News | November 8, 2007

Avnet Technology Solutions Expands Relationship With Sun To Grow The Sun And Oracle Partner Community

Avnet Technology Solutions, a value-added distributor of enterprise computing products, embedded subsystems, software and services, and an operating group of Avnet, Inc., recently announced an expanded relationship with Sun Microsystems, Inc. in North America. Through this new agreement, Avnet continues to grow its Enterprise Software and Storage Solutions practice by teaming with Sun and Oracle to identify solution sales opportunities for their partner community.

Avnet will now serve as the value-added distributor for Sun for Oracle solutions, increasing Sun's sales opportunities by streamlining operations and marketing, along with building solid relationships with the Oracle field sales teams. Avnet will also provide Sun and Oracle solutions to its value-added reseller (VAR) partners, including complete bundles that target specific market needs.

"Avnet's expanded relationship with Sun will allow us to provide joint Oracle and Sun VARs with new revenue opportunities," said Tom Colleary, vice president of sales for Enterprise Storage and Software Solutions, Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas. "Not only are we currently Oracle's top revenue producing distributor in North America, but we also enjoy a long-standing relationship with Sun as a channel development partner. I believe we have only scratched the surface of the opportunities that can come from this partnership for Avnet, Sun, Oracle and our VARs."

Sun and Oracle have collaborated for more than 25 years, coupling their hardware and software to offer complete solutions to end users and their value-added reseller (VAR) community. Bundled Sun and Oracle solutions included in the expanded distribution relationship with Avnet include:

  • Business Intelligence / Data Warehousing (BIDW) - Provides customers with seamless, scalable Sun architecture coupled with Oracle Business Intelligence and data warehousing solutions.
  • Oracle Optimized Warehouse Reference Configurations - As part of the Oracle Optimized Warehouse Initiative, Oracle and Sun have created a comprehensive set of data warehouse reference configurations.
  • Grid Computing Solutions - Customers can leverage the power and economies of scale of a Grid Infrastructure for enterprise applications with Sun's Optimal Architectures for Oracle.
  • Maximum Availability Architecture (MAA) - Businesses today need to operate in a 24x7 global economy, depending on reliable and always available IT systems. MAA combines Oracle Database cluster technology with Sun's architecture to create a complete solution.

"We look forward to the opportunity to work closely with Avnet and its partners by leveraging their knowledgeable sales team, technical acumen and tools to create new revenue streams," said John Vakos, global partner sales director, Sun Microsystems, Inc. "Their dedicated resources and capabilities will be instrumental in managing the operational components of the program, while their extensive sales and marketing capabilities will help identify and secure opportunities." As the value-added distributor, Avnet will dedicate resources to manage the program. Avnet will also provide extensive sales and marketing resources to its reseller partners to help them increase their Sun and Oracle solutions sales.

About Avnet Technology Solutions
Avnet Technology Solutions is an operating group of Avnet, Inc. representing US$6 billion in annual revenue for fiscal year 2007, with locations in more than 30 countries. 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. Visit www.ats.avnet.com.

About Avnet
Avnet, Inc. is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and technology services and solutions with more than 300 locations serving 70 countries worldwide. The company markets, distributes and optimizes the supply-chain and provides design-chain services for the products of the world's leading electronic component suppliers, enterprise computer manufacturers and embedded subsystem providers. Avnet brings a breadth and depth of capabilities, such as maximizing inventory efficiency, managing logistics, assembling products and providing engineering design assistance for its 100,000 customers, accelerating their growth through cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007, Avnet generated revenue of $15.68 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.

About Sun Microsystems, Inc.
A singular vision -- "The Network Is The Computer" -- guides Sun in the development of technologies that power the world's most important markets. Sun's philosophy of sharing innovation and building communities is at the forefront of the next wave of computing: the Participation Age. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries and on the Web at sun.com.

SOURCE: Avnet Technology Solutions