3Com Steps up Performance with Terabit Switching Solutions for the Most Demanding of Enterprise Networks.

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. -- 3Com(R) Switch 8800 Rounds Out Comprehensive Switch Offering; 10 Gigabit Modules Added to Switch 7700 and SuperStack(R) 3 Switch 3870

3Com Corporation (Nasdaq: COMS) today announced a major leap forward in providing superior choices to large enterprise customers with the introduction of the 3Com(R) Switch 8800 family of Terabit switches. The 3Com Switch 8800 series anchors the company's broad LAN switch product portfolio.

"As the most powerful core switch 3Com has ever offered, the Switch 8800 delivers feature-rich, interoperable networking while significantly reducing the cost-to-acquire, -own and -operate equation," said Mehmet Balos, Vice President of Global Marketing and Corporate Communications, 3Com. "This offering is intended to directly address customers' expressed, continued frustration with competitive solutions that employ proprietary protocols, force vendor lock-in and are overpriced."

To further its commitment to the enterprise market and provide a complete Switch 8800 install solution for customers, 3Com has launched the 8800 Service Package, which combines implementation services, a year of high availability on-site support, and multiple days of post-installation consultation.

Rounding out 3Com's very high performance - specifically, 10 Gigabit - networking solutions to complement the Switch 8800, 3Com has extended the reach of its Switch 7700 and SuperStack(R) 3 Switch 3780 from the network edge to the core with new 10 Gigabit modules.

"Our approach is to apply advanced engineering to reduce complexity, innovate in a standards-based framework for optimal customer flexibility and support the choice of best-of-breed applications and services," said Sudhakar Ramakrishna, Vice President of Product Management, 3Com. "The new 3Com Switch 8800 rigorously adheres to these objectives and is the Terabit switch that gives large enterprise customers superior high density 10 Gigabit and Gigabit at line rate performance"

Covenant Health, a US healthcare provider with 8,000 employees and 1,700 affiliated physicians in the state of Tennessee, has recently started beta testing the new Switch 8800.

"Covenant Health uses 3Com switches as our standard throughout our system," said Art Jeffords, manager of networking and telecom, Covenant Health. "We have been pleased with what we have seen so far from testing the new Switch 8800. I am glad to see 3Com introduce a next-generation switch chassis and blades."

"With the Switch 8800 large enterprise platform, 3Com is proving its commitment to the enterprise market," said Peter Hulleman, senior research analyst, IDC. "The LAN switch market is getting more mature, and this creates opportunities for a company like 3Com to offer customers more choice."

"The 8800 Service offering differentiates 3Com from the competition by providing a unique combination of services that complement enterprise IT resources and assist with a smooth deployment and maximum performance," said Dr. Ray Mota, chief analyst for Synergy Research Group, Inc.

3Com has steadily been developing new enterprise-class solutions and investing in the capabilities to offer business customers superior business value and differentiated products and services. The Switch 8800 and the 10 Gigabit uplinks for the Switch 7700 and Switch 3870 are significant aspects of 3Com's long-term enterprise strategy to compete at the highest levels.

3Com has applied innovative technology intended to give long investment life to the Switch 8800. It uses dual load-sharing switch fabrics so that adding resiliency will also double switch performance - what 3Com says fully utilizes the switching capacity and investment in the system. The Switch 8800's 1.44 Terabit backplane delivers outstanding speed and port density - up to 24 10 Gigabit wirespeed ports and 288 Gigabit wirespeed ports - but can support a second generation fabric and modules to double the switch's performance yet again.

"With the 3Com Switch 8800, we have a solution that system integrators and Gold Partners worldwide can use to win major large enterprise deals, supporting thousands of users on a voice/data converged network platform," added Balos. "Enterprise customers can efficiently integrate the Switch 8800 into multi-vendor networks, such as a Cisco-heavy network, and gain application optimization and enhanced productivity."

3Com from Enterprise Core to Network Edge

The Switch 8800 is designed to deliver the high-performance connectivity, high availability, dramatic scalability and application-awareness necessary to migrate customers onto improved enterprise networks at a lower total cost of ownership.

The Switch 8800 will be complemented by new 10 Gigabit modules for the 3Com Switch 7700 at the enterprise network aggregation point and for the 3Com Switch 3870 at the edge of the network. The Switch 7700 remains an integral piece of the 3Com enterprise offering, and is further strengthened by what is being announced. Its new 10-Gigabit uplink makes the switch ideal for switch distribution in an enterprise, with high capacity downlinks to the network core. The SuperStack 3 Switch 3870 is 3Com's most advanced Gigabit-to-the-desktop switch family. With a 10-Gigabit expansion slot, it is an ideal future-proof solution for new enterprise workgroup installations.

The new secure, converged Switch 8800 platform enables new enterprise-wide application architectures. Companies can now more elegantly deploy enterprise-wide Internet Protocol (IP) telephony services and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-based convergence applications such as the 3Com VCX(TM) IP Telephony, IP Messaging and IP Conferencing modules. 3Com has developed new network management capabilities to securely manage the entire enterprise network for voice/data convergence and user-optimized networking.

Network access is protected by 3Com's advanced security technologies, using IEEE 802.1X and other security measures to create a highly secure enterprise infrastructure. Adding 3Com's new security switches, namely the Switch 6200 and 7200, gives customers the choice of a consolidated platform to manage standards-based security applications across the network.

"Performance, applications, security and management tie together with 3Com solutions, offering customers true choice for a wide range of business networking solutions," added Ramakrishna.

News from 3Com Global Services Reinforce Commitment to Enterprise Market

In addition to the product, 3Com enhances the enterprise customer experience through advanced large enterprise services that ease deployment and give customers more control of their networks. A new Switch 8800 Service Package has been developed to support the new high-end enterprise LAN infrastructure solution.

"We have dramatically improved 3Com Global Services to meet the needs of customers worldwide," said Jean Hoxie-Wasko, Vice President of 3Com Global Services. "We stand behind our products with committed service and support for both 3Com customers and authorized 3Com channel partners."

Additional 3Com service offerings available to support the Switch 8800 include a Network Health Check, and in-depth training on switch architecture and troubleshooting. 3Com also offers certification programs through 3Com University. The 3Com Global Service portfolio and over 20 years of experience in network assessment, implementation and high-availability maintenance enable 3Com and its channel partners to proactively support their customer's secure, converged 3Com network with the highest quality services.

Synergy chief analyst Dr. Ray Mota added, "The Network Health Check is an indication that 3Com is serious about the enterprise because this professional service provides customers with a detailed analysis of network performance and the opportunity to evaluate the various optimization opportunities as they relate the customer's specific situation. Services like this can put the customer in control by providing them with the information they need to avoid surprises and plan ahead."

Pricing and Availability

The Switch 8800 family is expected to ship in Q1 CY 2005 and comes in three sizes. 3Com Starter Kits, which include a chassis, fabric, power supply and fan, start at $26,000 (US list) for the smaller 7-slot system and range up to $36,000 (US list) for the full capacity 14-slot system.

About 3Com Corporation

3Com is a leading provider of 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. When customers exercise choice, their choice is 3Com. For further information, please visit www.3com.com, or the press site www.3com.com/pressbox.

3Com, SuperStack and the 3Com logo are registered trademarks and VCX is a trademark of 3Com Corporation. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective holders.