3Com to Demonstrate Next-Gen. Network Solutions..
3Com to Demonstrate Convergence and
Next-Generation Networked Solutions At
Retail Systems '98;
Business Wire - June 16, 1998 12:16
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 16,
1998--3Com Corporation (NASDAQ:COMS), a leader in
providing innovative networked solutions to retailers, will
demonstrate state-of-the-art network convergence
solutions for retail environments -- supporting voice, video
and data traffic over a single network -- at the Retail
Systems '98 conference in New Orleans.
During the show, 3Com will demonstrate its next-generation
retail WAN (wide area network) convergence solutions
using ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) and frame relay
technologies. By replacing legacy routers and VSAT (very
small aperture terminal) equipment with new in-store WAN
switches, 3Com's convergence solutions support emerging
intranet and multi-media store applications. These solutions
enable convergence by intelligently allocating aggregated
voice and data bandwidth based on application priorities set
by the retailer.
"Major retailers collectively spend billions of dollars each
year on telecommunications, making this their number one
information technology expense after salaries," said Jeff
Siegel, 3Com group manager for retail, distribution and
lodging. "As such, retailers are looking for new, innovative
solutions that can cost-effectively support the growing
network traffic brought on by emerging Java, browser,
multimedia, and video-based store applications."
Live Multiservice Convergence Demonstrations
During Retail Systems '98, 3Com will be conducting a live
multiservice WAN demonstration of voice, video, and data
into the store using the PathBuilder(TM) line of WAN
switches.
The convergence solutions enabled by the PathBuilder WAN
switches address the growing bandwidth requirements
brought on by retailers deploying new on-line applications to
the store supporting functions like human resources, decision
support, special orders, and customer delivery, as well as
in-store multimedia applications like video kiosks and
computer-based training. By cost-effectively increasing a
retailer's network bandwidth, 3Com's multiservice WAN
convergence solutions dramatically improve a retailer's
ability to deploy and manage these emerging applications and
the critical business initiatives they support.
WAN-Based Real-Time Control Solutions
3Com, together with Coactive Networks, will demonstrate
for the first time new, real-time, on-line solutions which
utilize the retail enterprise WAN for remote monitoring and
control of in-store refrigeration, energy, security, and other
equipment. Centrally monitoring a store's energy
consumption, major equipment statuses, and security
surveillance in real-time enables retailers to ensure proper
equipment utilization, eliminate unnecessary energy costs,
and reduce shrinkage. This real-time control solution
represents a significant innovation that will bring a new wave
of retail cost reduction.
Converged In-Store Voice/Data Architecture
Another convergence solution that will be demonstrated
during the show is a Siemens voice PBX integrated into a
store's data network architecture. This highly integrated
solution replaces the legacy standalone voice PBX, reduces
operating costs, and will enable retailers for the first time to
centrally manage both voice and data.
Convergence Solution for Retail Call Centers
3Com will showcase with CellIT the industry's first fully
converged enterprise-wide call center solution using a
scalable 3Com(R) ATM network.
This comprehensive, single distributed solution replaces the
multiple and disparate systems used in today's retail call
centers, integrating automatic call distribution, predictive
dialing, voice processing, interactive voice response,
message handling and transaction recording. Using 3Com
networking capabilities, the solution performs all reporting
functions, routes calls between multiple call centers and
supports remotely located agents and supervisors. By
integrating voice and data infrastructures, retailers can
significantly reduce initial capital investment as well as
recurring operational, administrative and maintenance
expenditure and complexity.
Bullet-Proofed Point of Sale
As retailers replace their proprietary point of sale (POS)
systems with new open architecture POS solutions, they are
experiencing a dramatic increase in the scale of their
in-store Ethernet network. In this larger scaled network
architecture, new POS systems coexist and share the
network resources with a growing number of back-office
and multimedia applications.
Network availability and the capability to allocate network
bandwidth to support mission critical applications such as
POS, is becoming essential in today's network-centric store
environment. Based on recent innovations in Ethernet
networking, 3Com together with Siemens Nixdorf will exhibit
a completely fault tolerant point of sale solution, allowing
POS to coexist on a single, integrated store network with
unsurpassed performance.
3Com will also demonstrate a new real-time control solution
for point of sale that allows retailers to remotely turn POS
systems on and off, resulting in reduced energy and
maintenance costs.
Bullet-Proofed WAN Solution
Retailers have grown more concerned over WAN
availability in the wake of the recent nationwide frame relay
and VSAT data network outages. To address this growing
concern, 3Com will exhibit a fault-tolerant solution designed
to ensure 100 percent WAN availability. This powerful, yet
cost-effective solution is enabling major retail chains,
including Wal-Mart (frame relay WAN) and Service
Merchandise (VSAT WAN) to benefit from the most
fault-tolerant solution in the industry; thus the retailer avoids
future downtime due to equipment failures on the part of the
carrier or their own in-store WAN equipment. 3Com's
end-to-end backup WAN solution, based on the award
winning Total Control(TM) remote access concentrator in
the data center together with the industry leading x2(TM)
technology in-store modems, offers equivalent performance
for a retailer's frame relay network.
Voice Over IP for Converged Next-Generation Intranet
Solutions
Together with Harmonic Systems, 3Com will demonstrate
the integration of enterprise data such as store polling, email,
and online credit card authorization, along with voice over IP
across a frame relay circuit. The integration of
voice-over-IP adds an incremental operating savings that
economically justifies a move to frame relay service for
many retailers who may spend as much as $80-100 a month
per store for long distance calls between a store and various
corporate users.
Palm Computing(R) Platform Delivers Next-Generation
Wireless Solution
3Com will also showcase its popular pocket-sized
PalmPilot(TM) connected organizer at Retail Systems '98.
The Palm Computing(R) platform is an open software
architecture for handheld computing that provides an ideal
basis for third-party developers to create innovative mobile
computing solutions.
Symbol Technologies has announced plans to deliver a
spread-spectrum wireless version of the PalmPilot
connected organizer that is designed for the demanding store
environment. Symbol has integrated infrared (IR)-based
scanning into the PalmPilot handheld solution with an
expected price of about half that of other traditional handheld
wireless devices.
One of the first developers in the supermarket industry of this
innovative solution is PeaPod, the leading online grocery
shopping and delivery service. The PeaPod application,
operating on the Symbol Technologies ruggedized PalmPilot,
will be exhibited in the 3Com booth. The smaller, lighter, and
more cost-effective next-generation handheld platform will
be used to automate the in-store fulfillment process for home
delivery. The PalmPilot, according to Dataquest, accounts for
63 percent of the handheld computing market, and with over
1 million units shipped in less than 18 months, it promises to
dramatically increase the adoption of wireless applications
in-store.
3Com networked solutions provide enterprise connectivity
for a majority of major retailers around the world, including
Wal-Mart, Sears Roebuck, American Stores, Home Depot,
Eckerd Drug Stores, JCPenney, Rite Aid, Carrefour, Lowes
Home Centers, OfficeMax, Pep Boys, LL Bean, Musicland,
TJX Companies, Hudsons Bay Company, Ross Stores,
Nordstroms, Kinkos, Woolworths Australia, Boots plc,
Marks & Spencer, and Harrods.
About 3Com
3Com Corporation enables individuals and organizations
worldwide to stay more connected by communicating and
sharing information and resources anytime, 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
3com.com. |
