3Com refreshes corporate Web site to reflect, facilitate growth; Long-term 3Com branding partner, Studio Archetype, completes redesign.

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 26, 1997--3Com today launched a new, visually compelling design for its corporate Web site (www.3com.com) that offers optimal organization of the vast technical and product information provided at the site.

Studio Archetype was engaged to handle the restructuring of 3Com's Web site and create a new graphical design reflective of the leading networking company's status as a premium brand.

Studio Archetype has been a partner in developing 3Com's brand since 1991. The company has provided creative business solutions for 3Com ranging from the refinement of 3Com's highly recognizable corporate identity mark to product packaging, the creation of the logo for San Francisco's 3Com Park and interactive branding on the World Wide Web.

"We turned to Studio Archetype for a creative solution for our Web site because they understand our company's vision and our customers' needs," said 3Com director of Web Services, Marianne Cohn. "They have accommodated the diverse needs of our product divisions and growing customer base without alienating core customers."

"In keeping with 3Com's vision, the Web site enables users to quickly and easily access desired information, without multiple-clicking or a long, winding journey through a cross-referenced maze," said Raul Diaz, Creative Integrator at Studio Archetype. "We graphically emphasized the company's reputable standing by using its bold corporate color (royal blue) with a background of subtle gold to highlight important and relevant information."

Through in-depth research, Studio Archetype helped 3Com determine that the site should be reoriented from a product-focus to a user-focus so that it can better address its audience's diverse needs for information. Studio Archetype's creative team styled a more intuitive graphical user interface with clearly visible and logically defined navigational features. They created news story zones with obvious captions and descriptive images and introduced a concise labeling system that enables users to instantly locate information to meet their specific needs.

Because networking is a vital component in everyday business, 3Com's customer base, product lines and demand for technical support continue to grow. Studio Archetype designed a structure of logical tiers for the information the site houses, including product information, technical support and past and present news events.

3Com's recent merger with U.S. Robotics also ensures an expanding and evolving customer demography. Studio Archetype recognized that, because of 3Com's inevitable growth, the Web site design needed to be easily maintainable while consistently reflecting 3Com's well-established brand presence. To help 3Com easily adapt the new design to forthcoming content and service areas of the site and expedite Web site maintenance, Studio Archetype designed a sophisticated series of modular templates that allow for easy maintenance, quick updates and seamless site expansion.

Several new features in particular are indicative of the goals to establish efficient navigational structures and visual cues which help users make productive use of their time while at the site. A new "Support" button supplies customers with an alternative to the 800 technical support line. Product information is now logically categorized by technology and product type in an easily located "Products" section.

3Com Corporation enables individuals and organizations worldwide to communicate and share information and resources at anytime from anywhere. As the world's preeminent supplier of data, voice and video communications technology, 3Com has delivered networking solutions to more than 100 million customers worldwide.

With global reach and local touch, the company gives enterprises, network service providers and carriers, small businesses and consumers the most comprehensive, innovative information access products and system solutions for building intelligent, reliable and high performance local and wide area networks. 3Com has worldwide revenues of more than $5.5 billion and employs approximately 13,500 people in 45 countries.

Studio Archetype, Inc., formerly Clement Mok designs, is an acknowledged leader in the areas of corporate identity development, information architecture, and interactive design. Studio Archetype's client list includes many from the Fortune 500 as well as emerging companies that are developing revolutionary products and services. Studio Archetype specializes in serving clients who are at the convergence of the technology, entertainment, and consumer markets and who are integrating innovative technologies into their businesses.

CONTACT: Studio Archetype

Kara Nichols, 415/703-9900

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