Tempe, Ariz. -- Avnet Technology Solutions, the global IT solutions distribution leader and operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), today announced that it has expanded its distribution agreement with Microsoft Corporation to focus on the virtualization market. Under this agreement, Avnet will help Microsoft develop and build its U.S. channel for virtualization solutions targeted to small- and medium-sized business (SMB) customers, including Microsoft's System Center products.

"Virtualization presents a tremendous revenue opportunity for value-added resellers, especially in the SMB market," said Tony Madden, senior vice president, Global Supplier Business Executive for Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas. "With Microsoft, we will provide channel partners with the technology and resources they need to successfully address this market opportunity and help them build competitively differentiating virtualization practices. Partners can rely on Avnet's proven expertise through its VirtualPath® practice, which has helped partners gain deep understanding of how virtualization can solve customers' business challenges."

As a part of this expanded relationship, Avnet and Microsoft will work closely together to assist new and existing Microsoft value-added reseller (VAR) partners in developing deep sales and technical expertise around virtualization solutions for SMB customers. This support will include courses and campaigns centered on partner awareness, readiness assessment services, and demand generation activities, with a goal of enabling partners to address customers' data center challenges with solutions based on Microsoft's System Center.

"Avnet is a long-standing partner that has proven its commitment to customers with their significant industry-specific expertise in conjunction with Microsoft technologies," said Cindy Bates, vice president, Microsoft's SMB team in the U.S. "We are pleased that Avnet's SolutionsPath® methodology, which is used to engage, educate, and develop new channels in specialized, high-growth markets – including virtualization, is now available to our partners."

Partners looking to gain an even deeper level of data center solutions expertise in high-growth vertical markets can also leverage Avnet's SolutionsPath® methodology and practices. With SolutionsPath, Avnet has been at the forefront of helping partners become experts in solutions areas such as virtualization and data center automation. Avnet provides market-specific resources, expertise, services and technology alliances to help partners accelerate their growth and profitability with less investment risk and cost.

"Virtualization is one of the hottest technology growth areas for the SMB market, and we are committed to growing our virtualization practice to capitalize on these opportunities," said Dennis Niedrowski, director of professional services of DSS, an Avnet partner that provides professional, managed and hosted services for the mid-market throughout the eastern U.S. "Microsoft's launch of its virtualization solutions aligns perfectly with our strategy for this market. With Avnet's support and Microsoft's Gold Competency in Virtualization, we now have the ideal combination of specialized virtualization technology, resources, sales and technical enablement to continue to grow our business. We are confident that we'll be able to rapidly expand our virtualization practice, while solving our customers' data center challenges."

Reseller partners interested in building a virtualization practice based on Microsoft solutions can also visit VirtCentral. This website is a gateway for partners to grow a successful Microsoft virtualization practice. It provides the resources and information reseller partners need to start capitalizing on the high-growth small and mid-size business (SMB) virtualization market.

In addition to being Microsoft's distributor for virtualization solutions in the U.S., Avnet provides support for a full range of Microsoft products and license types, including Microsoft Open and Volume Licensing, Microsoft Embedded, Microsoft OEM/System Builder, Microsoft Retail and Microsoft ISV Royalty.

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About Avnet Technology Solutions 
As a global IT solutions distributor, Avnet Technology Solutions collaborates with its customers and suppliers to create and deliver effective solutions that address the business challenges of their end-user customers locally and around the world. For fiscal year 2010, the group served customers in more than 70 countries and generated US $8.19 billion in annual revenue. Avnet Technology Solutions (www.ats.avnet.com) is an operating group of Avnet, Inc.

About Avnet
Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology serving customers in more than 70 countries worldwide. Avnet accelerates its partners' success by connecting the world's leading technology suppliers with a broad base of more than 100,000 customers by providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended July 3, 2010, Avnet generated revenue of $19.16 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.

Media Contact:
Marcia Chapman
Brodeur Partners, for Avnet
mchapman@brodeur.com
480-308-0284