3Com Commemorates 25th Anniversary and Massachusetts Headquarters.

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. -- Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney Officially Welcomes 3Com to the State and Addresses 3Com Employees at Company's Worldwide Headquarters in Marlborough, Massachusetts 

3Com Corporation (Nasdaq: COMS) today celebrates its 25th year in operations and one year since the company relocated its worldwide headquarters to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In recognizing these landmarks, 3Com CEO and President Bruce Claflin will host Governor Mitt Romney at the company headquarters in Marlborough, Mass. Mr. Claflin and the Governor will address 3Com employees and additional honorary guests present at the ceremony.

"June 2004 is a significant month for 3Com," said Bruce Claflin, CEO and president, 3Com Corporation. "In June 1979, 3Com began an unparalleled history of 25 years of innovation that transformed the way the world exchanges information. In June 2003, 3Com began moving its headquarters to Marlborough as it furthers its strategic focus on the enterprise networking market. And in June 2004, I'm pleased that our first full year as a Massachusetts-based company, we've experienced year over year growth of 5 percent - marking a major milestone in our turnaround efforts.

"We're delighted Governor Romney will be kicking off our employee celebration of these milestones, particularly considering his support of our move to Marlborough and his proven abilities in turning around organizations," said Mr. Claflin. "This celebration is certainly a tribute to our rich history of innovation as well as a renewal of our commitment to fill the next 25 years with even greater innovation."

"With the state's unemployment rate steadily decreasing and with companies like 3Com announcing growth, our state has a lot to celebrate today," said Romney. "Our economic policies are contributing to the improvement in the Massachusetts employment picture, but we still have more work to do. Holding the line on taxes and creating a business-friendly environment will continue to be among our highest priorities," Romney said.

3Com's 25 Years of Innovation

Following are highlights of 3Com's history of innovation.

--Bob Metcalfe invents Ethernet at Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) in California (1972) and co-founds 3Com Corporation (1979)

--3Com delivers the industry's first Ethernet Network Interface Card (NIC) connecting compatible communications and computer devices (1979)

--The company ships its two millionth (2,000,000) Ethernet NIC (1991)

--3Com is the first to demonstrate stackable Ethernet switching technology (1992)

--The company is the first to demonstrate 100 Mbps Ethernet switching (1996)

--3Com pioneers small business networking solutions, launches OfficeConnect(R) family (1996)

--Over 100 million users connect to networks and the Internet using 3Com products (1998)

--Creates an "in-the-wall" Ethernet switch category, introduces the Network Jack (2001)

--eXpandable Resilient Networking (XRN(TM)) technology with Layer 3 Ethernet switches introduced (2002)

--First to commercially introduce an embedded firewall security solution on a NIC (2002)

--Total number of patents granted to 3Com reaches 1,146 issued with 613 pending (June 2004)

About 3Com Corporation

3Com is a leading provider of innovative, practical and high-value voice and data networking products, services and solutions for enterprises of all sizes and public sector organizations. For further information, please visit www.3com.com, or the press site www.3com.com/pressbox.

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