The Arizona Republic Technology Column.

Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Sep. 17 -- Valley's high-tech importance noted: Another voice has been added to the chorus pointing out the importance of the Valley's high-tech industries.

Elliott Pollack, topics editor of the Greater Phoenix Blue Chip Economic Forecast, writes in the monthly newsletter that the health of the Valley's high-tech industry depends on maintaining a conducive environment, including improved availability of venture capital, better use of local educational facilities and favorable tax structures.

"It is important that Greater Phoenix not only nurture existing high-tech industries, but also continue to help emerging industries to grow in order to diversify its high-tech representation," Pollack writes.

He cites state and federal statistics showing that 43 percent of the Valley's manufacturing comes from high-tech, compared with a national average of nearly 15percent.

Pollack joins reports from the state Commerce Department and from the Milken Institute that underscore the significance of high tech.

VALLEY EXEC KEYNOTE SPEAKER: ON Semiconductor global marketing director Scott Delaney will present a keynote speech on "Powering the Growth in Electronics" at the Greater Phoenix Electronics Show this month.

Delaney will discuss the factors involved in the adoption rates of electronics in our lives, and detail how semiconductors will be increasingly relied upon to control the energy use of new electronic products.

With the state of the art in electronics advancing rapidly, Delaney will discuss the challenges inherent in powering this new generation or products.

ON Semiconductor, formerly a division of Motorola, is the world's leading supplier of analog, logic and discrete semiconductor components, with shipments of 15 billion units in 1998 totaling $1.5 billion in sales.

The two-day trade show and technical forum, Sept. 28 and 29 at Phoenix Civic Plaza, will feature more than 200 exhibitors from areas of electronics design and fabrication.

Admission and parking are free to all industry participants. Registration and additional information can be found on the Virtual Trade Show Web site, www.vts.com/.

WAVO, PARTNER CREATE SITE: Phoenix-based Wavo Corp., the former Wavephore, has formed a partnership with the Virgin Entertainment Group Inc. to create Virgin JamCast, a Web site and service for digital music and games.

Virgin JamCast is an Internet broadcasting service that provides music and computer game without the delay of downloads.

It will also offer a selection of digital music and traditional CDs for sale.

Wavo Corp. has created a majority-owned subsidiary, JamCast.Com Inc., to support the Wavo/Virgin venture. In return for providing $15million of in-store promotion and other considerations, Virgin Entertainment Group will take a 25 per cent equity stake.

In addition, Virgin Entertainment Group has acquired warrants to purchase WAVO common shares.

JamCast.com will operate as an independent entity with Wavo Corp. providing developmental, technical, financial and operational support.

EVERGREEN ADDS CLIENT: Chandler-based Evergreen Internet Inc. has added another enterprise e-commerce client to the list of firms using its ECential software.

Seventh Avenue, a direct marketer of home furnishings, gifts, clothing, collectibles, jewelry and electronics is live with its online retail store (www.seventh-avenue.com) powered by Evergreen's software.

Evergreen has worked with large and midsize companies to develop e-commerce systems. In 1994, Evergreen developed the Internet's first online catalog featuring secure commerce transactions -- Robert Redford's Sundance Catalog. Other companies include The Sharper Image, Novell, Swiss Colony and The San Diego Padres. The company's Web site is www.evergreen.com.

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