Leading consumer electronics distributor adds innovative products that inspire users to create new inventions
Hollywood, CA (from 2016 New Age Electronics Retail Dealer Summit) – July 20, 2016 – New Age Electronics, a leading distributor of consumer electronics and gaming products and services and a division of SYNNEX Corporation (NYSE: SNX), announced today that it has signed an agreement with littleBits(TM), the hardware startup that empowers 21st-Century teaching and learning with a platform of easy-to-use electronic building blocks, to distribute its portfolio to the US retail and education channels. The agreement includes a variety of littleBits products for the home and classroom that drive excitement for invention-based learning and help children unleash creativity, while embracing STEM/STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) and preparing them for the jobs of tomorrow.
“We are excited to offer a new product line that promotes STEM and STEAM-based learning, and are pleased to give retailers and educators additional options in this category as we approach the back-to-school and holiday buying seasons,” said Fred Towns, President, New Age Electronics. “The littleBits portfolio is ahead of the curve – it empowers not only children, but people of all ages and technical backgrounds to create their own inventions, whether in the comfort of their own home or in the classroom, with advanced yet intuitive products.”
littleBits promotes invention-based learning through various design challenges, offering “trillions of billions of combinations” possible through its open source library. The Bits(TM) snap together with magnets to allow anyone to build, invent, and prototype new creations without soldering, wiring or programming. Each “Bit” has a specific output and can perform functions that incorporate various motions, lights and sounds. Beyond reaching users of all ages and technical backgrounds, littleBits is dedicated to successfully bridging the gender gap with its gender-neutral platform, inspiring young girls and boys to unleash their creativity and embrace learning through the invention cycle.
“littleBits is continually looking for opportunities to expand our footprint and make our award-winning products available to more consumers across the US, and relying on New Age Electronics’ industry expertise and expansive market reach is an important step in helping more children, as well as people of all ages, experience the exciting littleBits product line,” said Will Robinson, Vice President, Sales, littleBits.
In addition to littleBits being available to US retailers and educators though New Age Electronics, IT resellers can take advantage of the new offering through New Age Electronics’ parent company, SYNNEX Corporation. The agreement allows SYNNEX K-12 education resellers who are seeking to advance their portfolio of devices, networking infrastructure and security products, to provide customers with new opportunities to promote STEM and STEAM-based learning through littleBits. SYNNEX also offers additional products focused on STEM and STEAM for K-12 and Higher Education, with many of these being supported by current federal grants and funding sources.
Retailers interested in learning more about littleBits can call (800) 947-5974 or email mikemu@synnex.com. For K-12 education inquiries, email k12@synnex.com.
About New Age Electronics
New Age Electronics, a division of SYNNEX Corporation (NYSE: SNX), is a sales and supply chain solutions innovator that provides consumer technology (CT) manufacturers with a broad offering of logistics, distribution and remanufactured services. Extensive experience in the CT industry and a customer-centric approach has made New Age Electronics the provider of choice. New Age Electronics distinguishes itself with efficient operations and relentless focus on customer satisfaction. Founded in 1988, New Age Electronics is headquartered in Carson, California. For more information about New Age Electronics, call (310) 549-0000, toll-free (888) 234-0300 or visit the company’s website at www.synnex.com/nae.
About SYNNEX Corporation
SYNNEX Corporation (NYSE:SNX), a Fortune 500 corporation, is a leading business process services company, optimizing supply chains and providing outsourced services focused on customer relationship management. SYNNEX distributes a broad range of information technology systems and products, and also provides systems design and integration solutions. Concentrix, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SYNNEX Corporation, offers a portfolio of strategic solutions and end-to-end business services around customer engagement strategy, process optimization, technology innovation, front and back-office automation and business transformation to clients in ten identified industry verticals. Founded in 1980, SYNNEX Corporation operates in 26 countries around the world. Additional information about SYNNEX may be found online at www.synnex.com.
About littleBits
littleBits is the New York-based hardware startup that is on a mission to Democratize Hardware by empowering everyone-of any gender, age or technical background-to Create Inventions, large and small, with its innovative platform of easy-to-use Electronic Building Blocks. The company’s innovative building blocks snap together with magnets to allow anyone to build, invent, and prototype with electronics independent of age, gender and technical background. From classrooms to homes, littleBits is driving excitement for invention-based learning through design challenges and in-classroom curriculum. The company is also dedicated to successfully bridging the gender gap with its gender-neutral platform, inspiring young girls and young boys to unleash their creativity and embrace STEAM (Science, Technology, Art and Mathematics) through the invention cycle. littleBits is being used by more than 12,000 educators across the world as an engaging tool for making STEAM more accessible to all students and preparing them for the jobs that haven’t been invented yet.
The company was founded in 2011 by MIT graduate, TED Senior Fellow and cofounder of the Open Hardware Summit, Ayah Bdeir, and has grown to be a global leader in hardware. Bdeir was named one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business, one of Inc.’s “35 Under 35” and “Entrepreneurs to Watch,” one of Entrepreneur’s “10 Leaders to Watch,” one of Popular Mechanics’ “25 Makers Who Are Reinventing the American Dream,” and one of MIT Technology Review’s 35 Innovators Under 35. The littleBits platform includes more than 9 kits and 67 interoperable modules with millions of products sold to over 150 countries around the world. The littleBits invention app takes inventing to new levels with thousands of additional invention ideas and challenges. The company was named in CNN’s “Top 10 Startups to Watch”, one of the CNBC Next List, and has been profiled by the BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Wired, Popular Mechanics. To learn more, visit littleBits.com.
About STEM/STEAM
While the STEM movement-a call to elevate the studies of science, technology, engineering and mathematics as a national priority-began to take shape in 2006, a separate push to add the arts to that equation, transforming STEM to STEAM, followed soon after. By integrating art and design with STEM subjects, schools are working to strengthen students’ abilities to be creative and flexible problem-solvers, to explore different ideas, to recognize failures as opportunities for discovery and to communicate well with others. With STEAM projects, students learn by inventing, creating and designing-and understanding the true meaning of human-centered design.
Safe Harbor Statement
Statements in this release that are forward-looking, such as product features and capabilities and general success of the collaboration, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company’s actual results in future periods to be materially different from any future performance that may be suggested in this release. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release.
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For SYNNEX Corporation
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Source: Synnex Corporation via Globenewswire
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