Features - Storage Innovations:

AVNET HALL-MARK LAUNCHES NETWORKED STORAGE ADVISOR SERVICE

Avnet Hall-Mark, a value-added distributor of enterprise servers, storage, software and services, has announced a new service for its value-added resellers (VARs) that will allow them to quickly analyze and make recommendations for improving even the most extensive end-user's storage networks.

The service, Networked Storage Advisor, is comprised of system tools, training and support to automate the front-end data collection of a storage assessment. The service was designed for storage consultants and architects to streamline the data collection and analysis process.

A storage assessment is typically a labor intensive, manual process, which can take weeks. Networked Storage Advisor reduces the time to a matter of days, which minimizes VAR personnel costs and thus reduces the assessment price to the end user. By reducing the time and expense of a storage assessment, resellers are able to provide the service to a greater number of customers. Additionally, a new price point for a storage assessment creates a viable option for small- to medium-business (SMB) customers that require storage assessments.

"Networked Storage Advisor provides storage consultants and architects with tools to perform in-depth storage assessments for enterprise customers quickly, thereby enabling decisions regarding data storage and management needs," said Ray Fischer, senior vice president of Avnet Hall-Mark's Networked Storage Services. "The service is advantageous for resellers because it allows them to sell a software and storage solution based on the assessment. It also frees up time for the reseller so that they can architect long-term plans for their customers, which saves them time and money through more efficient storage utilization," added Fischer.

"Time to market is key in assessing the mid-size enterprise customer," said Pat Sherman, vice president of sales, eServ, LLC. "Addressing our need to provide timely, accurate information about our end users' current storage environment is key in differentiating our offering in the SMB market. The Networked Storage Advisor service allows us to build value into our storage practice through better, faster data collection techniques for our storage assessments."

"Avnet Hall-Mark has recognized resellers' need for tools to help them expand their storage practices to new customers," said Steve Duplessie, founder and senior analyst, Enterprise Storage Group. "This unique service supports open storage solutions and facilitates key storage initiatives such as storage consolidation, disaster recovery, data protection and business continuity."

The Networked Storage Advisor enables resellers to grow their storage business, improve services practices and approach customers with a consultative sales model. The service can be ordered by Avnet Hall-Mark resellers via the Avnet Hall-Mark Channel Connection Partner Portal at www.avnet.hallmark.com.

About Avnet Hall-Mark

Headquartered in Tempe, Avnet Hall-Mark, is an industry-leading, value-added distributor of enterprise servers, storage, software and services, marketing exclusively to the reseller channel. Avnet Hall-Mark is a division of the $2.4 billion Avnet Computer Marketing operating group of Avnet Inc, one of the world's largest technology marketing and services companies. Avnet's sales for fiscal 2002 (year ended June 30) were $8.9 billion. For more information about Avnet Hall-Mark, visit www.hallmark.avnet.com.

Contact: Michelle Gorel, Avnet Hall-Mark, 480-794-6943, michelle.gorel@avnet.com.