Nissan, 3Com Team Up to Introduce Networking Technology into Showrooms to Speed Purchase of Automobiles and Trucks; 3Com-Based Networks Help Customers Specify Vehicle Choice, Options and Financing On-Line.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 17, 1996--3Com Corporation (NASDAQ:COMS) today announced that Nissan Motor GB Limited, the United Kingdom-based division of automotive giant Nissan Motors, is establishing data networks in dealer showrooms to facilitate sales and service of motor vehicles. Nissan will introduce 3Com-based networks to allow salespersons at the dealership to quickly communicate with the factory to order, finance and take delivery of automobiles built to the customers' specifications.

Nissan is spending $2.65 million to introduce INFINET 2000, the company's multimedia dealer communications system which will provide its 280 UK dealers with interactive showrooms by summer 1996. Dealership communications are integrated via local area networks (LANs) facilitating communications with Nissan headquarters and other dealers.

The system encourages buyers to specify their desired vehicle model, options, delivery date, financing preference and other necessary information to advance the sale to the dealer, who will enter it on a computer terminal in the showroom. By the beginning of next year, Nissan hopes to be able to complete the sale while the customer is sitting at the terminal. Dealers will also be able to quickly order spare parts, process queries/orders and warranty claims for customers.

"Individuals worldwide are now aware of the sophisticated networking technologies that can facilitate business-to-business activity, enhance our personal lives, and even serve as the distribution channel to sell consumer products," said Duncan Moore, manager, information systems at Nissan Motor GB. "Nissan's network system is moving buyers towards benefiting from the computer as a tool, making their purchase of an automobile, often a person's single biggest ticket expenditure, a more efficient and pleasurable experience. The 3Com solution incorporates the new OfficeConnect system for the small office environment, which fits perfectly into our remote dealership locations throughout the UK."

After studying several networking technologies, Nissan chose 3Com for the ease of configuration and support of remote servers, high performance, quick-call capability and efficient data compression, strong management, integrated hub solution and 3Com's appreciation for the requirements of a large access network. Nissan also chose 3Com for the ability to purchase a family of compatible products for all its current and future networking needs.

The networking capability of the system is based on technology from 3Com and will utilize AccessBuilder 7000 remote access servers at Nissan's UK headquarters and 300 stacks of OfficeConnect TPC 8-port hubs and OfficeConnect 530 Remote ISDN routers at each dealership.

"Networking is becoming increasingly pervasive in our everyday lives," said John Sedzikowski, director of marketing for 3Com in the UK. "This application illustrates networking's increasing influence on how businesses and individuals conduct their affairs, and is an example of the trend into extending the reach to smaller and smaller networks. By increasing the speed and quality of communication between the dealers, headquarters and manufacturing, Nissan is improving its ability to service customers."

The OfficeConnect family of products was first introduced in February as an integrated suite of compact, quickly installed, easily administered and affordable computer networking products for the small business and remote office environments. The OfficeConnect family consists of video cassette-sized, stackable components that can be mixed and matched to provide whatever networking services a business may need. Nissan's system will also utilize IBM personal computers, Microsoft NT, Windows 95 and Lotus Smartsuite software.

3Com Corporation has helped more than 28 million people gain access to critical information through high-speed networks. Designed to serve large enterprises, small offices and homes, 3Com products provide a scalable architecture to meet the immediate and long-term connectivity needs of today's users. With research and development on three continents, 3Com is one of the data networking industry's largest and fastest growing companies. The company's innovative manufacturing, marketing, sales and support simplify communication, optimize network reliability and protect customer investments. For further information, visit 3Com's World Wide Web site at http://www.3Com.com. -0-

Note to Editors: OfficeConnect is a trademark, and AccessBuilder is a registered trademark, of 3Com Corporation. All other names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

CONTACT: 3Com Corporate Communications 

Leslie Davis, 408/764-7187

or

Coltrin & Associates

David King, 212/221-1616