3Com Corp unveils new hub, cuts prices
SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 23 (Reuter) - 3Com Corp on Wednesday unveiled new networking gear and cut prices on an old line, countering product introductions earlier this week from Intel Corp, a new player in the hub market.
3Com introduced the SuperStack II hub, a VCR-sized device that ties a handful of personal computers into a departmental network. The new device, 3Com said, is 35 percent cheaper than the existing product.
3Com, the second-biggest maker of networking gear, also cut the price on an existing product line, the SuperStack II Dual Speed hub, by up to 38 percent.
3Com is facing increasing pressure from Intel, the world's biggest chipmaker, which is expanding its business beyond microprocessors to include electronics for running computer networks.
Earlier this week, Intel introduced the Express 10/100 Stackable hub, an advanced device similar to 3Com's offering but cheaper.
Prices of hubs are set by how much it costs to connect one personal computer to one of the hub's ports. 3Com said the new SuperStack II Hub 100 costs $109 a port, about 35 percent less than the previous product line.
Intel said Monday its Express 10/100 hub costs $99 a port.
3Com's stock has plunged in recent days because Intel's aggressive expansion into the networking market could cut heavily into its profits.
The stock was up 9/16 to 27-3/4 toward midday. Its year low is 24. |
