Managed Network Services From 3Com Enable Voice,
Video and Data Convergence Over Cells or Packets
PathBuilder(tm) ATM Access Switch Provides Critical Multi-service
Function into Carriers' Backbone Network
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 8, 1999--
3Com Corporation (Nasdaq:COMS) today announced a series of
Managed Network Services solutions that enable voice, video and
data convergence over cell-based or packet-based networks.
Managed Network Services are network integration services that go
beyond basic equipment and transport to support a host of
value-added applications from the WAN to the desktop. Under the
PathBuilder(tm) family of switch products, 3Com's Managed
Network Services enable service providers to bundle traditional
transport services with various levels of network integration
features.
"We are seeing tremendous movement by service providers and
enterprise customers to converge voice and data services from the
WAN ingress point," said Irfan Ali, senior vice president for
worldwide marketing and acting vice president and general
manager, 3Com Carrier Systems. "The multitude of emerging
IP-oriented technologies demonstrates that convergence is the
common denominator, whether it is cell-based or packet-based."
With Managed Network Services from 3Com service providers can:
-- Integrate voice, data and video on a single multi-service ATM
access platform
-- Offer managed LAN and router services, bringing them closer to
the desktop
-- Deliver sophisticated business applications such as e-commerce,
distance learning and security services
-- Enable superior network and service management
-- Provide end-to-end IP/VPN solutions
-- Offer outsourcing for remote access services
-- Share operations personnel and resources across multiple
customers
The PathBuilder switch family of products enables the convergence
of voice, video and data over cell-based or packet-based networks in
the Managed Network Services offering from 3Com.
The PathBuilder S700 ATM access switch is a next-generation
multiservice platform that provides adaptation, concentration and
switching of a wide variety of traffic onto high-speed asynchronous
transfer mode (ATM) links. The PathBuilder S700 switch provides
a critical function in the carrier's backbone network: the
multiservice, or first stage concentration. This allows carriers to
extend their ATM backbone from the outer edge onto the enterprise
domain and enables them to deploy converged solutions
cost-effectively on a wholesale basis.
The PathBuilder S700 switch complements the existing PathBuilder
family and is the cornerstone for expanding managed network
services. For large enterprises that require carrier-class ATM
switches on their premises for enterprise WANs, the PathBuilder
S700 switch follows the success of the S300 and S600 which have
already been deployed in enterprise networks worldwide.
"As carriers move toward more managed service offerings, they
need to become much more efficient in engineering the network onto
the enterprise," Ali said. "Our PathBuilder ATM access switches
allow carriers to build the most effective solution for bridging from
the outer edge of the network into the enterprise space."
According to the most recent industry figures, 3Com holds the
number two position in the ATM WAN access equipment market,
with approximately 23 percent of the worldwide market. (Source:
International Data Corporation report on ATM Access Devices, July
1998.)
PathBuilder switches offer a variety of interfaces providing smooth
migration for existing equipment with legacy interfaces, such as
router, PBX and video conferencing equipment. The 3Com(R)
PathBuilder product family also provides the widest range of voice
solutions available in the market, including:
-- Voice over ATM solutions using CBR Quality of Service
-- Compressed voice over ATM solutions using VBR Quality of Service
-- Voice over Frame Relay over ATM solutions
-- Voice over IP over ATM solutions
About PathBuilder Switches
The PathBuilder family of WAN switches offers a complete
end-to-end LAN/WAN networking solution, supporting converged
voice, video, and data applications. PathBuilder switches provide
Time Division Multiplexing (TDM), Frame Relay, Asynchronous
Transfer Mode (ATM), and/or Synchronous Optical
Network/Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SONET/SDH) services
simply and affordably, making it easy to access any carrier service
or private WAN network in the bandwidth best suited for the traffic
needs. Whether extending LANs, accessing IP or Frame Relay
services, or transporting voice or video to private or public voice
networks, the PathBuilder family extends all these services through
its standards-based implementations and interfaces and integrated
Transcend(R) software capabilities.
The PathBuilder product family supports a robust suite of voice
solutions and provides seamless, standards-based Frame Relay to
ATM service interworking and network interworking. This is part
of 3Com's overall approach to facilitate converged networks and
emerging enterprise applications such as virtual private networks
(VPN) and Voice over IP.
The PathBuilder switch also offers several unique applications, such
as Inverse Multiplexing for ATM (IMA), which enables creation and
delivery of new bandwidth increments. 3Com pioneered the
deployment of IMA and leads interoperability efforts with other
vendors. In addition, the robust ingress point traffic management
techniques employed on the PathBuilder switch keeps congestion
from ever reaching the network side. The Frame Relay to ATM
features enable seamless support of existing Frame Relay networks
and customers onto ATM. The PathBuilder S700 switch and other
PathBuilder products will allow carriers to build out solutions off of
their existing ATM network. About 3Com
With more than 200 million customers worldwide, 3Com
Corporation connects more people to information in more ways than
any other networking company. 3Com delivers innovative
information access products and network system solutions to large,
medium and small enterprises; carriers and network service
providers; PC OEMs; and consumers. 3Com -- More
connected.(tm)
For further information, visit 3Com's World Wide Web site at
3com.com, or the press site at
3com.com.
3Com and Transcend are registered trademarks and More
connected. and PathBuilder are trademarks of 3Com Corporation.
CONTACT: 3Com Corp.
Steven M. Plavny
Voice: 847-262-1329
Cell: 847-525-9917
steven_plavny@3com.com
or
Steven M. Ostrowski
Voice: 847-262-1026
Cell: 630-542-3726
steven_m_ostrowski@3com.com
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