Distribution Watch: Avnet, Synnex, Jenne Inc.

Welcome back, loyal readers, to another edition of Distribution Watch. This week we’ve got some interesting tidbits from our friends at Avnet (AVT), Synnex (SNX) and Jenne Inc. Let’s dive right in.

Avnet: Avnet Embedded, a division of Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas, has signed a new distribution agreement with MiTAC Computing Technology. The agreement will give partners access to MiTAC’s portfolio of cloud database and computing equipment, which is expected to provide customers with alternative motherboards to those being transitioned out of production, according to Avnet.

“When suppliers exit a key market, like embedded motherboards, it can cause significant disruptions in customers’ manufacturing and development supply chains,” said John Salemme, vice president and general manager of Avnet Embedded, in a statement. “This agreement with MiTAC Computing Technology allows Avnet to smooth the transition for motherboard customers by offering boards that are designed and manufactured as drop-in replacements for many of the devices being transitioned out of production.”

In other Avnet news, our friends from Phoenix have opened up registration to college student teams across the country to compete in the 10th annual Avnet Tech Games. The competition matches college students with real-world technology and engineering challenges for the chance to win college scholarships.

“Avnet’s ongoing commitment to STEM-based learning initiatives, like the Avnet Tech Games, help to shine a spotlight on the emerging technical talent in our local and national schools,” said Teri Radosevich, vice president of Community Relations and Public Affairs at Avnet. “For the past nine years, Avnet has awarded nearly $300,000 in scholarships and honorariums to students and faculty through the Avnet Tech Games competition helping to ensure that future generations continue to reap the rewards of STEM education.”

The Avnet Tech Games includes both an onsite and virtual competition. While the onsite competition is only open to Arizona college students, the virtual competition will be open to all college students nationwide. This year’s onsite event will take place on April 11 in Tempe, Arizona.

Synnex: The distributor has signed an exclusive agreement with software-defined storage (SDS) solution provider Nexenta that will provide North American partners with access to the company’s SDS solutions.

"With the Synnex agreement, Nexenta’s SDS solutions reach is broadened more efficiently and effectively through the channel," said Tarkan Maner, chairman and CEO at Nexenta. “The expertise, programs and relationships Synnex brings to our existing and future partners gives them the ability to deliver scalable storage solutions that are developed to open standards and integrate into the orchestration frameworks that power today’s data centers."

Jenne Inc.: The specialty distributor joined the Digium Cloud Agent Program as a master agent, which will allow Jenne to offer Digium’s unified communications solutions to its partner customers.

Digium is known for its Switchvox Cloud Unified Communications business phone system as well as its SIP trunking services.

“More and more Jenne channel partners are asking for cloud solutions every day,” said Patrick Howard, senior director of Cloud Solutions at Jenne, Inc. “Our new cloud partnership with Digium allows Jenne to expand our cloud portfolio, meet growing demand and create new business.”

Thanks for stopping by, Distribution Watchers, and make sure to join us again next Friday. Until then, keep on distributing.