As the only distributor with the "Leader for Linux" distinction, the Support Net Division now has the ability to enable its resellers through Linux training and support, to help them connect with independent software vendors (ISVs) and to provide them access to select demonstration hardware from IBM.

"Our commitment began almost two years ago, when we started our Linux practice to both ensure our own resources were Linux-ready and to put programs in place to do the same for our resellers," said Eric Williams, executive vice president, Support Net Division. "The 'Leader for Linux' designation recognizes the fact that Support Net has made a significant investment in and commitment to the future of the platform. And the designation enables us to provide our resellers with greater access to IBM resources for business development."

To be named a 'Leader For Linux' Business Partner required Arrow's Support Net Division to develop a detailed Linux plan, attend extensive training sessions, demonstrate technical competency and supply IBM with specific customer references.

Last year Arrow announced an exclusive distribution agreement with the SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 and SuSE Linux Openexchange Server, which enables its resellers to market the entire SuSE Linux Enterprise Server product line to their customers.

Linux has become the preferred platform for a broad variety of applications, including workload consolidation, clustering, distributed enterprise environments, and infrastructure applications like security, mail and firewalls. It is also steadily becoming the operating system of choice for bread-and-butter applications in the small-to-medium business market.

About the North American Computer Products Group of Arrow Electronics

The North American Computer Products group of Arrow Electronics, Inc. (NYSE:ARW) is a leading distributor of enterprise and embedded computing systems to resellers and OEM customers in North America. Based in Englewood, CO, the group is comprised of four divisions that make up Enterprise Computing Solutions (Support Net, SBM, MOCA, Enterprise Storage Solutions) and OEM Computing Solutions, which serves industrial OEM customers. Visit us at www.arrownacp.com.

Arrow Electronics is one of the world's largest distributors of electronic components and computer products and a leading provider of services to the electronics industry.

CONTACT:
Arrow Electronics, Inc.
Ann Shiveley, 303/824-3762
Ashiveley@arrow.com