3Com Delivers Japanese Language Support for World-Leading Palm Computing Platform Products.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 3, 1999--Building on its worldwide leadership in the handheld computing market, 3Com Corp. (Nasdaq:COMS) today announced Japanese language support for all products based on its award-winning Palm Computing(R) platform. The company has developed a Japanese language-enabled version of its operating system for the Palm Computing platform, the Palm OS(TM) software. 3Com expects a Japanese language version product to become available early this year through an international OEM partner who will distribute and market the Palm Computing platform product in Japan.

3Com has also enabled its HotSync(R) synchronization technology to support the Japanese language. A Japanese version of the Palm(TM) desktop software including English-to-Japanese and Japanese-to-English dictionaries will be standard components of the Japanese-enabled Palm OS software suite. The company also announced a Japanese Solution Provider Program through which developers can easily acquire tools to simplify and expedite development of these handheld computing solutions for the Japanese market.

3Com Palm Computing platform products represent 72% of the worldwide personal companion market (IDC, 1998). Palm Computing products are already distributed in 35 different countries and support many languages including English, French, German and Spanish, making a truly international platform. With the Japanese language version of the Palm OS software, all standard applications designed to run on Palm Computing platform products such as the 3Com(R) PalmPilot(TM) Professional and Palm III(TM) organizers will now support Japanese language input. Roman character input can also be converted quickly and easily to Japanese characters.

"3Com sees a large potential for the Palm Computing platform to have a strong impact on the Japanese mobile computing market in terms of both handheld products and software applications that support them," said Mark Bercow, vice president of strategic alliances and platform development for Palm Computing, a 3Com company. "We have already made great progress with many of our key platform partners and developers who are committed to delivering solutions for the Japanese marketplace. Together we are fueling a new class of handheld computing applications for both businesses and consumers in Japan."

Developing the Palm Computing Platform Business in Japan

To encourage the success of the Palm Computing platform in Japan, 3Com Japan is launching its Palm Japanese Solution Provider Program and is proceeding with preparations that will enable Japanese companies to take full advantage of the Palm Computing platform's open architecture. Details of the Palm Japanese language support are already available to developers, and Japanese language products for use with Palm Computing platform products will soon appear on the market. The following partners and developers will be supporting or delivering products for the Palm Computing platform in Japan: Oracle, Teamsoft/Nippon, Polaroid, Puma, TRG, Netscape, Remedy, Lotus, Landware, Aportis, Concept Kitchen, IOData and Accton Technologies.

In addition to the 3Combranded Palm Computing organizers, the Japanese-enabled Palm OS will provide Japanese language support for a broad range of products from 3Com's strategic partners. Such products include the IBM WorkPad PC Companion, Symbol Technologies' SPT1500 with built-in laser bar-code scanner, the QUALCOMM pdQ Smartphone, the Franklin-Covey Electronic DayPlanner, and the Synapse pager card from PageMart.

3Com Japan Solution Provider Program

Among the types of support 3Com offers are full details of Japanese language support for the Palm OS software including a Japanese language version of its comprehensive software development kit (SDK), CodeWarrior for Palm Computing Platform. Plans are currently being made for the translation of technical references such as the SDK Documentation Book and Programming Reference Book.

About the Palm Computing Platform

An open architecture for handheld computing, the Palm Computing platform provides an ideal basis for third-party developers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to create and deliver successful mobile computing solutions. The platform consists of five primary components: the reference hardware design, the device operating system called Palm OS(TM) software; the HotSync conduit data synchronization technology; the platform component tools including an applications programming interface (API) that enables developers to write applications; and the software interface capabilities to support hardware add-ons. Today, more than 12,000 developers are creating software and hardware add-on solutions for the Palm Computing platform, while thousands of software applications, developer tools and services are already available.

About 3Com

With more than 200 million customers worldwide, 3Com Corporation connects more people to information in more ways 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 Palm Computing site at www.palm.com.

Note to Editors: 3Com, HotSync and Palm Computing are registered trademarks, and Palm, Palm III, Palm OS and PalmPilot are trademarks of 3Com Corporation or its subsidiaries. All other brands and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of the companies with which they are associated. No products mentioned herein are manufactured by Pilot Corporation or Pilot Corporation of America, manufacturers and distributors of writing instruments.