Avnet Partner Solutions, Americas Expands Market Connection to Increase Collaboration between Independent Software Vendors and Value-Added Resellers.

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Program enables partners to offer integrated hardware and software solutions and diversify their businesses

Avnet Partner Solutions, Americas, a division of Avnet Inc. (NYSE:AVT) and value-added distributor of enterprise servers, storage, software and services, today announced a new component to "Market Connection" designed to increase collaboration between business application independent software vendors (ISVs) and HP hardware value-added resellers (VARs). The new program brings together ISVs and VARs to help them partner on opportunities that require complete, integrated software and hardware solutions targeted to vertical markets, such as health care and manufacturing. Market Connection was first launched in 2003 and provides HP solution providers with sales, marketing and solution-building resources designed to expand business opportunities.

By bringing ISVs and VARs together in the early stages of the sales cycle, they are able to collaborate and offer a more comprehensive and competitive solution than they would be able to independently. The partnering program also provides both ISVs and VARs with a competitive differentiator in their local markets by expanding their offerings and vertical market knowledge.

"The ability to pair complementary skill sets and technology enables our partners to deliver total solutions, which are increasingly required in today's fiercely competitive market," said Jim Kleeman, vice president, Avnet Partner Solutions, Americas, HP Business Unit. "Through this program, Avnet offers our partners an efficient process to combine their core competencies by leveraging each other's strengths and profitably grow their businesses."

As part of the new program, ISVs will gain access to HP's solution and market experts. They will also be able to work with VARs to leverage Avnet's resources for joint marketing, business planning and technical resources.

"Our partnership with HP has enabled us to work with world-class distributors like Avnet to expand our go-to-market strategy," said Kay Braymer-Peterson, director of strategic marketing, QAD. "We can deliver more complete solutions that include our industry-leading applications and technology infrastructure. By partnering with a hardware expert, we hope to accelerate our sales cycle because hardware requirements are incorporated into the solution at a much earlier stage in the development process."

Avnet's new ISV and VAR partnering program is a component of the organization's "Market Connection," which consists of targeted education and tools to help partners uncover new opportunities. Market Connection assists participants through a six-step process:

--Identify: Describes and educates partners on targeted and vertical market opportunities;

--Define: Outlines the HP solution sets that will meet the customer and market's demands;

--Prepare: Assesses partners' existing business skills and develops a strategic business plan that addresses the opportunity;

--Train: Delivers solutions sales training focused on implementation to capture opportunities;

--Market: Presents integrated marketing and lead generation programs to build a pipeline of targeted and qualified customers; and

--Deliver: Provides implementation services to maximize opportunities that best serve customers.

"This program demonstrates Avnet's ability to understand our business and then develop services and programs to help us grow more rapidly," said Steve Reese, VP Solutions, Premier Systems LTD. "We've been pleased with what we have seen so far and believe this program will help Premier Systems penetrate our market more broadly and position us to expand our value to our customers."

About Avnet Partner Solutions, Americas

Avnet Partner Solutions, Americas is part of the Avnet Technology Solutions operating group of Avnet, Inc. An industry-leading, value-added distributor and provider of enterprise servers, storage, software and services, Avnet Partner Solutions serves value-added resellers, independent software vendors (ISVs) and systems integrators in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Avnet Partner Solutions provides enterprise solutions from industry-leading manufacturers, focusing on driving growth for partners and manufacturers. For more information, please visit www.aps.avnet.com.

Avnet enables success from the center of the technology industry, providing cost-effective services and solutions vital to a broad base of more than 100,000 customers and 300 suppliers. The company markets, distributes and adds value to a wide variety of electronic components, enterprise computer products and embedded subsystems. Through its premier market position, Avnet brings a breadth and depth of capabilities that help its trading partners accelerate growth and realize cost efficiencies. For fiscal year ended, July 2, 2005, Avnet and the recently acquired Memec (closed July 5, 2005) generated combined revenue in excess of $13 billion in the past year through sales in approximately 70 countries. Please visit www.avnet.com for more information.