3Com Reinforces Commitment to Four Customer Markets, Further Outlines Strategy to Leverage Market and Technology Leadership Positions
Annual Worldwide Industry Analyst Summit Provides Insight Into Solutions for Customers
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 12, 1998-- At a recent meeting with more than 60 U.S. and European industry analysts, 3Com Corporation (NASDAQ:COMS - news) underscored its commitment to four key market segments -- small/medium enterprises, consumers, network service providers/carriers and large enterprises.
The combination of workshops and plenary sessions offered analysts insights into the company's product, technology and marketing strategies to lower the cost of ownership equation for today's customers and prepare networking infrastructures for a new generation of converged voice, video and data applications.
''Because of its leading market position across a broad product set, full complement of global channels, and leadership across all four served markets, 3Com is in the unique position to help individuals, enterprises of all sizes, carriers and network service providers reap the economic, social and technology benefits of converged networks,'' said Eric Benhamou, chairman and CEO of 3Com Corporation.
Small/Medium Enterprise
The small- to medium-sized business with 25 to 500 users is one of the fastest growing segments of the networking industry worldwide. By focusing on simple, easy-to-use products, 3Com has attained leadership in this market.
According to a recent study by Infonetics Research, ''3Com dominates the medium business market for LAN products (hubs, switches, LAN routers and network management tools), with 45% of (small-medium businesses) ... having 3Com equipment installed now.'' In a recent study of the small business computing market by IDC Link, 3Com was the leading provider of NICs (44.4 percent) and hubs (34.5 percent).
In addition to its own network consultants, 3Com has also established industry-leading partnerships with more than 10,000 value-added resellers and network integrators who focus on serving small- and medium-sized businesses. These customers purchase networks primarily for Internet connectivity, remote offices, remote access, and workgroup connectivity.
Consumer
With leading market share in modems (54 percent, source: VisionQuest 2000) and handheld connected organizers, such as the PalmPilot(tm) (66 percent market share, source: Dataquest, 1997) and the recently announced Palm III(tm), 3Com provides the individual consumer and small office/home office buyer with the broadest array of technologies for personal Internet access, home networking and person-to-person networking connectivity.
3Com is leading the effort to make Internet access even easier by being significantly involved in all major industry standard setting committees. The company was first to market with industry-standard V.90 56 Kbps modems, and is actively driving toward success in emerging fast access technologies, such as xDSL and data over cable.
Network Service Providers/Carriers
The carrier market is expanding to include traditional carriers, such as IXCs, LECs and PTTs; as well as new carriers, such as CLECs; and Internet service providers. With telecommunications deregulation and increased competition, carriers and Internet/network service providers are looking at innovative ways to continue their success.
With an industry leading 37 percent market share (source: Dataquest, 1997), 3Com's Total Control(tm) remote access concentrators enable these customers to offer expanded services such as voice over the Internet, virtual private networks, and video conferencing to enterprises and other service providers via current and next-generation, high-speed access technologies such as 56 Kbps analog, ISDN, xDSL, and data over cable. 3Com's Total Control platform was recently given the ''Tester's Choice Award'' by Data Communications magazine for remote access concentrators.
Large Enterprise
Many enterprise customers, typically with more than 500 computer users, are expanding and rebuilding their network infrastructures to support new applications and a more demanding, increasingly mobile workforce. 3Com has begun to introduce a series of next generation products for the campus infrastructure, public WAN access, private WAN backbone and remote access solutions.
The first of these new products, the CoreBuilder(tm) 3500, was chosen as a 1997 networking industry ''hot product'' by Data Communications magazine. Through innovative policy management and an increased emphasis on advanced switching capabilities, performance of 3Com networking solutions is optimized and the total cost of network ownership is reduced.
About 3Com
3Com Corporation enables individuals and organizations worldwide to communicate and share information and resources at anytime from anywhere. As one of the world's preeminent suppliers of data, voice and video communications technology, 3Com has delivered networking solutions to more than 100 million customers worldwide.
The company provides enterprises, network service providers and carriers, small businesses and consumers with comprehensive, innovative information access products and system solutions for building intelligent, reliable and high performance local and wide area networks. For further information, visit 3Com's World Wide Web site at 3com.com, or the press site at 3com.com.
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Note to Editors: 56Kbps technology refers to server download speeds only and requires compatible modems at server sites. All V.90 products are capable of 56kbps downloads; however, due to FCC rules which restrict power output of service providers' modems, current download speeds are limited to 53 Kbps. Actual speeds may vary depending on line conditions. Uploads travel at speeds up to 31.2 Kbps. Requires phone line compatible with 56K technology.
3Com, Total Control, and CoreBuilder are registered trademarks of 3Com.
PalmPilot and Palm III are trademarks of 3Com Corporation or its subsidiaries. This product is not manufactured by Pilot Corporation or Pilot Corporation of America, manufacturers and distributors of writing instruments. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. |
