Avnet Memec, a specialty semiconductor division of Avnet Electronics Marketing – an operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT) – has launched the Actel Ultra-Low Power SpeedWay Design Workshop™. The new, in-depth, “how to” workshops provide hands-on experience to designers interested in leveraging Actels 5-microwatt IGLOO® field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) for battery-operated and portable applications.

Avnets Actel Ultra-Low Power SpeedWay is a full-day session that introduces customers to the award-winning Actel IGLOO family and the Actel Libero Integrated Design Environment (IDE). Hands-on labs using the 1.4” x 3.6” cell phone-sized Actel Icicle™ Kit allow designers to easily and rapidly program, evaluate and modify their low-power IGLOO-based portable designs.

Developed by Avnets factory-certified field application engineers (FAEs), the $49 Actel Ultra-Low Power workshops will be available through August 26, 2008, in 36 locations throughout North America.

“Our new SpeedWay workshops offer customers the opportunity to implement a working ultra-low power IGLOO design from start to finish,” said Phil Sansone, senior vice president of Avnet Memec. “Whether they are looking to lower power consumption and extend battery life or meet environmentally friendly design requirements, this hands-on workshop will give engineers the practical information they are looking for to make that happen.”

“Power consumption and extended battery life are critical in today's portable electronics marketplace,” said Jay Legenhausen, senior vice president of worldwide sales for Actel. “The new SpeedWay workshops offer valuable technical training on the industrys lowest power FPGAs as well as the tools required to closely examine power consumption, enabling customers to see for themselves the unprecedented low-power advantages and significant battery savings offered by these industry-changing programmable solutions.”

All participants will receive Actels battery-powered IGLOO Icicle Kit and a 7-segment digital multi-meter – a $100 value. For more information and to register, please visit: www.em.avnet.com/actellowpower.