Avnet RF & Microwave Launches Wavelength Design Solutions New Business Unit Offers End-to-End Wireless Integration Solutions

Business Wire, August 12, 2002

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 12, 2002

Avnet RF & Microwave, a division of Avnet Electronics Marketing, has launched Wavelength Design Solutions (WDS), a new business unit, which will provide services and products to offer a total solution to customers incorporating wireless technology into their end products.

WDS was created to help meet the growing demand from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), original design manufacturers (ODMs), and enterprises that plan to incorporate wireless technology into their end products, but do not necessarily have the technical expertise and or resources to do the job internally.

WDS will provide such customers with a total wireless integration solution by offering the products, software and design services to directly support their custom requirements.

From product concept through production, or at any stage along the wireless design and production cycle, WDS' wireless design and integrated product solutions can help customers significantly reduce the time spent developing their end product, which will shorten time-to-market, while achieving lower costs overall.

"The creation of WDS is based on the evolution of products, technology, and skill sets that are necessary for the successful integration of wireless technology into new and existing OEM products," said Joel Levine, president of Avnet RF & Microwave.

"Product development that requires both digital and RF design expertise positions Avnet RF & Microwave, with its specialized knowledge in this area, combined with the resources of semiconductor distributor Avnet Cilicon, as the best solution and resource for customers and suppliers who need this type of application and program management support."

WDS has formed several alliances with a handful of premier wireless design and engineering companies, to assist its customers with all of their hardware, software, and firmware development.

This first wave of companies was chosen because of their expertise in wireless design, engineering, and software integration, in addition to their relationships with some of Avnet RF & Microwave's leading franchised manufacturers of 802.11x and Bluetooth products, including Philips Components, Intersil, Infineon and Texas Instruments.

WDS has developed a three-step process to facilitate a customer's wireless integration. First, through its alliance of service providers, WDS will connect customers with the design resources they need for their specific engineering and software requirements. WDS will then help guide them through the integration process, and finally, provide best-in-class products from the leading manufacturers of 802.11x and Bluetooth products through Avnet RF & Microwave.

From product definition and design, to supply chain management, Wavelength Design Solutions provides customers with a total solution for integrating wireless technology into their end products. For additional information about WDS, please visit its Web site at www.avnetRF.com/wds, or call 866/avnetRF (286-3873).

About Avnet RF & Microwave

Avnet RF & Microwave is a specialized business unit of Avnet Electronics Marketing and is currently the distribution market leader in the sale of components to the wireless electronics industry.

Avnet RF & Microwave offers a technical selling organization, value-added services including parametric testing, hybrid assembly and design, cable assembly, evaluation boards, die handling, thin film assembly services, hi-rel processing and wireless design services through Avnet Design Services' Bluetooth lab. The Avnet RF & Microwave Web site is located at www.avnetRF.com.

Avnet Electronics Marketing is the largest operating group of Phoenix-based Avnet Inc. (NYSE: AVT), a Fortune Global 500 company and one of the world's largest technology marketing and services companies, with fiscal year 2002 sales of $8.9 billion (year ended June 30, 2002).

Avnet Electronics Marketing distributes semiconductors, interconnect, passive and electromechanical components from leading manufacturers. The company markets, inventories and adds value to these products and provides world-class supply-chain management, supply network integration/management, and engineering design services. Avnet EM serves customers in 63 countries.

The company's Web site is located at www.avnet.com.