Ingram Micro Opens First IBM WebSphere Innovation Center Designed Exclusively For Channel Partners

Ingram Micro's Solution Center To Offer WebSphere Testing And Training Designed Exclusively For Solution Providers

SANTA ANA, Calif., Sept. 11, 2001 - Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE: IM), the largest global wholesale provider of technology products and supply chain management services, today announced it will operate the nation's first IBM (NYSE: IBM) WebSphere* Innovation Center designed exclusively for technology solution providers.

The WebSphere Innovation Center is located in Ingram Micro's Solution Center, a 2,000-square-foot multifunctional development, testing and training lab opened earlier this year in Santa Ana, Calif. for U.S. technology enterprise solution providers and vendor partners. The new center offers solution providers the opportunity to take a closer look and gain a deeper understanding of IBM's WebSphere platform. In addition, the center helps solution providers effectively sell and deploy the new technology to their customer base.

"We are extremely pleased that Ingram Micro, a premier IBM Business Partner, will operate our first channel focused WebSphere Innovation Center," said Sandy Carter, vice president, Marketing & Channel Execution for IBM Software. "By leveraging our existing relationship with Ingram Micro, we will continue to work together to provide business development opportunities for value added resellers and educate the market on emerging technologies such as WebSphere e-infrastructure software."

The new WebSphere Innovation Center is open to all Ingram Micro and IBM solution providers as well as other technology industry players such as Web integrators, application service providers, consultants and e-commerce solution providers. The WebSphere Innovation Center will be operated and maintained by engineers from Ingram Micro.

"We are pleased that Ingram Micro's new Solution Center will be the first channel-focused WebSphere Innovation Center," said Pam Bryson, vice president, emerging technologies, Ingram Micro U.S. "Ingram Micro is committed to helping our enterprise customers and vendors extend their market reach, increase profitability and learn new technologies. By offering our channel partners testing and training environments, we are enabling value added resellers, customers and vendors to experience, demonstrate and learn about products and services first hand. These capabilities can speed up the education period and shorten the sales cycles."

Officially opening today, the WebSphere Innovation Center will share operating hours with Ingram Micro's Solution Center: Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. For more information on the new training center, call (800) 759-3003, ext. 23340.

About IBM's WebSphere Software

WebSphere is Internet infrastructure software -- known as middleware -- that enables companies to develop, deploy and integrate next-generation e-business applications, such as those for business-to-business e-commerce. WebSphere supports business applications from simple Web publishing through enterprise-scale transaction processing. WebSphere transforms the way businesses manage customer, partner and employee relationships. More information about the WebSphere software platform is on the Web at http://www.ibm.com/websphere.

About Ingram Micro Inc.

Ingram Micro Inc. is the largest global wholesale provider of technology products and supply chain management services. The company operates in 36 countries with sales of $30.7 billion for the fiscal year 2000. Ingram Micro's global regions provide the distribution of technology products and services, marketing development and supply chain management services to more than 175,000 technology solution providers and 1,700 manufacturers. The company is focused on maximizing shareowner value and achieving customer satisfaction through innovation in the IT supply chain. Visit www.ingrammicro.com.

2001 Ingram Micro Inc. All rights reserved. Ingram Micro and the registered Ingram Micro logo are trademarks used under license by Ingram Micro Inc. All other logos, brand names and product names are trademarks of their respective companies.

*Indicates trademark or registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. All other products or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only, and may be trademarks of their respective owners.