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Technology Stocks : 3Com Corporation (COMS) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Steve Porter who wrote (24663)	11/18/1998 12:40:00 AM
From: joe	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 45548

Steve, >>Re: hot list.. remind me tomorrow to e-mail the web person ;-)<< OK. Hey, do you know anything about firewalls and proxy servers? I was doing a little reading on them and they seem interesting since they use a router and software combinations. I would think this would be an interesting side interest for a network company such as COMS. The way I see it is that there's a lot of opportunity to add speed and flexibility through using a switch router, ASICs and good proprietary software. It's also an area where the intelligence of the network will have to coordinate with that of the security mechanisms. Have you ever thought about this? joe

To: Steve Porter who wrote (24663)	11/18/1998 9:33:00 AM
From: Moonray	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 45548

Intel Plans More Networking Purchases, Barrett Says Bloomberg - November 17, 1998 17:05 Las Vegas, Nov. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Intel Corp., the world's No. 1 semiconductor maker, plans to buy more computer-networking companies to boost its share of the fast-growing market for equipment that links computers to each other and the Internet, Chief Executive Craig Barrett said at the Comdex computer show. Intel last month agreed to buy Shiva Corp. for $6 a share, or $185 million in cash, to acquire products that connect computers in far-flung offices. Intel, whose chips are in most computers, is making the push because sales of networking equipment are growing faster than other types of computer-related gear and networking technology is helping drive PC sales. ''They know that this could be a meaningful business for them,'' said Martin Pyykkonen, a networking industry analyst with CIBC Oppenheimer. Intel, which makes PC connector cards and low-cost computer switches, bought Shiva to expand its line of networking products for small and medium-size businesses. Additional takeover targets also are likely to be makers of low-cost networking gear that Intel will sell in volume through distributors, Pyykkonen said. ''Intel knows how to push a lot of product through the (distribution) channel,'' he said. Targets Some analysts have speculated that Intel may be interested in acquiring 3Com Corp., the No. 2 computer-networking company, which makes such products. Yet 3Com executives have said the company is not for sale, and an acquisition of 3Com by Intel, which together dominate the market for PC connector cards, would likely draw close scrutiny from anti-trust regulators. 3Com shares fell 1/16 to 35 1/2. Santa Clara, California-based Intel has made other networking acquisitions in the past few years, including Case Technologies and Dana Communications, and has made investments in Xircom Inc. Intel sells its so-called gigabit Ethernet switches, which speed data in corporate networks, through a distribution agreement with Fore Systems Inc. Fore gets most of its revenue from powerful, expensive switches used by corporations to combine voice and data traffic on their networks. The Pittsburgh-based company uses its Intel partnership to broaden its product line. ''That (partnership) is a natural fit for both of them,'' Pyykkonen said. On Aug. 25, Fore agreed to buy closely held Berkeley Networks Inc., whose gigabit Ethernet switches are based on Intel's microprocessor technology and run by Microsoft Corp.'s Windows NT software. Fore shares fell 11/16 to 13 7/16. Technology Intel invests in or acquires companies that have technology to spur demand for PCs, 90 percent of which use Intel microprocessors. The chipmaker wants to alleviate bottlenecks, such as slower memory and sluggish flow of data and graphics displays, which frustrate many PC users. The fact that networking-equipment makers like 3Com Corp. and networking chip makers such as Broadcom Corp. are putting more networking functions into their chips is a plus for Intel, which has years of research experience building computing functions into its chips. ''The networking industry is being siliconized, and that's a business Intel understands,'' Pyykkonen said. Intel shares rose 1 5/8 to 108 1/2. o~~~ O