3Com Builds Secure Converged Network Solutions for the Retail Industry; Delivers Enhanced Shopping Experience, Increased Effectiveness and Secure Store Communications; Sponsors Retail Data Security Forum.

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. -- Meeting the need for enhanced communications with customers and to provide employees with secure access to customer and corporate data, 3Com Corporation today announced Retail Networking Solutions built on the 3Com(R) Secure Converged Network platform. These 3Com solutions enable retailers to provide an enhanced shopping experience with personalized service. Within the retail enterprise, they increase the effectiveness of store communications, as well as provide secure access to critical data.

"It is becoming increasingly important for retailers to emphasize highly personalized services as a way to deliver meaningfully differentiated value to customers," said Brian Kilcourse, chief strategist, Retail Systems Alert Group. "3Com is delivering critical communications and security solutions that are intended to enable retailers to enhance the customer shopping experience and offer new services more efficiently, while ensuring ever-important secure access to customer-specific data."

3Com Retail Networking Solutions offer retailers secure and flexible communications between the store and headquarters, as well as to partners and customers. 3Com's Secure, Converged Networks portfolio, which includes TippingPoint(TM) IPS, 3Com Voice over IP (VoIP) solutions and 3Com wireless solutions, are designed to meet the critical business needs retailers are faced with today, and provide a platform for future growth as retailers look toward new capabilities and technologies such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID).

"Retail enterprises of all sizes are increasingly adopting networks that include IP telephony, wireless and security technologies to achieve new functionality that enhance customer intimacy, increase same store sales and attract new customers, while delivering cost efficiencies," said Rick Olivieri, 3Com's Retail Segment Market manager. "3Com delivers solutions that provide access to converged voice and data, creating an environment that fosters increased personalization and customer intimacy."

Increased Customer Interaction and Intimacy

3Com VoIP solutions deliver the flexibility that enable retailers to create a high-touch first point of contact within a multi-channel environment. For retailers with catalog sales, having a view of customer billing and past purchase information at the call center helps improve associate performance and increases customer satisfaction. Additionally, 3Com wireless mobility check out solutions create an in-store environment that increases customer interaction by allowing store associates to use handheld devices to educate customers, answer questions and provide a mobile point of sale, all of which add value to the customers' shopping experience and make it more enjoyable.

Retail Network Security

With almost all major retailers offering Web-based store fronts and, more and more of them turning to VoIP for their communications, it is even more imperative that their networks are secure and optimized for performance. Additionally, retailers are constantly under scrutiny for the way they handle customer data and the need to keep it safe. Through its TippingPoint division, 3Com delivers award-winning security against viruses, Spyware, Phishing scams and other threats for both brick and mortar and online retailers.

Retail Data Security Forum

Recognizing the need for robust solutions for retail data security and protection of consumer credit card data, 3Com, along with Retail Systems Alert Group, last week previewed results of the soon to be released Retail Data Security Benchmarking Study at the Retail Data Security Forum in Chicago. The study is a first of its kind that highlights the critical need for security in the retail environment, including the need for the implementation for a formal incident response plan for customer data security breaches and the growing need to assign responsibility for a security program and further train employees. For more information on the study and forum, visit www.retailsystems.com.

About 3Com Corporation

3Com Corporation (NASDAQ: COMS) is a leading provider of secure, converged voice and data networking solutions for enterprises of all sizes. 3Com offers a broad line of innovative products backed by world class sales, service and support, which excel at delivering business value for its customers. Through its TippingPoint division, 3Com is the leading provider of network-based intrusion prevention systems that deliver in-depth application protection, infrastructure protection, and performance protection for corporate enterprises, government agencies, service providers and academic institutions. For further information, please visit www.3com.com/retail, or the press site www.3com.com/pressbox.

Copyright (C) 2005 3Com Corporation. 3Com and the 3Com logo are registered trademarks and TippingPoint is a trademarks of 3Com Corporation. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective holders.