HONG KONG, April 23, 2009 – Fifty-six percent of mainland China engineers search online for technology and vendors using brand-specific keywords. This is according to a survey undertaken by Global Sources' (NASDAQ: GSOL) EE Times-Asia (www.eetasia.com) and Electronic Design-China (www.ed-china.com) magazines.

Drawing responses from more than 2,500 mainland China-based electronics engineers, the study analyzes how engineers search for new products and highlights the roles of 13 traditional and online media channels in informing their search.

"Technology companies that invest in their brand in mainland China increase incidence of search for their products online. Engineers are building product and company knowledge before conducting online searches, and our research suggests that different media fulfill different roles in informing search," said EE Times-Asia General Manager, Todd Christenson.

When asked which of the 13 media channels they go to first for information, engineers say:

• Search engines and vendor websites are best for product information
• Industry publication websites and printed industry publications are their primary sources for industry and technology news
• Printed industry publications and industry trade shows are best for analysis of technology
• Vendor websites and printed industry publications are best for "how-to" design information

"It's important that technology vendors build awareness and confidence in their brand and products. They need to communicate their value proposition using multiple media channels. A strong and visible brand signals a company's health and ability to grow and prosper. It's equally important for us to be providing the visibility our customers require to ensure they receive the greatest share of online search possible, keeping their sales pipeline full."

For more information on the study, please contact Todd Christenson at tchristenson@globalsources.com.