3Com Connects USB-Equipped PCs to Ethernet Networks; Networking Leader Delivers USB Network Interface Driving Ethernet Connectivity to the Home and SOHO Markets.SANTA CLARA Santa Clara, city, Cuba Santa Clara (sän`tä klä`rä), city (1994 est. pop. 217,000), capital of Villa Clara prov., central Cuba. , Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 15, 1999--Continuing to deliver 'out of box' networking solutions for the home and small office/home office See SOHO. (SOHO Soho (sōhō`, sə–), district of Westminster, London, England, known for its continental restaurants. Once a fashionable quarter, it became popular among writers and artists in the 19th cent. ) markets, global networking leader 3Com Corporation (Nasdaq: COMS COMS 3Com Corporation (stock symbol) COMS Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist COMS Continuous Opacity Monitoring Systems COMS City of Manchester Stadium (UK) ) today announced the new 3Com(R) USB USB in full Universal Serial Bus Type of serial bus that allows peripheral devices (disks, modems, printers, digitizers, data gloves, etc.) to be easily connected to a computer. Network Interface, allowing users to easily connect USB (Universal Serial Bus See USB. (hardware, standard) Universal Serial Bus - (USB) An external peripheral interface standard for communication between a computer and external peripherals over an inexpensive cable using biserial transmission. )-equipped desktops or laptops to 10Base-T Ethernet networks without having to open their PCs. Designed specifically for PCs running Windows(R)'98, the 3Com USB Network Interface plugs directly into the USB port on PCs and laptops. Functioning like a conventional network interface card (NIC (1) (Network Interface Card) See network adapter. See also InterNIC. (2) (New Internet Computer) An earlier Linux-based computer from The New Internet Computer Company (NICC), Palo Alto, CA. ), it provides an immediate connection to an Ethernet local area network (LAN (Local Area Network) A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. The "clients" are the user's workstations typically running Windows, although Mac and Linux clients are also used. ). According to Cahners In-Stat Group(1), more than 20.6 million homes in the U.S. have two or more PCs and analysts expect this number to double over the next two years. The need to share Internet access, digital information and computing resources among PCs will spark consumer demand for a home networking solution, leading to a $1.4 billion market by 2003 according to In-Stat. The USB Network Interface provides an easy to use solution for home networks, using standards based Ethernet technology -- more that 102 million PCs world wide will be equipped with USB ports in 1999, according to In-Stat. "The consumer of home networking technology is looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. zero maintenance, radically simple solutions. This easy to install USB interface is evidence that 3Com has done its homework and is extending its pedigree of innovative products to the home networking market," according to Mike Wolf, Industry Analyst with Cahners In-Stat Group. "As the prices of PCs have fallen sharply, we are seeing the number homes equipped with two or more PCs dramatically increasing," said Roy Johnson, vice president and general manager for 3Com's Home Networking Business Unit. "The USB Network Interface is ideal for the home or SOHO, giving users Ethernet connectivity simply without having to open their PCs. 3Com believes that in the future, a range of different technologies -- both wired and wireless will be used to exploit the tremendous benefits of sharing computing resources in the home." The Benefits of Ethernet Networking Once a PC has an Ethernet connection with the 3Com USB Network Interface, users can network it together with other PCs and peripherals with standard Ethernet cabling and equipment. For example, using it to connect other 3Com home networking products like OfficeConnect(R) hubs or the OfficeConnect LAN modem for additional Internet access points. With this simple Ethernet connection, users can drag and drop A graphical user interface (GUI) capability that lets you perform operations by moving the icon of an object with the mouse into another window or onto another icon. For example, files can be copied or moved by dragging them from one folder to another. files between computers, share printers and Internet access, send and receive e-mail, play interactive network games, access the CD-ROM/backup drive attached to another PC, and more. Hassle-Free USB & Ethernet Connectivity, Standard Based, Power Savings The 3Com USB Network Interface delivers a true plug-and-play 10Mbps LAN solution for PCs and notebooks with a USB port. The adapter uses a USB type B receptacle for an easy connection to the USB host or hub, and a RJ-45 receptacle for a link to a 10BASE-T Ethernet LAN using standard twisted pair cabling. The 3Com USB Network Interface employs a standard Windows 98 miniport NDIS (Network Driver Interface Specification) A network driver interface from Microsoft. See network driver interface. NDIS - Network Device Interface Specification driver, providing compatibility with PCs running the Windows 98 network operating system An operating system that is designed for network use. Normally, it is a complete operating system with file, task and job management; however, with some earlier products, it was a separate component that ran under the OS; for example, LAN Server required OS/2, and LANtastic required DOS. . Driver installation takes a few minutes using the packaged software utility. LEDs on the 3Com USB Network Interface adapter indicate network and traffic status for simple troubleshooting. In addition, the 3Com USB Network Interface adapter is bus-powered -- drawing power from the Universal Serial Bus itself -- so no external power supply connection is required. As a USB bus-powered device, the adapter draws less than 500mA from the upstream PC or hub. Compatible with USB specification 1.0, the 3Com USB Interface provides support for energy-saving suspend and resume To stop an operation and restart where you left off. In portable computers, the hard disk is turned off, and the CPU is made to idle at its slowest speed. All open applications are retained in memory. operations. System Requirements & Availability The3Com USB Network Interface is now available for an estimated street price of $69 in the U.S and International markets. Check with your local retailer for more pricing details. The minimum system requirements are a PC or notebook computer running Windows 98 with one available USB port. Installation support is available toll-free at 888-NET3COM. For additional information, visit http://www.3Com.com/products/usb.html. About 3Com Corporation With more than 200 million customers worldwide, 3Com Corporation connects more people in more ways to information than any other networking company. 3Com delivers innovative information access products and network system solutions to large, medium and small enterprises; carriers and network service providers; PC OEMs; and consumers. 3Com -- More connected(TM). For further information, visit 3Com's World Wide Web site at www.3com.com or the press site at www.3com.com/pressbox. Note to Editors: 3Com and OfficeConnect are registered trademarks and More connected is a trademark of 3Com Corporation. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. (1) Cahners In-Stat Group, 1999 |
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