3Com Receives Top Router and Switch Honors In VARBusiness Survey; Leading VAR Magazine Proclaims: "3Com Takes Top Spot -- Reigning router and switch king is crowned once again".

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 22, 1998--3Com Corporation (Nasdaq:COMS) was recognized as the "reigning router and switch king" by VARBusiness Magazine. A tele-marketing survey of 153 value added resellers (VARs) on router and switch features and vendors found that 3Com was "by far the leading vendor in terms of implementing products and services to meet VARs' needs." The survey findings are outlined in the September 14, 1998 issue of VARBusiness Magazine.

3Com took top marks in six out of eight categories - including highest reliability, best pricing and profitability, highest security, best per-port pricing, support for multiple protocols, and most advanced management tools. By offering a wide array of products and services, 3Com is well suited to meet the challenges and needs of its channel partners and their customers.

"This recognition highlights not only 3Com's strength in the enterprise market, but also demonstrates 3Com's commitment to providing high-quality, easy-to-use and profitable solutions that empower our channel partners to succeed," said Ron Sege, senior vice president of 3Com's Enterprise Systems. "3Com offers value-added products and services to everyone from high-end enterprise users to small business customers."

This is the second year in a row that VARBusiness has awarded 3Com top honors. Following 3Com, second and third place went to Bay Networks and Cisco respectively.

Having greater experience with channel partners than any other major networking vendor, 3Com has built tools and resources specifically designed for VARs. To help resellers better serve their customers, the award winning 3Com Networking Partners(R) program provides a portfolio of communication tools, sales and technical training, marketing tools, sales support and service support resources. Networking Partners Program

Highlights of the 3Com Networking Partners program include:

-- Partner Access - private web site for members that gives a direct link to updated resources including virtual sales kits, presentation materials and a proposal builder

-- 3STAR(R) - sales certification program that provides individuals with free technology and solutions training

-- Master of Network Science - technical credential program that provides networking professionals with practical training on how to design, build and support 3Com networks

-- Fast Access Lead Generation - provides partners with everything they need to plan and execute high-impact direct marketing, telemarketing, seminar and advertising campaigns

-- Online Service Web Tools - state-of-the-art Web service delivery systems that assist channel partners to be more efficient

-- Partner Care - flexible programs, comprehensive service products and a variety of tools to help partners provide outstanding service to their customers. Partner Care offerings include:

- Service Select Program - flexible service partner program that offers 3Com partners a choice to provide their own level of services or resell 3Com services

- Service in a Box Program - simplified service sales program which enables partners who order through distributors to obtain 3Com service and products in the same transaction

- Preferred Service Partner Program - exclusive service accreditation program to differentiate 3Com service partners who provide outstanding service and support solutions About 3Com

3Com Corporation enables individuals and organizations worldwide to stay more connected by communicating and sharing information and resources at anytime, anywhere. As one of the world's preeminent suppliers of data, voice and video communications technology, 3Com has delivered networking solutions to more than 200 million customers worldwide. The company provides large enterprises, network service providers and carriers, small business and consumers with comprehensive, innovative information access products and system solutions for building intelligent, reliable and high performance local and wide are networks. For further information, visit 3Com's World Wide Web site at http://www.3com.com, or the press site at http://www.3com.com/pressbox.

3Com, Networking Partners, and 3STAR are registered trademarks of 3Com Corporation. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.