CommWorks 4000 Softswitch Featured in Live IP Telephony Demo At COMNET Conference & Expo.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

WASHINGTON, D.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 30, 2001

COMNET 2001 Booth No. 826

Standards-compliant Technology Delivers High Capacity Demanded by

Carriers, Enables Rapid Development of New Services

The CommWorks(R) 4000 Softswitch, developed by CommWorks Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of 3Com Corporation (Nasdaq:COMS), is providing critical call control, signaling mediation functions and back-end services in a live Internet protocol (IP) telephony demonstration at the COMNET Conference & Expo here this week. The technology showcase also features CommWorks' new Total Control(R) 2000 multiservice access platform and other elements of its end-to-end, carrier-grade IP-based communications solutions for service providers.

The CommWorks 4000 Softswitch is a software-based subscriber management and services platform. Its distributed software applications are based on standards and open interfaces. Reliance on open standards enables the CommWorks 4000 Softswitch to work with disparate networks and protocols -- including H.323, SIP and H.248/MEGACO -- enabling providers to choose "best-in-class" components to build their networks. It also encourages innovation in the development and creation of new enhanced services.

In the technology showcase at COMNET, the CommWorks 4000 Softswitch works with the Total Control 2000 platform in a solution that seamlessly integrates IP networks with the public switched telephone network (PSTN) for the delivery of toll-quality voice as well as a complete suite of value-added enhanced services and applications. Incumbent carriers can use this solution to offload voice traffic from the circuit-switched PSTN to more efficient IP networks. Next generation "green field" carriers can use this solution to introduce long distance voice services and new enhanced services.

Rapid Service Deployment over Multiple Access Technologies

Deployed commercially by domestic and international carriers, the CommWorks 4000 Softswitch supports session, media and service control in multiple access applications, including wireline, wireless and cable. It features an open system design that operates with multiple platforms and operating systems. This commitment to open standards lends itself to rapid customization, including new call control solutions and other user and service network services.

The CommWorks 4000 Softswitch includes two key elements: the session agent and a series of back-end servers to deliver such network critical functions as accounting, billing and provisioning.

The session agent includes four complementary modules, each designed for a specific task. The CommWorks 4010 Session Manager is the central session and device control agent for the network, providing media control and management, session control function and multi-protocol PSTN/IP signaling interfaces, as defined in the ITU H.248 and the IETF MEGACO standards. It also provides protocol mediation between PSTN, H.323, and SIP networks.

The CommWorks 4200 Media Gateway Controller works with H.323 gateways and endpoints to provide address translations, admission control, bandwidth control and zone management as defined in the H.323 architecture.

The CommWorks 4220 SIP Proxy Server works with Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) gateways and endpoints. It implements the call control, SIP stack, registrar, management and location interfaces for authentication, authorization and accounting.

The CommWorks 4007 SS7 Signaling Gateway for signaling inter-working between the Signaling System 7 (SS7) and IP networks.

The back end services component of the CommWorks 4000 Softswitch includes five modules that provide network centric services.

The CommWorks 7240 Web Provisioning Server is responsible for provisioning IP services.

The CommWorks 7210 Directory Mapping Server performs translation and routing functions, including translating E.164 compliant telephone numbers to IP addresses.

The CommWorks 7220 Accounting Server is responsible for the accounting and call detail record (CDR) functions.

The CommWorks 7200 Authentication and Rating Server handles subscriber authentication.

The CommWorks 7230 Billing Support Server is where system level Call Detail Records (CDRs) are created and transferred to upstream carrier and clearing house billing systems. This server combines the information from four or more distinct CDRs (ingress call open, egress call open, ingress call close, and egress call close) that are generated during the course of a call.

About CommWorks Corporation

CommWorks, a 3Com Company, supplies network service providers around the world with access infrastructures and IP services platforms that open new business opportunities and help them establish unique positions in a competitive marketplace. With flexible multi-service hardware platforms and modular software components, the comprehensive CommWorks architecture makes it possible for service providers to integrate their existing infrastructures with innovative technologies to deliver an array of next-generation IP-based enhanced services to their customers. For further information, visit www.commworks.com

About 3Com Corporation

3Com simplifies how people connect to information and services through easy-to-use, connectivity products and solutions for consumers and commercial organizations. The company also provides access infrastructures and IP services platforms for network service providers. For further information, visit www.3com.com or the press site at www.3com.com/pressbox.

Note to Editors: 3Com, CommWorks and Total Control are registered trademarks of 3Com Corporation. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.