3Com Selected By TCI For Cable Modems and Networking Equipment;
Press Briefing at National Cable Show Details, Distribution Plans
05:01 a.m. May 04, 1998 Eastern
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 4, 1998--3Com Corporation
(NASDAQ: COMS) today announced it has been selected by TCI.NET, a
division of Tele-Communications, Inc. (TCI) to provide high-speed
cable modems and broadband networking equipment for its deployment
of multimedia services to the residential market.
The 3Com(R) equipment is based on the Data Over Cable Service Interface
Specification (DOCSIS), a multi-operator industry specification
effort. DOCSIS-based modems allow for interoperability among cable systems and
assurance of competitive, quality product in the retail channels. 3Com will market
its cable modems under the U. S. Robotics(R) brand, following its merger with the
modem supplier last year.
At a joint press briefing held here today at the National Cable
Television Association's Cable '98 show, 3Com and TCI detailed their
cable modem rollout and retail distribution plans. TCI will initially
purchase equipment directly from 3Com, and will support modems sold
later this year through 3Com's retail distribution channels.
"We are pleased that TCI has selected 3Com to provide one of the industry's first
interoperable cable modems as well as headend equipment for their cable plant,"
said Richard L. Edson, senior vice president of New Business Initiatives at 3Com.
"The market leadership of the U.S. Robotics brand will help drive TCI's aggressive
and exciting multimedia vision. With high-speed cable modem access to the
Internet, consumers will be able to take advantage of services such as high-quality
video conferencing, interactive gaming and Internet telephony."
"Retail distribution will greatly enhance our marketing reach," said Rob Davenport,
senior vice president and COO of TCI.NET. "3Com has the data networking
expertise and retail experience we think is critical to establishing data-over-cable
modem service as a mass market offering. We look forward to accelerating the
growth of the cable data market through this relationship."
Cable modems allow connection to the Internet by utilizing the bandwidth capacity
of cable television networks, enabling potential download speeds far exceeding
phone-based speeds of analog modems or ISDN devices. The digital service does
not require a phone line and provides a reliable, low-cost connection to the Internet
and other content. About 3Com
3Com's cable modems are part of its Cable Access product family, including
headend systems based on the leading Total Control(TM) platform. The
standards-based system enables high-speed Internet access and multimedia over
cable networks, and is compatible with 3Com routers, switches and network
interface cards (NICs). Under the U.S. Robotics brand, 3Com has sold more
modems worldwide than any other manufacturer. 3Com's U.S. Robotics VSP and
VSP Plus cable modems recently received BYTE Magazine's 1997 Best of
Comdex award for Best Networking Infrastructure.
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 large enterprise, small and medium enterprise,
carriers and network service providers, and consumers 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
http//www.3Com.com/pressbox.
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