SAN JOSE, Calif., May 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bell Microproducts Inc. , one of the world's largest value-added distributors of storage and computing technology, hosted a visit from Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex at the company's San Jose headquarters on May 14, 2007.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070516/SFW073)

Prince Edward was in Silicon Valley to promote and raise the profile of the Award, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award-Young Americans' Challenge, in the Northern California region. Founded in 1956, the Award is a self-development, non-competitive program initiative that is designed to challenge and support young people to achieve their very best. The Award is a worldwide, non-profit program that is currently being presented to schools and student organizations in California, Mississippi, Maryland, Georgia and Florida.

Bell Microproducts' CEO, Don Bell, became aware of and interested in the Award while overseeing company business in the UK last year, where Bell Microproducts has a strong presence, with almost 500 employees in six locations delivering 25 percent of the company's annual sales. Don will leverage his influence as a leader in the technology sector of Silicon Valley to garner support for the Award from other area CEOs and influencers. In the initial introduction of the Award to Northern California, training, promotion and support are the vital components that will be addressed to assure that the selected young people have a high quality experience while challenging themselves to achievement.

"I am extremely proud to be able to support to the Award and all that it represents," noted Bell. "Every young person, regardless of social or economic status, should have the opportunity and the choice to challenge themselves to achieve their personal best. Supporting the Duke of Edinburgh's Award-Young Americans' Challenge and enabling youth to realize their own individual potential also serves to organically create a stronger fabric for the future."

With a strong focus on accomplishment, responsibility, self-discovery, confidence, and a heightened awareness of belonging to the community, youth who participate in the Award will be offered the opportunity to give back to their community through their efforts. The prestigious recognition that comes with fulfilling the objectives of the Award's curriculum includes a special certification, which can be highlighted on a college application or resume, opening doors to success in the higher education and the business communities.

Please visit http://www.intaward.org/ for more information. About Bell Microproducts Inc.

Bell Microproducts is an international, value-added distributor of a wide range of high-tech products, solutions and services, including storage systems, servers, software, computer components and peripherals, as well as maintenance and professional services. An industry-recognized specialist in storage products, this Fortune 1000 company is one of the world's largest storage-centric value-added distributors. In 2006, the company celebrated the sale of its 50 millionth hard disk drive, setting a significant industry milestone.

Bell Microproducts is uniquely qualified with deep technical and application expertise to service a broad range of information technology needs. From design to deployment, its products are available at any level of integration, from components to subsystem assemblies and fully-integrated, tested and certified system solutions. More information can be found in the company's SEC filings, or by visiting the Bell Microproducts Web site at http://www.bellmicro.com/.

Safe Harbor Statement for Bell Microproducts:

This release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements, which reflect the Company's current views of future events and financial performance, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results or facts to differ materially from such statements for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to: the ability to successfully integrate the operations of recent acquisitions, industry conditions, changes in product supply, pricing, and customer demand, competition, other vagaries in the computer and electronic components markets, changes in relationships with key suppliers, foreign currency fluctuations and the other risks described from time to time in the Company's reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission (including the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K). Investors should take such risks into account when making investment decisions. Shareholders and other readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. The company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements.

CONTACT: Dena Jacobson of Lages & Associates, +1-408-492-1470, or
dena@lages.com, for Bell Microproducts

Web site: http://www.bellmicro.com/