3Com’s Wireless Bluetooth USB Adapter Enables Simple Connectivity for Personal Computing Devices
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — October 3, 2001 — As a step in enabling personal electronic devices to connect effortlessly without cables, 3Com Corporation (Nasdaq: COMS) today announced the worldwide availability of its Bluetooth Wireless USB adapter card, featuring a radically simple Bluetooth Connection Manager software package and innovative antenna design. The 3Com(R) Wireless Bluetooth USB Adapter allows mobile users to instantly share information (such as data files, documents and contact lists) among Bluetooth-enabled personal devices including notebook PCs, desktop PCs, cell phones and handhelds, at speeds up to 1 Mbps. Also, 3Com's complete Wireless Bluetooth solution family is fully compatible with the industry's first Bluetooth-enabled inkjet printer – the HP Deskjet 995c inkjet printer from Hewlett-Packard Company.
The 3Com Winning Wireless Solution – Bluetooth with USB Connection
3Com's Wireless Bluetooth USB Adapter provides Bluetooth Connectivity to desktop and notebook PCs with a USB port. The unique rotating connector of the 3Com Bluetooth USB Adapter allows users to plug the device directly into any empty USB port, or through the use of a USB extension cable, positioning the device out and away from the PC to maximize range and performance.
"3Com is helping users benefit from the ease-of-use and interoperability of Bluetooth enabled devices by providing simple and innovative solutions that are compatible with production class Bluetooth products such as the HP Deskjet 995c Printer," said Rick Maule, vice president and general manager of 3Com's Business Connectivity Company. "Furthering our efforts towards Bluetooth adoption has allowed us to be a powerful force in placing standards-based Bluetooth products in the hands of our customers and is making universal connectivity a reality."
3Com Drives to Deliver the Promise of Bluetooth – Compatible with HP Bluetooth-enabled Printer
3Com's wireless Bluetooth products enable users to conveniently connect without cables, share files among personal devices, establish a quick dial-up Internet connection via a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone or print to a Bluetooth-enabled inkjet printer, such as the HP Deskjet 995c inkjet printer, without logging onto the local network. With this new technology, exchanging files in a conference room or checking email on the road can be accomplished without cables, in a matter of seconds.
"Bluetooth-enabled printing is an ideal application for the mobile professional and legitimizes Bluetooth as a viable technology for information exchange," said Dana Greyson, wireless printing product manager, HP Imaging and Printing Systems. "HP's Bluetooth-enabled inkjet printer combined with 3Com's Bluetooth USB Adapter or PC Card technology offers notebook and desktop PC customers an innovative wireless printing solution."
Cahners In-Stat Group estimates that shipments of Bluetooth-enabled products will soar to 955 million units by 2005. "For Bluetooth to successfully live up to its potential of universal adoption, it must be easy to install and manage. We are encouraged that 3Com's products are simple to use. The future is bright for this emerging technology with enormous potential, and 3Com is on the leading edge of what is sure to be the future of personal wireless networking," said Joyce Putscher with Cahners In-Stat.
As one of nine promoter companies in the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, 3Com has been a driving force in determining the latest industry standard Bluetooth specifications. In May, 3Com unveiled its first Bluetooth solution, a Wireless Bluetooth PC Card, which is among the first to market based on the new Bluetooth 1.1 specification. With the addition of the new Bluetooth USB adapter, 3Com once again brings innovative Bluetooth products to the market. The new specification includes a number of enhancements to the original 1.0 specification, and is intended to ensure compatibility among Bluetooth products regardless of the vendor.
3Com's Radically Simple Software
Building on its rich history of innovations in mobile connectivity, 3Com's Bluetooth Connection Manager ships with each 3Com Bluetooth product and provides radically simple connectivity for:
–Exchanging files or printing is a simple, one-step, drag-and-drop process.
–Recognizing other Bluetooth devices requires no user interaction. It is automatic based on the level of security chosen by the user in the Connection Manager software.
— A fully discoverable setting enables other Bluetooth devices to recognize and transact with the Bluetooth device. — A medium level of security enables other Bluetooth devices to recognize the Bluetooth device, but requires a password to communicate. — The highest level of security cloaks the Bluetooth device from other devices, and transactions are only possible with a password from authorized devices.
–3Com's Bluetooth software and firmware are flash upgradeable, providing a future-proof upgrade path as additional profiles are added to the Bluetooth specification, protecting customers' investment in this new technology.
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi(TM) (802.11b) Wireless Networking
As a leading provider of both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (802.11b) wireless products, 3Com recognizes the complementary nature of the technologies and believes that both play an integral role in delivering a wider variety of connectivity options to mobile computing users. Bluetooth is designed for quick bursts of low-bandwidth information in a cable replacement scenario, while Wi-Fi is the ideal wireless LAN technology for transferring high-bandwidth files or for always-on Internet and network connectivity. Bluetooth's purpose and design allows small computing equipment such as notebooks, cell phones and handheld computers to complete small data transfers using a less expensive, smaller-footprint chipset with significantly lower power consumption.
Pricing & Availability
The 3Com Wireless Bluetooth USB Adapter, including the 3Com Bluetooth Connection Manager, (model # 3CREB96), is available immediately worldwide for a US list price of $149. 3Com's Wireless Bluetooth USB Adapter will be sold through standard 3Com channels, including traditional retail partners, distributors, resellers, VARs, catalog and at 3Com.com. The Bluetooth USB Adapter comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
About 3Com Corporation
3Com simplifies how people connect to information and services through easy-to-use connectivity products and solutions for people and businesses. The company also provides access infrastructures and IP services platforms for network service providers. For further information, visit www.3com.com or the press site at www.3com.com/pressbox.
3Com is a registered trademark and the 3Com logo is a trademark of 3Com Corporation. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. This press release was accurate at the time it was issued but may not reflect 3Com's current strategy or product offering.
CONTACT:
3Com Public Relations
Karin Bakis, 508-323-1562 karin_bakis@3com.com
or
Coltrin & Associates for 3Com
Joelle Kenealey, 650-373-2005 joelle_kenealey@coltrin.com