Keith, You Are Right ON>
3Com Supplies Critical Wireless Technology for New
Sprint Wireless Web Service
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 24, 1999--Sprint's wireless division today
announced that 3Com Corporation (NASDAQ:COMS - news) is supplying an integral part of the underlying wireless data access
technology for its new Sprint PCS Wireless Web service, announced earlier this month. 3Com's CDMA InterWorking Function
(IWF) is the only circuit-switched wireless data access gateway solution for Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks
such as the all-digital, nationwide Sprint PCS network.
''3Com's CDMA IWF technology is part of the magic behind our new Sprint PCS Wireless Web offerings,'' said Keith Paglusch,
senior vice president of operations, Sprint PCS. ''3Com provides the network infrastructure platform that enables Sprint PCS'
easy-to-use, breakthrough service. It helped enable Sprint PCS to take its place ahead of all its competitors in the wireless
industry.''
Unlike some wireless carriers that have announced wireless data products, the introduction of the Sprint PCS Wireless Web
service is not a limited geographic trial or test launch. It will be launched full-scale and nationwide in late September to the nearly
4 million subscribers of Sprint PCS, the fastest-growing U.S. wireless carrier.
3Com's CDMA IWF platform serves as a gateway between wireless CDMA and wireline networks. Use of 3Com's
patent-pending IWF QuickNet Connect feature eliminates the need for a network modem, providing mobile users with direct
digital access to the Internet and corporate intranets. By bypassing the PSTN, mobile subscribers minimize toll charges and
network setup time, establishing connections in as little as 5 to 7 seconds.
''Up to now, user adoption of wireless data technology has been inhibited by a number of key barriers, including high cost, spotty
geographic coverage, slow transmission speed, and inadequate security. The Sprint PCS service is impressive because it
addresses these key issues. Service prices are reasonable, nationwide coverage will be available immediately, transmission speeds
of 14.4 kbps can be achieved, and the Sprint PCS digital network offers an inherent level of security,'' said Becky Diercks,
director, wireless research, Cahners In-Stat Group. ''3Com's CDMA IWF platform allows fast setup times and eliminates the
need for wireless modems, which allows users to save hundreds of dollars. It is an important cornerstone of Sprint's Wireless Web
solution.''
The CDMA IWF equipment connects directly to wireless switches to provide the interworking and protocol conversions required
to deliver circuit-switched data capabilities to mobile data users.
''3Com is the only company offering a complete CDMA IWF wireless data access solution in the industry today,'' said Ben
Cardwell, director of wireless product management, 3Com Carrier Systems. ''Our equipment provides transparent, high-speed,
reliable CDMA data connections for a full spectrum of devices including Palm® Computing connected organizers, laptops, PDAs,
and new smartphones, enabling Sprint PCS to offer mobile users data connectivity to the Internet and private corporate networks.''
3Com's IWF technology is based on the company's award-winning Total Control® multiservice access platform, which provides
telecommunications carriers and service providers a powerful and highly reliable networking solution, including support for remote
access, carrier-grade IP telephony, IP fax, virtual private networking (VPN) and other converged voice, video and data
applications.
3Com introduced the IWF technology last October as a new capability for its CDMA solution. 3Com is the world's leading maker
of CDMA wireless data infrastructure equipment, with virtually 100 percent of the domestic U.S. market and an estimated 95
percent of the global market.
About 3Com Corporation
With approximately 300 million customers worldwide, 3Com Corporation connects more people to information in more ways than
any other networking company. 3Com delivers innovative information access products and network system solutions to
enterprises, small businesses, carriers and network service providers, PC OEMs and consumers. 3Com - More connected(TM). -
For further information, visit 3Com's World Wide Web site at 3com.com, or press site at
3com.com.
About Sprint PCS
Sprint PCS operates the largest 100 percent digital, 100 percent PCS nationwide wireless network in the United States, already
serving the majority of the nation's metropolitan areas including more than 4,000 cities and communities across the country. Sprint
PCS has licensed PCS coverage of nearly 270 million people in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more
information, visit the Sprint PCS web site at sprintpcs.com. Sprint PCS is a wholly-owned tracking group of Sprint
Corporation trading on the NYSE under the symbol ''PCS.''
About Sprint
Sprint (NYSE: PCS - news) is a global communications company at the forefront in integrating long distance, local and wireless
communications services and one of the world's largest carriers of Internet traffic. Sprint built and operates the United States' only
nationwide all-digital, fiber optic network and is a leader in advanced data communications services. Sprint has $17 billion in annual
revenues and serves more than 20 million business and residential customers.
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