Symbol Technologies Earns Five-Star Rating from VARBusiness Magazine

Symbol Channel Chief Jan Burton Named to the Top 75 Channel Executives List

HOLTSVILLE, N.Y., March 23, 2005 Symbol Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:SBL), The Enterprise Mobility Company, today was recognized by VARBusiness magazine, a CMP Media publication, as one of North America's top channel centric information-technology (IT) vendors. Symbol received a five-star rating, acknowledging the robust features of its numerous channel partner programs for IT integrators, resellers and consultants. Jan Burton, Symbol vice president of worldwide channels was also named as one of the top 75 channel executives by VARBusiness magazine.

"We applaud vendors like Symbol Technologies for their overall channel commitment and channel innovation," says VARBusiness Publisher Robert C. DeMarzo.

Of the 287 vendor program entries reviewed this year, nearly one-third of them received the five-star rating in the magazine's 11th Annual Partner Programs Guide survey. The guide appears in the March 21, 2005, issue of VARBusiness.

Symbol has been widely recognized for its move to increase business through its channel partners. Demonstrating the traction of the PartnerSelect program, Symbol exited 2004 with 67 percent of product bookings coming from channel partners, compared to the end of 2002, when partners generated 46 percent of bookings. An additional 7 percent of 2004 fourth-quarter bookings came from the OEM channel, bringing total indirect bookings through partners to 74 percent of total product bookings.

Symbol's channel centric success can be attributed to its PartnerSelect program. Launched in May 2003, PartnerSelect is designed to help channel partners increase both revenue and profitability by establishing an authorized channel to sell Symbol's mobility solution products and services, while strengthening Symbol's position as an enterprise mobility market leader.

"We are honored to receive the five-star rating for our PartnerSelect program and be recognized for our channel centric focus," said Jan Burton, Symbol vice president, worldwide channels. "We will continue to drive success for our partner base and collaborate closely with our partners to meet the enterprise mobility demands of our customers."