Rice Management Selects 3Com for Wireless Enterprise Networking; 3Com Wireless Ethernet Network Chosen for 10 Elder Care Facilities.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 27, 2001

3Com(R) Corporation (Nasdaq:COMS) today announced that Rice Management, Inc., a leading mid-western provider of skilled nursing services, is deploying 3Com wireless local area networks (LANs) in its 10 elder care facilities throughout Wisconsin and Michigan. More affordable and more reliable than competing products, 3Com's wireless LAN solution allows caregivers at each Rice facility to rapidly update patient records and improve healthcare efficiency.

Based in Appleton, Wis., Rice Management operates 10 elder care facilities, each serving between 47 and 160 residents -- many of whom require individual treatment and specialized services. Previously, nurses at these facilities collected patient information using paper charts and then entered the information into Rice Management's database. With the 3Com wireless solution, nurses now easily input and retrieve patient information using wireless laptops -- saving time and increasing the accuracy of the data.

"The 3Com wireless LANs give Rice an affordable, accurate and much more efficient means of caring for our patients," said Ron VanDyck, controller, Rice Management. "The wireless access points have dramatically increased the productivity and service level of our elder care staff and we're better able to make informed decisions to improve our care."

Rice chose 3Com's AirConnect(R) wireless LAN solution on the advice of its Heartland Business Systems of Little Chute, Wis. "As soon as we tried it, we realized it was exactly what we needed to migrate to an enterprise electronic record keeping solution. Using the AirConnect systems, we can concentrate more on patients instead of paperwork," said VanDyck.

To date, five of Rice Management's 10 facilities are equipped with 3Com wireless access points and 3Com wireless PC LAN cards. The elder care provider will deploy wireless LANs in its remaining five facilities by mid-September.

"3Com's wireless LAN solution allows us to make the most of our resources and manage our medical records with the utmost efficiency," said VanDyck. "As we purchase more facilities, we intend to equip them all with wireless LANs so we can ensure all our residents of the highest quality care and service."

About 3Com Corporation

3Com simplifies how people connect to information and services through easy-to-use connectivity products and solutions for people and businesses. 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 and AirConnect are registered trademarks of 3Com Corporation. All other company or product names may be trademarks of their respective holders.