Autobytel's Myride.com Receives “Official Honoree”Distinction for the 12th Annual Webby Awards
Newly Launched MyRide.com Recognized by “Oscars of the Internet”
Irvine, Calif. - April 14, 2008 – The Webby Awards, the leading international honor for the Web, recently recognized MyRide.com, the new online resource for consumers to research anything automotive, as an Official Honoree, a distinction that recognizes work exhibiting remarkable achievement. MyRide.com, which has only been live since October, was one of only two non-automaker, online car buying and research sites to be recognized in the competition’s entire Automotive category.
Hailed as the "Oscars of the Internet" by the New York Times, The Webby Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet, including Websites, Interactive Advertising, Online Film & Video, and Mobile Websites. The awards are judged by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences, a global organization that includes David Bowie, Harvey Weinstein, Arianna Huffington, Matt Groening, Jamie Oliver, Internet inventor Vinton Cerf, and RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser.
Autobytel and its family of sites have long been recognized for their technological innovation, dating back to 2000, when the company was honored with the prestigious Computerworld Smithsonian Award. Webby Award Honoree MyRide.com is the first vertical search experience for the automotive marketplace and is designed to help Internet-savvy consumers find, see, buy and learn anything automotive and belong to a diverse community of people who have similar automotive interests.
“Since pioneering online car buying in 1995, Autobytel’s mission has been to offer online automotive consumers the best possible experience,”said Autobytel Inc. CEO and President Jim Riesenbach. “Given that MyRide.com is still in its infancy, it is particularly gratifying that the judges have recognized our efforts. This honor is a testament to the hard work and innovative spirit of the Autobytel team as we continue to evolve the MyRide.com experience.”
The 12th Annual Webby Awards received nearly 10,000 entries from over 60 countries and all 50 states. Out of the more than 10,000 entries submitted, fewer than 15 percent received this honor and were deemed an Official Honoree.
"The Webby Awards honors the outstanding work that is setting the standards for the Internet," said David-Michel Davies, executive director of The Webby Awards. "MyRide.com’s Official Honoree selection is a testament to the skill, ingenuity, and vision of its creators.”
About Autobytel Inc. Since launching the first car-buying website in 1995, Autobytel Inc.’s mission has been to empower automotive consumers with the tools and information they need to make smart, well-informed vehicle purchasing and ownership decisions. The company has helped millions of car shoppers and generated billions of dollars in car sales for dealers. Today, the company’s innovative, consumer-driven flagship site, MyRide.com, expands the company’s mission across the automotive purchase and ownership life cycle. As the first vertical search experience for the automotive marketplace, MyRide.com is designed to help Internet-savvy consumers FIND, SEE, BUY and LEARN anything automotive and BELONG to a diverse community of people who have similar automotive interests. By providing a convenient and comprehensive automotive consumer experience across the purchase and ownership lifecycle, Autobytel provides new value and touch-points for automotive marketers. Through MyRide.com and Autobytel’s marketing network, the company connects dealerships with a steady, diverse stream of motivated, serious shoppers, while providing both dealers and manufacturers with precision-targeted brand and product marketing opportunities. The company's advanced web-based advertising and marketing programs also help dealers and manufacturers build relationships with customers, as well as help them to efficiently manage and convert online business.
About The Webby Awards: Hailed as the "Oscars of the Internet" by the New York Times, The Webby Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet, including Websites, Interactive Advertising, Online Film & Video, and Mobile Websites. Established in 1996, the 12th Annual Webby Awards received nearly 10,000 entries from all 50 states and over 60 countries worldwide. The Webby Awards is presented by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Sponsors and Partners of The Webby Awards include: Adobe; The Creative Group; Verizon; AOL Video; dotMobi; Level3; Adweek; Fortune; Reuters; Variety; Wired; IDG: Brightcove; PricewaterhouseCoopers; 2advanced.Net; KobeMail and Museum of the Moving Image.
About the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS): The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences is dedicated to the creative, technical, and professional progress of the Internet and interactive media. The Academy is an intellectually diverse organization that includes over 500 members consisting of leading experts in a diverse range of fields, such as musician David Bowie, Internet inventor Vinton Cerf, Naked Chef Jamie Oliver, fashion designer Max Azria, “Simpsons” creator Matt Groening and Real Networks CEO Rob Glaser. The Webby Awards and The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences are registered trademarks of International Data Group. For more information, visit www.iadas.net.
Autobytel Inc. Media Relations Melanie Webber, 949.862.3023 ([email protected]) Joe Foster, Ruder Finn, 310.882.4014 ([email protected])
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