Partner Press Release
Smith & Associates Joins RosettaNet

For Release June 13, 2000

HOUSTON

Smith & Associates, the leading Independent Distributor of electronic components, announced today that it has joined the RosettaNet consortium as a Supply Chain Partner.

Smith & Associates will work with other companies participating in the RosettaNet initiative to help to create and establish e-business process standards for the information technology and electronic component supply chains. Through these advancements, Smith & Associates will provide customers and vendors with faster transaction times via standardized technologies.

RosettaNet standards include: utilization of HTML/XML, definition of standard dictionaries and associated DTDs and adoption of a set of standard e-business process dialogs known as Partner Interface Processes™ (PIPs™). These PIPs will cover product and service review; product introduction; order, inventory and marketing information management; and service and support.

As a RosettaNet Supply Chain Partner, Smith & Associates will contribute directly to the interface development process by providing the industry expertise and resources for various project teams. Supply Chain Partners vote to approve interfaces and serve to champion the initiative and its adopted interfaces.

Launched in June 1998, RosettaNet is currently in the pilot phase of its implementation cycle. More than 250 companies representing over $1 trillion in annual information technology and electronic components revenues currently participate in RosettaNet's standards development, strategy, and implementation activities.

About Smith & Associates
Founded in 1984, Smith & Associates (www.smithmart.com) is a multi-hundred million independent distributor of semiconductors, electronic components, and computer products to manufacturers and resellers of high-technology and computer equipment. Smith has more than 15,000 suppliers and partners in over 60 countries, and was one of the first independent distributors to provide open-market sales and component pricing via the Internet. Named an Inc. 500, Houston 100, Texas 100 and World Trade 100 company, Smith's annual revenues of $3.43 million per employee are the highest of any Texas-based high-technology company. Smith is also a leader in "just-in-time" delivery with the ability to deliver large quantities of components anywhere in the world, with very short lead times. Smith has offices in Houston, Hong Kong, Amsterdam, Seoul, Guadalajara, and Silicon Valley. For information, call 1-800-HOUSTON or 713-430-3000.