3Com announces new, aggressive Token Ring pricing on
Desktop PCI NICs
Broad, deep product line results from 10 years of 3Com commitment to
Token Ring
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 3, 1997--3Com's 32-bit TokenLink
Velocity PCI network interface card (NIC) is now priced as low as $259 per board in 60 packs
beginning worldwide on April 1, 1997. The 3Com TokenLink Velocity PCI NIC is a high
performance NIC that has the industry's lowest CPU utilization and optimizes network performance
in both PC servers and high-end PC clients.
Up to 26% Price Reductions
3Com is taking the lead in making Token Ring PCI NICs more affordable, powerful and
manageable. The price reductions announced today range from 18% to 26%, depending on pack
size. In addition to single and ten pack sizes, a new 60 pack size is now being offered that is
especially appropriate for enterprise customers.
3Com: Innovating with End-to-End Solutions and Solutions to Connect to Critical Backbone
Protocols
"3Com has been committed and active in the Token Ring market for more than ten years," said
Doug Spreng, executive vice president of 3Com's Interface Products. "3Com's long-term
commitment to the market is matched by Token Ring innovations such as Parallel Tasking
technology that improves wire-speed performance. Our Token Ring products extend from the
desktop to the data center, but more importantly, 3Com has built ways to connect Token Ring to
the critical backbone network protocols: Fast Ethernet, FDDI and ATM."
"The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated." -- Mark Twain
The Token Ring market is alive and well, mature and still growing. Favored by businesses in financial
markets such as banks, the Token Ring networking protocol is more than ten years old. 3Com has
designed, manufactured and sold Token Ring products for that entire time. Here are some market
data sizing the Token Ring market:
-- Token Ring NICs are a US$900M market -- 1996 IDC finding.
-- Worldwide Token Ring NIC unit volume totaled 4.2M units in
1996, increasing 5.3% from 1995 - 1996 IDC finding
-- 51.4% of Fortune 1000 headquarter sites have some Token Ring
installed -- Computer Intelligence Infocorp. March 1997
-- 3Com is now one of the few players with internally developed
Token Ring silicon and network interface products.
The 3Com TokenLink Velocity PCI NIC specifically offers the following benefits:
-- High throughput in Novell Netware, Microsoft Windows 95 and
Microsoft Windows NT environments.
-- The industry's lowest CPU utilization that allows for maximum
application responsiveness in servers and clients.
-- Easy installation with Plug and Play support and automatic
media detection. 3Com's AutoLink software saves time with its
one-step auto-configuration and installation of Novell NetWare
client files.
-- Network management compatibility through comprehensive Simple
Network Management Protocol monitoring and control with
Transcend TokenLink SmartAgent software.
-- Backed by 3Com's lifetime warranty.
To serve this robust market, 3Com has the following products that both extend Token Ring network
solutions end-to-end and connect Token Ring to backbones of different protocols:
Switches/Routers/Hubs
-- SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR backbone/workgroup switch,
featured in all Token Ring switch-based system solutions, uses
3Com-developed applications specific integrated circuits.
-- SuperStack II Hub TR family
-- CoreBuilder 5000 Token Ring modules
-- NETBuilder II and SuperStack II NETBuilder Routers
-- SuperStack II LinkConverters
Network Interface Cards
-- TokenLink Velocity ISA, PCI, and TokenLink III PC Card Products
Token Ring/ATM integration systems
-- SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR ATM module
-- CoreBuilder 7000 Switch with Token Ring LANE services
-- CoreBuilder 5000 Integrated System with LANE clients and
services
-- ATMLinkTM Network Interface Card (ATM 155 Mbps)
Token Ring/FDDI integration system
-- SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR FDDI module
Token Ring-in-Fast Ethernet system from core to edge
-- SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR Fast Ethernet module |
