Avnet Technology Solutions, a leader in solutions distribution and an operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), has introduced a virtual trade show to spotlight embedded solutions for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), independent software vendors (ISVs), system builders and system integrators in North America. This interactive, online venue provides customers with the opportunity to gather information about products and services from leading embedded suppliers, just as they would at a traditional trade show. However, unlike a traditional trade show, this venue offers open access at any time of the day or night, eliminating the need for costly travel.

“In this tight economy, our customers have asked us to help them find cost-effective and less time-intensive ways to learn about and evaluate the solutions they need without the expense of traveling to trade shows or making multiple supplier visits,” said Larry Fulop, vice president and general manager, Embedded Solutions group, Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas. “We’ve met this need with a single convenient site that allows our customers to explore Avnet’s and suppliers’ booths from their home or office at their leisure.”

“Avnet’s virtual trade show offers an innovative and entertaining forum for customers to learn about Advantech’s embedded ePlatform products and services,” said Ween Niu, vice president of sales and marketing at Advantech. “This gives us yet one more way to demonstrate the benefits of our board-level solutions, semi- and fully customized modules, compact embedded computers as well as our application-specific computing platforms for customer-centric solutions.”

Accessible at www.embeddedcomputingsystems.com/vts, the virtual trade show uses video, animation and digital effects to give the visitor the experience of a real trade show hall. Visitors to the site can:

• View Avnet and supplier information by playing video demonstrations and accessing white papers and brochures available at each booth
• View webinars
• Take advantage of special promotions
• Ask a question or leave a comment

In addition, visitors can connect to Avnet’s Embedded411.com site to access the latest Avnet and supplier news. Here they can find recent and archived issues of Avnet’s Systems inDesign e-magazine featuring articles from today’s leaders in the embedded computing industry. Embedded411.com also houses the Embedded Matrix, a selector tool that allows users to choose characteristics to narrow their search down to the product that best suits their next project. To assist with the research and decision-making process, the site is equipped with a comparison tool, data sheets, contact information and links to request demos and quotes.

“We were pleased with the comprehensive nature of the virtual trade show,” said Tim Leon, director of Logistics & Fulfillment Operations for Snap-on Business Solutions. “This informative and entertaining vehicle not only helped us save time by allowing us to avoid travel, it also provided tools that enabled us to quickly home in on the products and services we need for our projects.”

Suppliers who currently have booths or kiosks in the virtual trade show include Advantech, Axiomtek, AMD, Dataram, Emerson Network Power, Intel, Microsoft, Supermicro and VIA Embedded.

About Avnet Technology Solutions

Avnet Technology Solutions is an operating group of Phoenix-based Avnet, Inc. As a global technology sales and marketing organization, Avnet Technology Solutions has sales divisions focused on specific customer segments and a select line card strategy enabling an exceptional level of attention to the needs of its customers and suppliers. For fiscal year 2008, the group served customers in more than 30 countries and generated US $7.6 billion in annual revenue. The group’s Web site is www.ats.avnet.com.

Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology in the world. Avnet accelerates its partners’ success by connecting the world’s leading technology suppliers with a broad base of more than 100,000 customers and providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended June 28, 2008, Avnet generated revenue of $17.95 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.