our website. O&O’s products include O&O BlueCon, O&O CleverCache, O&O Defrag, O&O DiskImage, O&O DiskRecovery, O&O DiskStat, O&O DriveLED, O&O FormatRecovery, O&O MediaRecovery, O&O RescueBox, O&O SafeErase, O&O ToolBox and O&O UnErase.

Press Contact

O&O Software GmbH, Am Borsigturm 48, 13507 Berlin, Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)30 4303 4310, Fax: +49 (0)30 4303 4399
E-mail: press@oo-software.com

Members of the media can find additional information and imagery online in the O&O PressCenter at http://www.oo-software.com/en/press/