3Com Delivers Truly Mobile E-networks with Airconnect 11Mbps Wireless LAN Solution
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 2000 — January 25, 2000 — 3Com Corporation (Nasdaq:COMS) today brought its industry-leading reliability, simplicity and manageability to wireless networking by delivering the 3Com(R) AirConnect(TM) 11Mbps Wireless LAN.
Available immediately, 3Com's high-speed wireless LAN solution enables companies to improve their organizational productivity by extending their wired networks beyond the desktop to conference rooms, lobbies, and other public spaces.
The 3Com AirConnect solution is comprised of wireless access points and notebook PC Cards. Affixed to a ceiling or wall, the access point acts as a bridge between the wired network and up to 63 simultaneous wireless PCs. The AirConnect solution is competitively priced at $1195 per access point and $219 per PC Card (U.S.). 3Com also sells an AirConnect Starter Pack, consisting of an access point and three PC Cards, for a list price of $1,795, and plans to offer an AirConnect PCI Card for desktop PCs this spring.
"As the workforce becomes more mobile and dependent on continuous access to e-mail and other mission critical applications, wireless LANs will emerge as the next billion dollar networking industry," said Paul Fulton, Vice President and General Manager of 3Com's Wireless Connectivity Division. "In the corporate workplace, wireless LANs will be used primarily as an extension of the wired network. 3Com takes the mystery out of wireless LANs by giving network managers the ability to install, configure and manage the AirConnect solution in the same way they would any other networking equipment."
Lowers Total Cost of Ownership
Unlike other wireless LAN products, AirConnect products were designed to reduce the time and cost of implementing, using and managing a wireless network, while simplifying connectivity to minimize support calls from mobile users. Simplicity and reliability are critical factors when implementing new technology in any business. For institutions such as universities, networks need to deliver services without wreaking havoc on limited IT resources and staff.
"By allowing our students to access the network without searching for a place to 'plug-in' at the library and CyberCafe, we can enhance the learning environment and improve their ability to collaborate," said Gary Habermann, Director of Technical Resources at Widener University of Chester, Penn. "The 3Com AirConnect Wireless LAN not only delivers exceptional network performance for students, but it's by far the easiest wireless solution we've seen — there's absolutely nothing to it."
The AirConnect solution includes a Site Survey Utility to help IT professionals with the sometimes complex task of properly placing access points to achieve desired coverage and performance. 3Com also saves customers time and money with its unique PowerBASE-T module, which provides power to access points via the Ethernet cable connecting them to the network — eliminating the costly process of running electricity to each location.
For very complex wireless networks, 3Com's Consulting Services group offers wireless LAN network design services, helping accelerate customers' return on their network investments and minimize the risk of implementing wireless technology.
Simple Web-based Wireless Network Management
Once in use, network managers can easily monitor their wireless networks from a station on the wired infrastructure, a wireless workstation or via the serial port on the back of each AirConnect access point. 3Com offers a variety of simple management interfaces, including SNMP and Web support built into each AirConnect access point — enabling network managers to monitor performance, change configurations or run diagnostics anywhere on the network by simply launching their Web browser.
In addition, AirConnect equipment can be seamlessly managed with 3Com's Transcend(R) Network Control Services 1.1 for Windows NT, a tightly integrated suite of Web-based applications that works with a variety of network management platforms. By offering a single, unified solution for both wired and wireless networks, Transcend Network Control Services allows users to manage their wireless networks just like they manage their wired networks.
For the mobile professional, 3Com simplifies wireless connectivity with a rich set of tools that monitor their signal strength, signal quality and data rate. 3Com also helps users avoid configuration trouble with DynamicAccess(R) Mobile Connection Manager, which allows network managers to set up and distribute standard configuration profiles. With a click of a button, users can easily switch between LAN, modem and wireless environments, as well as choose different network resources — such as printers — based on where they roam on the corporate campus.
Standards-based Compatibility
The 3Com AirConnect 11Mbps Wireless LAN is based on the IEEE 802.11b standard, which offers speeds over five times faster than the original 802.11 standard. 3Com is also a founding member of the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA), an organization dedicated to ensuring cross-vendor interoperability of 802.11b wireless LAN equipment through the use of certification testing and a Wi-FiTM compatibility logo. AirConnect products have been submitted to WECA for the first round of Wi-Fi certification.
About 3Com Corporation
With over 300 million customer connections worldwide, 3Com Corporation connects more people and organizations to information and each other in more innovative, simple and reliable ways than any other networking company. 3Com delivers e-Networking solutions through information access products and network systems to enterprises, small businesses, consumers, carriers and network service providers. For further information, visit 3Com's World Wide Web site at www.3com.com or the press site at www.3com.com/pressbox.
3Com, Transcend and DynamicAccess are registered trademarks, and AirConnect is trademark of 3Com Corporation or its subsidiaries. Wi-Fi is a trademark of the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.
CONTACT:
3Com Public Relations
Molly Mulloy, 408/326-3021 molly_mulloy@3com.com