The 2002 InfoWorld 100 Awards Honor Avnet Applied Computing as One of the Most Technically Innovative Companies

Business Wire, Nov 20, 2002

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 20, 2002

Leading Publication Honors Avnet Applied Computing for the

Development of Its Avnet FasTrac Customer and Supplier Portal

InfoWorld Media Group, the provider of in-depth analysis of enterprise technology and strategies through its integrated online, print, research and events channels, recently announced the recipients of its annual InfoWorld 100 awards, which recognizes the innovative use of technology by corporate IT organizations.

Avnet Applied Computing -- an operating group of Avnet Inc. (NYSE:AVT) -- was selected for this honor based on the development of two roles-based, customizable portal interfaces: MyAAC for employees, and Avnet FasTrac(TM) for customers and suppliers. A demonstration of Avnet FasTrac is available at http://www.aac.avnet.com/fastrac.

"Avnet Applied Computing believes that quickly getting the right information into the hands of our customers and employees is essential to helping our customers bring their products to market better, faster and for less cost than their competition," said Ed Kamins, president of Avnet Applied Computing.

"We are honored that InfoWorld recognized our efforts as a leading technology innovator, and we will continue to develop the functionality of Avnet FasTrac -- as noted by the recent deployment of the Avnet FastBuild configurator -- to help speed our customers through their design cycles."

Avnet FasTrac is a secure, one-stop online portal that puts all the essential information about a customer's products within easy reach of both the customer and the AAC teams that support them.

Through Avnet FasTrac, AAC customers can:

-- Place and monitor orders

-- Access AAC reference designs to jumpstart the design process

-- Access product roadmaps and end-of-life information

-- Manage their bill of materials

-- Rapidly custom-configure white-box servers and desktops

-- Interact with AAC team members

-- Manage the return and warranty process

-- Track serial numbers for asset management

-- Help get their new products to market quickly

To become a registered customer or to see a demonstration of the power of Avnet FasTrac, visit: http://www.aac.avnet.com/fastrac.

The InfoWorld 100

The InfoWorld 100 exemplifies the best of IT. These companies are putting the latest enterprise technology to use and achieving great success. Chosen and ranked by InfoWorld's senior editors, these 100 organizations represent 2002's greatest achievements in companies spanning 11 industries.

The InfoWorld 100 was chosen based on their ability to leverage the latest technology to bolster business efforts, maximize return on investment, streamline business processes, reduce costs, save resources, improve customer service and create new streams of revenue.

About IDG's InfoWorld Media Group

InfoWorld Media Group delivers in-depth analysis of enterprise technology and strategies combined to deliver insight into vital business solutions through its integrated online, print, research and events channels.

In an era when technology is more critical to business success than ever before, InfoWorld Media Group provides senior IT level expertise for executives such as CTOs and CIOs on how technology drives specific business benefits such as revenue growth, relationship management, and enhancing organizational efficiencies.

InfoWorld Media Group's coverage of key technologies, products and trends that assist IT professionals in leveraging technology for business advantage is substantiated by original research done in InfoWorld's $23 million, dedicated multi-platform, enterprise test center. Since 1978, InfoWorld has performed the industry's most trusted testing of technology and products. To learn more about InfoWorld, go to www.infoworld.com.

InfoWorld Media Group is a division of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research and event company. IDG publishes more than 300 magazines and newspapers and offers online users the largest network of technology-specific sites around the world through IDG.net (www.idg.net), which comprises more than 300 targeted Web sites in 70 countries.

IDG is also a leading producer of 168 computer-related expositions worldwide, and provides IT market analysis through 51 offices in 43 countries worldwide. Company information is available at www.idg.com.

About Avnet Applied Computing

Avnet Applied Computing focuses on the unique requirements of computing OEMs, independent software vendors and system builders looking to get embedded systems or white box solutions to market quickly. Avnet Applied Computing offers a wide array of services including engineering assistance, integration and support services, supply chain management, financing, and physical distribution of end products.

Avnet Applied Computing also markets off-the-shelf components such as CPUs, mass storage devices, flat-panel displays, embedded and commercial motherboards, memory modules and networking, mobile/wireless computing, point-of-sale and software products.