3COM Drives Down the Cost of Switching to the Desktop; New SuperStack II Desktop Switch delivers bandwidth boost for intranets, web, multimedia and power applications to the desktop with real-time PACE support at $120 per port.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 7, 1996--3Com Corp. (NASDAQ: COMS) announced today that it is pioneering the drive towards desktop switching with the introduction of the new SuperStack(TM) II Desktop Switch.

Priced at just $120 per port, this fully-featured switching solution with 3Com's PACE(TM) technology brings new levels of performance to the desktop to cost-effectively scale production networks and unlock the power of intranets and multimedia computing. Now MIS Managers responsible for networks of all sizes can migrate mainstream desktop PC users to Switched Ethernet solutions at an affordable price point.

3Com is building on its strategy to deliver innovative solutions under its Transcend(TM) Networking framework as the most comprehensive and open set of integrated networking platforms and products in the industry. These new solutions make it simpler and more cost-effective for organizations of any size to scale the performance, extend the reach, and manage the growth of their networks.

The SuperStack II Desktop Switch delivers a new level of Boundary Switching to provide fully functional, simple and cost effective solutions at the edge of the network.

3Com's SuperStack II system now offers the most complete and incremental range of Boundary solutions for enterprise networks -- from just $58 per port for shared Ethernet hubs, to Port Switching with 3Com's Power Grouping technology for microsegmentation of the network at $73 per port, dedicated Switched Ethernet from $120 per port to Shared Fast Ethernet solutions from $192 per port or Switched Fast Ethernet solutions from $825 per port.

Offering the benefits of higher performance while preserving existing Ethernet investment, desktop switching is expected to grow at 100% per year over the next three years(a).

Edgar Masri, vice president and general manager of 3Com's Premises Distribution Division commented, "Analyst estimates show that by 1998, desktop switching will be a $1.7 billion business with more than 20 million connections. By being the first vendor to deliver truly affordable switching to the desktop, 3Com is taking an aggressive position to achieve market leadership in this dynamic new market sector.

"The SuperStack II Desktop Switch represents an affordable Boundary solution, offering a high level of functionality for the price and integrated within a comprehensive enterprise system with a scaleable migration path to higher performance networking."

The SuperStack II Desktop Switch is part of 3Com's SuperStack II family of enterprise-ready stackable solutions which provide the edge, or boundary, of the network with fast, low-cost and easy-to-use connectivity and management services.

This includes the SuperStack II Boundary Switching services, which work in conjunction with 3Com's High Function Switching services -- based on 3Com's LANplex(TM) and CELLplex(TM) High Function Switches and the ONcore(TM) Integrated System. The new SuperStack II solution delivers services to both local and remote workgroups -- typically those with 15 or more users.

The SuperStack II Desktop Switch joins other members of 3Com's industry-leading SuperStack II boundary switches. The SuperStack II Switch 1000, introduced in 1995, with over 1 million installed connections, is now the world's fastest selling workgroup switch, with one unit sold every six minutes and a 25% share of the worldwide market.(a)

A scaleable solution for future expansion into new media on LAN technologies

While many power users are already using desktop switching solutions to handle high-bandwidth requirements of imaging, real-time and multimedia applications, the SuperStack II Desktop Switch introduces high bandwidth desktop switching to production networks that is simple and, cost-effective to install.

The SuperStack II Desktop Switch scales network performance to provide an immediate boost to bandwidth while preserving existing desktop investment and maintaining the security and familiarity of the Ethernet environment. A plug-and-play Ethernet solution, the SuperStack II Desktop Switch requires no changes to be made to the desktop, PCs, NICs, cabling, drivers or PC configurations and end stations retain their Ethernet connections.

3Com's SuperStack II Desktop Switch breaks down the price barriers

Until recently the cost of switching to the desktop has been prohibitive for most users -- at over $200 per port. 3Com has worked consistently to drive down the cost of this technology to make desktop switching an affordable, mainstream solution.

Earlier this year, the company introduced a promotional bundle on its existing SuperStack II Switch 1000 products to provide switching to the desktop at $168 per port. This latest announcement breaks down the price barriers to deliver affordable desktop switching to users at the very edge of the network.

Fully featured switching to the desktop

The SuperStack II Desktop Switch has 24 switched 10BaseT ports providing dedicated connections with optional 100BaseFX and 100BaseTX modules. A new ATM downlink will ship at the end of the year. This fully-featured switch combines the performance benefits of wire rate switching with 7 groups of RMON on every port, full SNMP management for simultaneous real-time monitoring of the network, and 3Com SmartAgents for setting alarm thresholds.

AutoSelect VLAN support reduces broadcast traffic loading, automates moves/adds/changes to the network and provides increased security. Other security features such as DUD (Disconnect Unauthorised Device) control access to data on the LAN.

3Com's PACE technology provides significant performance benefits to real-time applications by eliminating multiple collisions, ensuring fair access to the LAN and prioritizing traffic for enhanced multimedia support and efficient data throughput. IFM (Intelligent Flow Management) provides effective control and protection against packet loss under heavy load conditions.

A choice of switching options is available using the Intelligent Switching Mode. This provides automatic switching between cut-through and store-and-forward modes to ensure maximum throughput while maintaining low error rates.

For increased levels of robustness and reliability, the SuperStack II Desktop Switch can be used in conjunction with the existing SuperStack II Redundant Power Supply and Uninterruptible Power Supply products. Other fault-tolerant features on the SuperStack II Desktop Switch include Resilient Links and Spanning Tree support.

The 24-port SuperStack II Desktop Switch is priced at $2,995 and first customer shipments begin in November.

3Com Corp. has helped more than 36 million people gain access to critical information through high speed networks. Designed to serve large enterprises, service providers, small offices and homes, 3Com products provide a scaleable architecture to meet the immediate and long term connectivity needs of today's user. With research and development on three continents, 3Com is one of the data networking industry's largest and fastest growing companies. The company's innovative marketing, engineering, sales and support simplify communication, optimize network reliability and protect customer investments. For further information, visit 3Com's World Wide Web site at http://www.3Com.com or call 800/NET-3COM. -0-

Note to Editors: 3Com, Transcend and SmartAgents are registered trademarks and SuperStack, PACE, LANplex, CELLplex and ONcore are trademarks of 3Com Corp. All other names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

(a) Source: DellOro Group 1996.

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