3Com to Usher in a New Era of Computer Communications as a Founding Member of the Newly Established 10 Gigabit Ethernet Alliance.

Business/Technology Editors

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 8, 2000

New Alliance to Enhance Existing Technology by Expanding Gigabit

Ethernet from Simple Inter-Building Computer Connectivity into Wide

Area and Metropolitan Area Communications

Not content to rest on the laurels of its recent 1,000 Mbps (megabits per second) Gigabit Ethernet over copper (1000BASE-T) product announcement, 3Com(R) Corporation (Nasdaq: COMS) today announces its intent to drive the next-generation of computer communications to 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10,000 Mbps) via the 10 Gigabit Ethernet Alliance. The new high-speed 10 Gigabit technology initiative underscores 3Com's recently announced e-Networking strategy by expanding today's existing access and availability solutions to cost-effectively meet the promises of tomorrow's bandwidth-intensive e-business applications.

3Com will work in conjunction with other technology companies in an attempt to ratify the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers' (IEEE) new 10 Gigabit Ethernet standard (802.3ae) by spring of 2002. The new standard will provide the necessary bandwidth to facilitate applications as diverse as digitized X-rays, Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM), higher-quality video as well as easing the fusion of voice, video and data into one cohesive network.

&uot;3Com is proud to be a founding member of the 10 Gigabit Ethernet Alliance,&uot; said Edgar Masri, 3Com's senior vice president, Network Systems Business Unit. &uot;Today's networking communications were cultivated in many of these same type of alliances. 3Com has been, and will continue to be, a driving force in these organizations as we architect and offer our customers unprecedented, next-generation solutions to meet the rising demands of a new .com-World.&uot;

The charter of the newly formed alliance will be consist of the following goals:

- Support the 10 Gigabit Ethernet standards effort;

- Contribute technical input to the IEEE 802.3ae taskforce;

- Promote industry awareness, acceptance, and advancement;

- Provide resources to establish and demonstrate multi-vendor interoperability;

- Foster communications between suppliers and users of 10 Gigabit Ethernet technology and products.

&uot;3Com has experienced rapid acceleration in the deployment of its Gigabit Ethernet solutions for enterprise backbones and server connections to support bandwidth intensive applications,&uot; said Edward Hopkins, technology marketing manager, 3Com. &uot;During the next 12-18 months, we anticipate the demand for the next level of performance offered by 10 Gigabit Ethernet to increase significantly.&uot;

About the 10 Gigabit Ethernet Alliance

The 10 Gigabit Ethernet Alliance was organized to accelerate the acceptance and proliferation of 10 Gigabit Ethernet into the networking market. Additionally, it will support the activities of IEEE 802.3 (the standards body responsible for Gigabit Ethernet) and foster the development of an 802.3ae (10 Gigabit Ethernet) standard. It was founded by the combination of industry- and technology-leading companies: 3Com, Cisco Systems, Extreme Networks, Intel, Nortel Networks, Sun Microsystems, and Worldwide Packets.

About 3Com Corporation

With over 300 million customer connections worldwide, 3Com Corporation connects more people and organizations to information and each other in more innovative, simple and reliable ways than any other networking company. 3Com delivers e-Networking solutions through information access products and network systems to enterprises, small businesses, consumers, carriers and network service providers. For further information, visit 3Com's World Wide Web site at www.3com.com or the press site at www.3com.com/pressbox.

3Com is a trademark of 3Com Corporation. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.