Five online retailers have been listed as finalists in the inaugural Amber (Applications for the Broadband Economy Recognition Awards) Awards.

The Amber Awards are designed to recognise excellence in e-services in Australia and encompass seven categories, including retail, banking, insurance, travel trading, commerce and application.

Retail finalists include eBay, Vet Shop, Grays Online, City Software and Ticketek. Other online players to make the finals were Webjet, Expedia, Greater Union, Moshtix, Seniors Card and Biggest Loser Club online.

companies have been companies taking out the honours across seven categories. Each AMBER finalist is representative of ‘the people’s view’ as to who are Australia’s best online service providers.

The 35 Amber finalists were selected from a comprehensive field of more than 100 nominations to be recognised as amongst the best in their category. The finalist were chosen using the combined results of an independent nationwide customer satisfaction survey and expert analysis from an independent online services lab testing facility.

Paul McCarthy, co-founder of the Amber Awards said he hoped the Ambers would help to establish a new standard in excellence in digital services.

“The finalists include, as you’d expect, recognised leaders in their fields such as Commsec in online trading and Wotif in online travel, as well as smaller and newer players such as You.i in online insurance and City Software in online retail," he said.

The Amber Awards were devised by the Paul McCarthy, chair of judging of the Annual Interactive Media Industry Association Awards and Charis Palmer, a commentator of online financial services.
The winners will be announced on Wednesday 14 October.