3Com pioneers flexible 10/100 Mbps hybrid networks with
new, breakthrough pricing on Fast Ethernet and 10/100
Mbps hub solutions
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 23, 1997-- Company introduces new SuperStack II Hub 100 Class II with future option for 10/100 transceiver module and delivers industry leading pricing at $109 per shared autosensing 10/100 Mbps port 3Com Corp , announced today new breakthrough pricing and solutions in the workgroup, allowing users to build flexible, more affordable hybrid 10/100 Mbps networks. The market leader in workgroup Fast Ethernet hubs with 27 percent market share (Dell'Oro Group: Q4CY96), 3Com has strengthened its portfolio of Fast Ethernet hub solutions by announcing a new SuperStack II Hub 100 Class II product now available for just $109 per port, which represents a 35 percent reduction on existing product. A new 10/100 Mbps transceiver module for the new SuperStack II Hub 100
will allow users to create 10/100 Mbps networks while protecting their existing investment. 3Com is offering new low pricing on the SuperStack II Dual Speed Hub, the industry's first and only 10/100
Mbps autosensing per port integrated solution now available for $109 per port, a 38 percent reduction on the previous list price.
Earlier this month, complementing the introduction of its industry leading, end-to-end Gigabit Ethernet solution, 3Com announced switching to the desktop for just $99 per port and switched Fast Ethernet for $389 per port. In February, the company announced the availability of fully managed, segmentable, Shared Ethernet hubs for just $42 per port. Today's announcement reinforces 3Com's strategy to lower the cost of ownership by introducing significant price reductions to its workgroup solutions, across the board.
While other vendors are urging users to discard their shared Ethernet hubs to make way for new, shared Fast Ethernet solutions, 3Com's broad systems solution allows users to expand their networks while retaining their existing network infrastructure. Users can segment their network by connecting a SuperStack II Switch 1000 to existing 10 Mbps hubs, connect power users directly to the 10 Mbps ports and link SuperStack II Hub 100 or Dual Speed Hub solutions to Fast Ethernet ports on the switch to deliver shared Fast Ethernet to the desktop if required. In 2HCY97, 3Com plans to ship a new 10/100 Mbps transceiver module which will allow users of the new SuperStack II Hub 100 to connect to 10 Mbps devices (e.g., SuperStack II Hub 10 or SuperStack II PS Hub 40).
"3Com knows more about connecting people and businesses together through computer networks than any other company," said Doug Spreng, Executive Vice President, 3Com Interface Products: "3Com invented the network interface card in 1981 and since then, has taken on the responsibility for leading the development and evolution of other network building blocks. We're offering a superior, high-performance, cost effective way to build networks, allowing users to utilize 10 Mbps Ethernet, 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet and provide future migration to 1000 Mbps (Gigabit) Ethernet or ATM in the same LAN. Most importantly, we're extending the life of existing network infrastrucutre -- why re-build the foundations when they're already sound?"
Hubs play a critical role in the network by connecting individual desktop computers and network servers to the local area network (LAN), in essence acting as a focal point of communications for the workgroup and the "on ramp" to the backbone network. Their position in the LAN also provides the ideal point to gather and manage information. Due to this key position in a LAN, hubs must be engineered to be highly robust. With over 23m ports installed worldwide, 3Com's stackable hubs
have an impressive track record for reliability and performance.
The award winning, and market leading SuperStack II Hub 100 stackable Fast Ethernet hub is a flexible, easy-to-configure 100BASE-T hub providing economical, high-speed connections in departmental LANs. It combines the economy and convenience of a stackable hub with 100 Mbps
Fast Ethernet performance and can be used with other 3Com SuperStack II devices to create a variety of connectivity options in departmental and remote site LANs. The hub is now a Class II product which offers the customer more flexibility and greater cost savings by extending the reach of their Fast Ethernet network and potentially reducing the number of switch ports required. The SuperStack II Hub 100 provides options allowing users to control initial investment while providing
for future network expansion with increased port density, enhanced systems reliability and advanced SNMP-based RMON management capabilities. SuperStack II Hub 100 solutions can be integrated
within the full range of SuperStack II network devices, technologies and services in one managed stack.
The new SuperStack II Hub 100 can be connected to 10/100 networks via the existing SuperStack II Dual Speed Hub which was launched in February this year. A Class II device, available with 12 or 24 autosensing ports, the SuperStack II Dual Speed Hub offers plug-and-play operation straight out of the box. The industry's first and only 10/100 Mbps autosensing per port integrated solution, it
automatically detects the speed of the attached end station and provides a connection to the appropriate 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps segment. Designed to assist the migration from legacy 10 Mbps shared Ethernet to Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps) networks, the SuperStack II Dual Speed Hub offers superior performance and flexibility over competitive solutions by providing the choice of 10 and 100 Mbps connection on every port with seamless integration of both technologies.
Both the SuperStack II Dual Speed Hub and the SuperStack II Hub 100 can be directly connected onto a high performance ATM backbone network via the optional ATM module capability in the SuperStack II Switch 3000. In Q3CY97, 3Com plans to provide optional Gigabit Ethernet module capability for its SuperStack II Switch solutions. Both hubs offer a high level of fault tolerance and resilience with optional features such as the SuperStack II redundant power supply and
uninterruptible power supply. As part of an overall systems solution, they also leverage the strengths of 3Com's TranscendWare, a comprehensive suite of integrated software applications that are
embedded in 3Com network interface cards, High Function and Boundary switches, routers and remote access systems.
Pricing information: new SuperStack II Hub 100 and SuperStack II Dual Speed Hub
SuperStack II Hub 100 (48 port system) -- Standard US list price $5,725 ($109 per port).
Previous SuperStack II Hub 100 pricing: $7,995 ($167 per port).
SuperStack II Hub 100 (12 port) -- Standard US List Price $1,795 ($139 per port).
Previous SuperSTack II Hub 100 pricing: $2,095 ($175 per port)
SuperStack II Dual Speed Hub (24 autosensing 10/100 ports) -- Standard US List Price $2,850 ($109 per port).
Previous SuperStack II Dual Speed Hub pricing: $4,199 ($175 per port)
SuperStack II Dual Speed Hub (12 autosensing 10/100 ports) -- Standard US List Price $1,790 ($139) per port).
Previous SuperStack II Dual Speed Hub pricing: $2,399 ($199 per port) |
