Avnet Technology Solutions, an operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), today unveiled two new resources for value-added reseller partners supporting the rapidly growing virtualization market. Avnet is now a VMware Authorized Training Center (VATC), and will educate and train U.S. and Canadian partners to become VMware Certified Professionals (VCPs). Additionally, VMware recognized Avnet as a gold-level VMware Authorized Consultant (VAC), certifying the company's high-level expertise in delivering consulting and solutions based on VMware virtualization software. 

"VMware virtualization solutions offer tremendous growth opportunities for partners that understand both the business issues and challenges they address and the technology requirements," said Tim FitzGerald, virtualization & consolidation solutions group leader, Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas. "Many of our reseller partners are looking to get up to speed quickly in this hot growth market, which is why we are continuing to expand our virtualization training capabilities. As a VMware Authorized Training Center, Avnet will help our partners become certified on the highly valued VMware virtualization platform, which will help open the doors to new business opportunities for them." 

As a VATC, Avnet will prepare its partners for the certifications necessary to validate their in-depth industry and technical skills around selling and implementing VMware-based solutions. VATC classes will be taught by highly trained VMware-certified instructors armed with the most up-to-date and dynamic information and support from VMware. The first class in Avnet's VATC is scheduled to be held March 24, 2008 in Tempe, Ariz. 

"We welcome Avnet as a VMware Authorized Training Center and gold-level VMware Authorized Consultant," said Steve Houck, vice president of worldwide channels at VMware. "Avnet's technical experts augment the programs and services available to our channel partners to help them meet the increasing demand for more consultants with VMware virtualization expertise. It's a win for Avnet, a win for partners and a win for customers." 

Avnet has a team of more than 120 VMware certified experts in the U.S. and a dedicated team of software license experts to help partners create, nurture and develop their VMware virtualization practice.Avnet's gold-level membership in the VAC program will provide U.S. and Canadian partners with access to Avnet's bench strength in technical support and solution development around VMware virtualization solutions. Additionally, partners can draw from Avnet's expertise in implementing VMware-based solutions through its OneTech Implementation Services, and delivery of VMware Capacity Planner assessments through OneTech Consulting Services. Both services enable partners to augment their existing offerings and help partners deliver complete virtualization solutions.

"Avnet understands what it takes for partners to be successful in high-growth markets, such as virtualization," said Jeffrey J. Teeter, executive vice president and general manager - Solution Sales at Logicalis. "With their new VMware-focused training and educational resources, our team will be able to aggressively target and create opportunities in the market. They'll be better able to help customers with solutions that realize the many benefits of virtualization, such as energy conservation, improved resource allocation, system scalability and cost savings."

Partners can also use Avnet's new loyalty program, V-Rewards, to assist with virtualization certification and training. The V-Rewards program provides partners with vouchers that can be applied toward Avnet value-add offerings such as Avnet OneTech Assessment Services, Implementation Services and Education Services.

For more information on Avnet's Virtualization Practice, please visit http://www.ats.avnet.com/solution_offerings/virtualization/.