IRVINE, CA - March 19, 2004 - SMC Networks (www.smc.com), leading provider of networking solutions for the SMB/e and all the way home, has been recognized by VARBusiness magazine as one of North America's top information-technology (IT) vendors in terms of  the breadth and depth of channel partner program element offerings it provides to the value-added resellers (VARs) of its products.  SMC received a Five-Star Rating, reflecting the robustness of its channel partnering programs for IT solution providing firms, resellers and consultants.

Of the more than 280 vendor program entries reviewed in six categories, 120 entries (87 individual companies) received the coveted five-star rating in the magazine's tenth annual Partner Programs Guide survey.  The Partner Program Guide appears in the March 15, 2004 issue of VARBusiness.
Robert C. DeMarzo, VARBusiness editorial director, notes that the solution providers through which SMC channels its products are critical to providing the proper IT strategies and IT solutions to corporations and institutions.  'Through their expertise, solution providers add value to SMC's products, ensuring proper, cost-effective implementation of technologies needed to drive business forward,' he adds.
'We are honored that our ElitePartner Program has been recognized by VARBusiness,' said Tom Rizol, SMC Network's General Manager. 'While our ElitePartner Program currently offers resellers great support and real value; we are continually enhancing existing programs and, this month, we are adding  new  options for VARs, including a leasing program, a field installation program and a field swap program, to make SMC an even better partner to  our resellers.'
To determine the most robust vendor-partner programs and to determine those with a 5-star ranking VARBusiness invited IT vendors to submit their descriptions of their channel partner programs between November 2003 and January 2004.  The programs were scored on breadth and depth of program elements within each program.  Results were tabulated by Answers Research, a Solana Beach, Calif.-based market research and consulting firm.

About VARBusiness magazine
For the past 17 years, VARBusiness' has delivered access to the Solution Provider and Integrator community.  VARBusiness provides strategic business insight and technology direction for Solution Providers through industry-defining research, in-depth editorial, channel events and innovative Web services, enabling these business and technology integrators to make strategic decisions for their businesses, partnerships and customers. VARBusiness has been the recipient of numerous industry awards for both editorial content and design, including the 2003 Gold Eddie award as best BtoB Computing Publication.  For additional information about VARBusiness products, events and services, please visit our Web site at www.varbusiness.com.

About SMC Networks
A leading provider of networking solutions for the SMB/e and all the way home, SMC puts its more than 30 years' experience to work for every product and solution the company produces.  Leveraging strong industry relationships in combination with experienced and talented in-house design and engineering, SMC continues to bring to market a host of affordable, high-performance products.   Headquartered in Irvine, California, U.S.A and Barcelona, Spain, SMC Networks supports its worldwide market through regional offices located throughout the United States and 20 other countries.  For more information about SMC Networks or its products, visit www.smc.com, or call 800-SMC-4You (800-762-4968).