Semiconductor specialist EBV Elektronik has expanded its global franchise agreement with Cypress Semiconductor to include the portfolio of their recently acquired wireless Internet of Things (IOT) products. Effective immediately, EBV customers in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom will have access to the complete line of wireless connectivity solutions from Cypress, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and ZigBee IOT product lines and intellectual property, as well as the WICED (Wireless Internet Connectivity for Embedded Devices) brand and developer ecosystem. This addition to the Cypress IOT product portfolio enables cloud and smartphone connectivity, smart sensors, automotive communication and media streaming.

"Integrating wireless technology into new or legacy applications is complex and time consuming. EBV can make it easier. Having access to the robust developer ecosystem for MCUs, systems-on-chip, wireless connectivity, modules and memories now available from Cypress will be of tremendous value to our customers", said Lynn Torrel, senior vice president, semiconductor business development, worldwide, Avnet Electronics Marketing. "In addition, EBV's technical experts are well-versed in this technology, and can help developers quickly navigate through the challenges that surround creating compelling wireless solutions."

"A key strategic component of Cypress' acquisition of these wireless IOT products is our ability to work with leading distribution partners such as EBV to bring these products to a wide range of customers across multiple markets", said Kamal Haddad, senior director of worldwide distribution sales at Cypress. "The combination of our state-of-the-art wireless radios and additional embedded systems solutions, the easy-to-use WICED SDK and EBV's strong design team will enable developers to build their innovative connected products and bring them to market quickly."

United Kingdom: broadliner Tech Data has signed an agreement to distribute the MAXCases range of high quality cases and protection solutions for mobile devices. Aimed principally at education, MAXCases products are designed and developed by combining extensive testing and customer feedback to deliver superior performance and style. Tech Data is the first distributor to be appointed for MAXCases in the country. The brand is already established and successful in North America, but up to now there has only been limited availability of the range in the UK. Initially, Tech Data is making MAXCasesExtreme Shell and SnapShell ranges for Chromebooks and a selection of the company's sleeves and bags for tablets and notebooks available to UK retailers and resellers. MAXCases products are made to the highest quality standards. The MAX Extreme Shell cases feature two layers of drop protection, the first providing a skin of thermoplastic polyurethane designed to absorb shocks to the edges and corners of the device, the second an enclosed polycarbonate shell. Key features include a built-in asset tag window, pop-up feet for inclined typing angles, and shock-absorbing materials that help to protect the device if it is dropped.

"The MAXCases range gives retailers and resellers something different and distinctive to offer customers", says Simon Hughes, Category Manager for Accessories at Tech Data. "MaxCases solutions stand out from the crowd. They have been designed from the ground-up on the basis of direct input from users and administrators, and that really shows. Small touches like the recessed area for asset tags are genuinely useful and make a tremendous difference for the customer."

Cameron Moore, CEO of Max Interactive, states: "All our products are developed with the user in mind and as technology continues to evolve, MAXCases continues to be at the forefront of producing solutions, specifically to protect, safeguard and enhance mobile product in real‐world environments. Tech Data is a trusted distributor with extensive presence in both the public and commercial sectors and we look forward to working with them to maximise the enormous potential for MAXCases in the UK market."