3COM Delivers Voice Over IP And Voice Over Frame Relay Solution in
the Next Phase of Its Enterprise WAN Convergence Strategy
BW, 10:44 a.m. Oct 19, 1998 Eastern
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 19,
1998--Taking the next step in its enterprise WAN strategy to
build converged voice and data networks, 3Com Corporation
(Nasdaq:COMS) today announced a new networking solution for
Frame Relay and IP-based wide area networks. The new
PathBuilder(tm) S200 voice access switch family enables users to
add voice to their existing, router-based wide area data networks.
Incorporating voice, as well as fax and modem traffic, into these
networks enables more efficient use of expensive wide area
bandwidth and offers a powerful alternative to traditional,
separate voice solutions.
Using the PathBuilder S200 switch, customers can flexibly
incorporate voice into their data networks using Voice over
Frame Relay (VoFR) and/or Voice over IP (VoIP) based on
application requirements and business objectives. The
VoIP/VoFR option becomes highly important to enable
large-scale deployments and network growth. For example, VoIP
over the Internet can be used to integrate a newly acquired
company's remote office into an already existing Frame Relay
infrastructure. In contrast to most competing solutions, the
switch delivers a highly scalable solution for large-scale
deployments.
"Over the past year, 3Com has received a highly positive
response to its existing data/voice convergence solutions based
on the market-leading PathBuilder S300 and S600 WAN access
switches providing converged WAN solutions at T1/E1 speeds
and above over ATM. The new PathBuilder S200 voice access
switch family expands such convergence options into the
sub-T1/E1 space over Frame Relay and IP so common in today's
corporate branch office networks," said Clint Ramsay, 3Com's
vice president of large enterprise marketing.
The PathBuilder S200 switch is a product of a new relationship
with Motorola's Internet and Networking Group (ING), the
award-winning leader of packet voice technology. Maximizing
Network Investments into the Future
As large organizations move from testing convergence solutions
to deploying large scale converged networks, concern for the
administrative costs of such an approach is driving the demand to
add voice to existing networks. Customers with installed data
router implementations, such as the NETBuilder(R) router
family, have concerns over the administrative and financial
implications of replacing their router-based networks. Instead of
replacement, adding the PathBuilder S200 switch provides voice
connectivity while leaving the existing routed infrastructure,
equipment and its configuration unchanged. Ensuring Customer
Support
In addition to having the right networking gear, large
organizations also need the right implementation services to
support their business objectives. The new PathBuilder S200
voice access switch family is backed by a full range of 3Com
Customer Service Organization offerings that meet the response
requirements of mission-critical enterprise networks. These
3Com services are designed to offer customers maximum support
in implementing, maintaining and enhancing performance
throughout the life of their data and voice networks A Solution
for A Broad Range of Customers
Customers with a variety of characteristics would benefit from a
converged network with the PathBuilder S200 family of switches.
-- Customers who have separate carrier-provided voice tie-lines
between sites want a way to improve data performance by
consolidating the voice and data applications and dynamically
sharing bandwidth -- Customers who have existing Frame Relay
or IP-based WANs for data
transport want to realize cost savings by eliminating parallel
networks. They want a way to eliminate long distance or (800)
phone and/or fax calls between sites -- Customers who maintain
their own private TDM-based voice/data
networks want a way to take advantage of the high quality, low
bit rate voice technology delivered through the PathBuilder S200
switch's sophisticated voice handling technology. The product
delivers near toll quality voice even down to 5.3 Kbps (ie. up to
10 simultaneous voice calls on a single 64 kbps circuit.) --
Customers who have small remote offices but cannot justify a PBX
or Key System want a way to deliver the same level of phone/fax
services as they provide in their headquarters to those remote
users -- Customers who maintain a PBX infrastructure want a
way to scale back capital expenditures on their PBXs by switching
voice traffic within the network
3Com delivers a range of VoIP solutions tailored to the specific
requirements of multiple markets, including enterprises and
carriers, as well as differing applications such as corporate
WANs and remote networking. In a separate press release, 3Com
announced today the industry's first carrier-class VoIP system
supporting phone-to-phone IP-based telephony over packet
switches networks. Collaboration with Motorola's Internet and
Networking Group on Solution Components
3Com has formed a relationship with Motorola's Internet and
Networking Group to harness Motorola's market-leading
expertise in voice technology for 3Com enterprise customers.
Not only does Motorola have market share leadership in Voice
over Frame Relay after several successful years in the packet
voice and data marketplace, their products have also been
recognized with some of the most prestigious awards in the
industry. As a result, customers benefit greatly from 3Com's data
networking experience and Motorola's voice capabilities.
"Motorola ING has earned its recognition as the industry leader
in packetized voice applications with our leading edge
innovations. Our packet prioritization and quality of service
technologies enable high quality voice over packet
implementations," said Rudi Willems, director of strategic
planning in Motorola's ING. "We are proud to have been chosen
by 3Com to help enable their customers to deploy Frame Relay
and IP-based converged network solutions. Being chosen by
3Com to enable the deployment of converged network solutions
reinforces that Motorola is the choice for a company with a strong
vision for converged networking."
The PathBuilder S200 voice access switch family consists of a
range of switches from branch office products to central site
products, which provide a variety of voice-related interfaces
(such as FXO/FXS, E&M), both analog and digital. Pricing and
Availability
The starting configuration is priced at U.S. $2,795. 3Com ships
the solution in November. 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 200
million customers worldwide. The company provides large
enterprises, small and medium enterprises, carriers and network
service providers, 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
http//www.3com.com/pressbox. About Motorola
Motorola's Internet and Networking Group (ING) delivers Smart
Access Technology to connect people and organizations in a
world of converging communications. ING provides a full
complement of wireline and wireless access solutions, including
corporate networking, broadband communications, wireless
content services and platform software. Please visit
www.mot.com/ing for more information. Motorola is a global
leader in advanced electronic systems and services. It liberates the
power of technology by creating software-enhanced products that
provide integrated customer solutions and Internet access via
wireless and satellite communications, as well as computing,
networking, and automotive electronics. Motorola also provides
essential digital building blocks in the form of embedded
semiconductors, controls and systems. Sales in 1997 were $29.8
billion.
3Com and NETBuilder are registered trademarks and PathBuilder
is a trademark of 3Com Corporation. All other company and
product names may be trademarks of the respective companies
with which they are associated.
Copyright 1998, Business Wire
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