'  Sample call : DownLoadDataInBackground ("http:' www.contoso.com/GameScores.html")
Public Shared Sub DownloadDataInBackground(ByVal address As String)

    Dim waiter As System.Threading.AutoResetEvent = New System.Threading.AutoResetEvent(False)
    Dim client As WebClient = New WebClient()

    '  Specify that the DownloadDataCallback method gets called
    '  when the download completes.
    AddHandler client.DownloadDataCompleted, AddressOf DownloadDataCallback
                Dim uri as Uri = New Uri(address)
    client.DownloadDataAsync(uri, waiter)

    '  Block the main application thread. Real applications
    '  can perform other tasks while waiting for the download to complete.
    waiter.WaitOne()
End Sub

Private Shared Sub DownloadDataCallback(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As DownloadDataCompletedEventArgs)

    Dim waiter As System.Threading.AutoResetEvent = CType(e.UserState, System.Threading.AutoResetEvent)

    Try

        '  If the request was not canceled and did not throw
        '  an exception, display the resource.
        If e.Cancelled = False AndAlso e.Error Is Nothing Then

            Dim data() As Byte = CType(e.Result, Byte())
            Dim textData As String = System.Text.Encoding.UTF8.GetString(data)

            Console.WriteLine(textData)
        End If
    Finally

        '  Let the main application thread resume.
        waiter.Set()
    End Try
End Sub