CommWorks Corporation and Funk Software Team to Deliver High-Performance Security and Accounting Solution for Wireless Carriers.

Business Editors and High Tech Writers

MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill. and CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- April 23, 2001

Steel-Belted Radius/Advanced Wireless Edition Software

Performs Critical Customer Authentication,

Management and Billing Functions in 3G Wireless Networks

CommWorks Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of 3Com Corporation (NASDAQ: COMS), and Funk Software, Inc. today announced an agreement that allows CommWorks to be the first company to offer Funk Software's Steel-Belted Radius(R)/Advanced Wireless Edition (AWE) for wireless carriers and service providers with networks powered by CommWorks' Total Control(R) multi-service access platform.

The introduction of next generation or 3G packet-data products and services is a key reason for the partnership between CommWorks and Funk Software. Steel-Belted Radius/AWE is the first and only server to support the authentication, service delivery, Internet Protocol (IP) address management, and billing requirements of next-generation 3G/Mobile IP-based wireless networks.

In a 3G environment, Steel-Belted Radius/AWE plays the key role of authenticating wireless handset users onto the Internet, assigning/authorizing the appropriate level of service to them, and managing their connection as they move around the network.

Using the combination of Steel-Belted Radius/AWE for CommWorks and the Total Control platform, carriers and service providers are able to create additional services, such as m-commerce and personalized and location-based content delivery - made possible by these next-generation networks.

"CommWorks is committed to delivering new next-generation mobile IP-based solutions that prepares today's wireless networks for tomorrow's 3G architectures," said Irfan Ali, president, CommWorks Corporation. "Steel-Belted Radius/AWE for CommWorks brings together leading technologies to create a set of service applications that helps carriers and service providers grow profitably."

Funk Software is an approved member of the CommWorks Community of Partners program.

"We are pleased that CommWorks has chosen to resell our RADIUS/AAA technology with their powerful network access equipment," said Joe Ryan, vice president, Funk Software. "Wireless providers are moving inexorably toward the 3G architecture - both because of the high bandwidth and the lucrative service offering opportunities it offers - and the joint Funk Software/CommWorks solution allows these providers to quickly migrate to 3G/Mobile IP, and begin offering all the revenue-generating services - including m-commerce and personalized and location-based content delivery - made possible by these next-generation networks."

Steel-Belted Radius/AWE for CommWorks is now commercially available and contributes to the following key aspects of a 3G wireless network:

-- Mobile IP support - Steel-Belted Radius/AWE supports the mobile IP
authentication, authorization, and accounting requirements as defined by the
International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and Internet Engineering Task
Force (IETF). These requirements specify how a mobile IP connection is managed
and maintained;

-- Performance - The sheer volume of wireless end users puts an enormous burden
on a Radius/AAA server: On a 3G network, a RADIUS/AAA server must process a
request whenever a subscriber requests access or moves between coverage zones.
Steel-Belted Radius/AWE - which is capable of handling thousands of RADIUS
requests per second on suitable hardware - easily accommodates this demanding
environment;

-- Service delivery - Steel-Belted Radius/AWE is instrumental in a provider's
ability to deliver the appropriate level of service to its subscribers;

-- Configures Mobile IP connections, including issuing the subscriber an IP
address and maintaining it as he moves around the network, and setting up
connections based on such characteristics as time-of-day restrictions, allowed
bandwidth, and session timeouts;

-- Pushes connection information to network devices such as wireless
application protocol (WAP) gateways, enabling them to deliver personalized
content and real-time information such as stock quotes to end users;

-- Consumptive billing - Steel-Belted Radius/AWE tracks and documents all
access to the network via RADIUS accounting. All information - including remote
user name, duration of connection, device to which the user connected, and
amount of data transmitted - can be written directly to a structured query
language (SQL) back-end, enabling wireless providers to create call data
records to charge end users on virtually any basis; and

-- Multi-vendor support - As with all other editions of Steel-Belted Radius,
Steel-Belted Radius/AWE supports the widest variety of access hardware,
including equipment from CommWorks supplying or developing 3G solutions.

About CommWorks Corporation

Headquartered in Mount Prospect, Ill., CommWorks Corporation, a 3Com Company, supplies network service providers around the world with access infrastructures and Internet Protocol (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 people 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.

About Funk Software

Based in Cambridge, Mass., Funk Software is the developer of the award-winning Steel-Belted Radius family of RADIUS/AAA authentication solutions. In use on thousands of enterprise and service provider networks worldwide, Steel-Belted Radius delivers a RADIUS solution on the scale required by the largest wireless operators, carriers, and service providers, and scales easily to meet the centralized authentication needs of the enterprise. Its customers include Northern Light, 01 Communications, Allegiance Telecom, IKANO Communications, WebMD and Baylor University.

The Steel-Belted Radius family of RADIUS servers includes Steel-Belted Radius/Enterprise Edition, Steel-Belted Radius/Service Provider Edition, Steel-Belted Radius/Advanced Wireless Edition, the Steel-Belted Radius Concurrency Server, and Steel-Belted Radius Port Allocation System.

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