InformationWeek magazine has rated the 3Com® Unified Gigabit Wireless PoE Switch 24 as the “Best Value” in wireless local area networking (WLAN) for small and medium-sized businesses and branch offices of larger enterprises. 3Com was the only vendor to make the magazine’s “Short List” of recommended products and be judged the “Best Value.”
An integral part of 3Com’s next-generation Secure Converged Networks strategy, which drives even greater application integration into the network infrastructure for businesses of all sizes, the Unified Switch combines Gigabit switching, Power over Ethernet (PoE) and a wireless controller in a single box, managed through one interface. A cost-effective Layer 2 switching solution for small- to medium-sized businesses (SMB), the Unified Switch delivers integrated management of the wired and wireless network along with PoE and wireless access point support on all 24 ports. Consistent with 3Com’s strategy of offering high-value products that meet the unique needs of SMBs, it offers a lower total cost of ownership and enhanced ease of use and management compared to other vendors’ offerings that require multiple boxes to deliver the same functionality.
InformationWeek’s Syracuse University Real World Labs evaluated WLAN products from six vendors to determine which provide “secure, manageable, easy-to-deploy, controller-based WLANs, with a base set of enterprise-class capabilities, at a reasonable price.” Other vendors in the review were BlueSocket, D-Link, Motorola, Netgear and Ruckus Wireless.
The article, which also appears on the Network Computing Web site, says, “3Com offers significant value, bringing all the tables-stakes features plus 24 Gigabit PoE ports and a maximum of 24 supported APs [access points] at bargain pricing.” It went on to state that “the inclusion of four SFP ports for fiber runs, full 802.1Q VLAN tagging and a CLI resembling Cisco’s IOS make it a credible edge switch, providing fully managed wired and wireless capabilities that cater to an SME’s all-in-one needs.”
InformationWeek also praised the versatility of the 3Com product: “The 3Com system represents the Best Value given its solid wireless capabilities paired with a credible managed 24-port Gigabit switch. 3Com’s product also provided unified wired and wireless connectivity, especially useful in a small network.”
The 3Com Unified Wireless PoE Switch 24 has a U.S. list price of $2,750, which includes two wireless access points in a starter bundle, giving it the lowest price per-port of the six products evaluated by InformationWeek. The product is available worldwide from 3Com and its authorized reseller partners.
About 3Com Corporation
3Com Corporation is a leading provider of secure, converged voice and data networking solutions for enterprises of all sizes. 3Com offers a broad line of innovative products backed by world-class sales, service and support, which excel at delivering business value for its customers. 3Com also includes H3C Technologies Co., Limited (H3C), a China-based provider of network infrastructure products. H3C brings high-performance and cost-effective product development and manufacturing and a strong footprint in one of the world’s most dynamic markets. Through its TippingPoint division, 3Com is a leading provider of network-based intrusion prevention systems that deliver in-depth application protection, infrastructure protection, and performance protection. For further information, please visit www.3com.com, or the media site www.3com.com/pressbox.
The new 3Com® Baseline Switch 2900 Plus Family and 3Com OfficeConnect® Managed Gigabit PoE Switch deliver voice-ready Layer 2 enterprise-class Gigabit switching with Power over Ethernet (PoE), advanced features for network control and flexibility and comprehensive security capabilities, all optimized for small and medium-sized businesses. The new products are the latest examples of 3Com’s Secure Converged Networks strategy, where a single converged architecture enables all voice, video and data traffic to be managed effectively and intelligently over one secure network.
Key benefits of the new switches include:
Out-of-the-box operation for organizations with limited or no IT support.
Auto-voice VLAN–which only 3Com offers–to automatically detect and connect any standards-based Internet Protocol (IP) phones.
Quality-of-Service prioritization so voice calls always have sufficient bandwidth to ensure clarity.
Fast, Gigabit Ethernet performance for high-bandwidth applications such as video, IP security, ERP and CRM.
PoE models that eliminate the expense of installing electrical connections and enable remote wireless device control over the network.
The Baseline Switch 2900 Plus Family
The Baseline Switch 2900 Plus Family of rack-mountable switches is available in 16-, 24- and 48-port models. A 24-port PoE version delivers data and power over the same cabling and powers devices such as IP phones, wireless access points and Web cameras. Each switch also has four dual-purpose ports configurable as SFP-based fiber or standard copper to connect to high-performance computers, servers or network backbones.
“The Baseline Switch 2900 is another exceptional product from 3Com,” said Tim Ormrod, IT manager for Discover Leisure plc. “It’s a good, solid, full-functioned switch–reliable, easy to configure and simple to use–at a good price point. It fits together perfectly with the voice-enabled network we are deploying at Discover Leisure. For our business, prioritizing and tracking voice traffic is an absolute must, and the 2900’s VLANs were extremely straight-forward to set up. In addition, I firmly believe that Power over Ethernet is the way to go, so the 2900 is perfect for our converged network.”
The OfficeConnect Managed Gigabit PoE Switch
The OfficeConnect managed Gigabit PoE Switch is noiseless and compact, making it suitable for desktop deployment. It is ideal for small businesses looking to deploy voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and wireless capabilities into their networks. The OfficeConnect switch has 10 Power-over-Ethernet-enabled 10/100/1000 ports and a dual-purpose Gigabit port for connecting to high-performance computers, servers or network backbones. The switch’s PoE capabilities provide power to a wide variety of attached devices using a single Ethernet cable, making it inexpensive to install and easy to manage.
“The OfficeConnect Managed Gigabit PoE switch provides the Quality of Service we need to run voice traffic,” said Stephan Dalgar, senior network administrator, Ipswitch, Inc. “The OfficeConnect switch is very easy to use and quiet, and it delivers excellent value.”
Easy Installation, Secure Operation
The OfficeConnect Managed Gigabit PoE switch and the entire Baseline Switch 2900 Plus Family can be deployed right out of the box. If custom configuration is needed, it can be done quickly and easily with the switches’ Web management interface, which provides an intuitive menu-driven process so even novice users can quickly and confidently configure the switch during initial setup and manage it during normal operation.
The switches deliver high-level security with state-of-the-art login requirements and access control lists that enable acceptable use policies to be enforced via the switch at each point of access to the network. All of its management communications feature powerful per-port HTTPS encryption, as well.
“3Com is the industry leader in price-performance networking solutions that deliver enterprise-class performance at SMB prices,” said Bob Dechant, senior vice president and general manager, Data & Voice Business Unit for 3Com. “No competitor offers the functionality of the new Baseline 2900 Plus and OfficeConnect switches at such affordable prices. These new switches are superb additions to our Secure Converged Networks portfolio of products, solutions and services that meet the needs of small and medium-sized businesses through the largest enterprises.”
Pricing and Availability
The OfficeConnect 10-port PoE switch has a U.S. list price of $495.
U.S. list prices for the four Baseline Switch 2900 Plus models are:
16-port - $355
24-port - $495
48-port - $995
24-port with PoE - $1,195
All models are available worldwide from 3Com’s authorized reseller partners.
About 3Com Corporation
3Com Corporation is a leading provider of secure, converged voice and data networking solutions for enterprises of all sizes. 3Com offers a broad line of innovative products backed by world-class sales, service and support, which excel at delivering business value for its customers. 3Com also includes H3C Technologies Co., Limited (H3C), a China-based provider of network infrastructure products. H3C brings high-performance and cost-effective product development and manufacturing and a strong footprint in one of the world’s most dynamic markets. Through its TippingPoint division, 3Com is a leading provider of network-based intrusion prevention systems that deliver in-depth application protection, infrastructure protection, and performance protection. For further information, please visit www.3com.com, or the media site www.3com.com/pressbox.
Digium®, Inc., the Asterisk® Company, and 3Com Corporation today announced a partnership that will expand 3Com’s voice product offerings for small businesses. Under the terms of the agreement, 3Com will offer Digium’s award-winning Asterisk Appliance™ to small businesses that need a reliable, easy-to-deploy voice solution based on open standards. 3Com Asterisk will be available through the company’s proven channel of partners worldwide.
For additional information about the 3Com convergence strategy surrounding voice as a networked application, see today’s announcement “3Com Brings Enterprise-Caliber IP Telephony to SMBs.”
Digium created, owns and drives innovation of Asterisk®, the most popular and successful open source communications platform. Asterisk powers the new 3Com Asterisk Appliance, which also includes hardware and a graphical user interface to allow easy configuration. It supports voice over IP (VoIP) and analog phones alike so small businesses can use equipment they already own.
“3Com is focused on delivering products and solutions for converged secure networks, in which voice is an application that can be readily integrated with many others,” said Bob Dechant, senior vice president and general manager for 3Com Corporation. “We’ve announced a complete voice strategy and new product offerings for small businesses, including the 3Com Asterisk Appliance. We also offer innovative enterprise-caliber 3Com Global Services for customers who purchase the 3Com Asterisk. We chose to partner with Digium because of the company’s position as the Asterisk leader, its commitment to open standards and the ease-of-use of the appliance.”
Bill Miller, vice president of product management and marketing at Digium, commented: “Digium pioneered Asterisk and is now working to bring the software’s power and rich feature set to a broader array of customers. 3Com’s selection of our new appliance to offer to its own customers validates our strategy of opening new markets to Asterisk by making it user-friendly, and is also testament to the fact that Digium’s products are the gold standard in the Asterisk ecosystem today.”
About 3Com Corporation
3Com Corporation is a leading provider of secure, converged voice and data networking solutions for enterprises of all sizes. 3Com offers a broad line of innovative products backed by world-class sales, service and support, which excel at delivering business value for its customers. 3Com also includes H3C Technologies Co., Limited (H3C), a China-based provider of network infrastructure products. H3C brings high-performance and cost-effective product development and manufacturing and a strong footprint in one of the world’s most dynamic markets. Through its TippingPoint division, 3Com is a leading provider of network-based intrusion prevention systems that deliver in-depth application protection, infrastructure protection, and performance protection. For further information, please visit www.3com.com, or the media site www.3com.com/pressbox.
About Digium
Digium®, Inc., the Asterisk® Company, created, owns and is the innovative force behind Asterisk, the most widely used open source telephony software. Since its founding in 1999, Digium has grown to become the open source alternative to the traditional communication providers, with offerings that cost as much as 80 percent less than proprietary voice communication platforms. Digium makes Asterisk available to the open source community under the GNU General Public License (GPL) and uses business-class Asterisk to power a broad family of products for small, medium and large businesses. The company’s product line also includes a wide range of hardware to enable resellers and customers to design their own voice over IP (VoIP) systems. This year alone, Asterisk will support over 12 billion minutes of calls. Additional information is available at www.digium.com.
3Com Corporation (NASDAQ: COMS) today announced that it has signed a definitive merger agreement to be acquired by affiliates of Bain Capital Partners, LLC, a leading global private investment firm, for approximately $2.2 billion in cash.
Under the terms of the agreement, shareholders will receive $5.30 in cash for each share of 3Com common stock they hold. This represents a premium of approximately 44 percent over 3Com’s closing price of $3.68 on September 27, 2007.
The Board of Directors of 3Com has unanimously approved the merger agreement and has resolved to recommend that 3Com’s shareholders adopt the agreement.
“The 3Com Board of Directors and senior management team have thoroughly reviewed our strategic alternatives and have determined that the agreement with Bain Capital provides the best value for 3Com shareholders,” said Edgar Masri, 3Com president and chief executive officer. “We believe that this agreement better positions 3Com to establish itself as a global networking leader, which will benefit our employees, our customers and our partners.”
“As business becomes ever more global, companies need to enhance their technology infrastructure to compete more effectively in the broader economy,” said Jonathan Zhu, a Bain Capital Managing Director, based in Hong Kong. “3Com has a strong competitive position, and we believe there are significant opportunities to grow by acquiring customers and introducing new products. We look forward to working with the management team and the company’s strategic partners to seize the worldwide growth opportunity that exists for 3Com’s communications networking solutions.”
As part of the transaction, affiliates of Huawei Technologies will acquire a minority interest in the company and become a commercial and strategic partner of 3Com.
The transaction is expected to be completed by the first quarter of calendar year 2008, subject to receipt of 3Com shareholder approval, customary regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Citigroup Global Markets Asia Limited, UBS AG, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, ABN AMRO Bank N.V. and Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited have provided firm financing commitments to Bain Capital Partners.
Goldman, Sachs & Co. is serving as exclusive financial advisor to 3Com and its Board of Directors, and provided a fairness opinion to the company in connection with the transaction. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati acted as legal advisor to 3Com in connection with the transaction.
Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. and UBS Securities LLC are serving as financial advisors to Bain Capital. Ropes & Gray acted as legal advisor to Bain Capital in connection with the transaction.
Management will host a conference call and Webcast at 10:00 a.m. EDT, September 28, 2007, to discuss the transaction. To participate on the call, U.S. and international parties may dial 913-312-0963. Alternatively, interested parties may listen to the live broadcast of the call over the Internet at 3Com’s Investor Relations Web site (www.3com.com/investor) in the Earnings Webcast section. For those unable to participate on the live call, a 24-hour replay will be available starting at Noon EDT on September 28 by dialing 719-457-0820, passcode: 2412682.
About 3Com Corporation
3Com Corporation (NASDAQ: COMS) is a leading provider of secure, converged voice and data networking solutions for enterprises of all sizes. 3Com offers a broad line of innovative products backed by world class sales, service and support, which excel at delivering business value for its customers. 3Com also includes H3C Technologies Co., Limited (H3C), a China-based provider of network infrastructure products. H3C brings high-performance and cost-effective product development and manufacturing and a strong footprint in one of the world’s most dynamic markets. Through its TippingPoint division, 3Com is a leading provider of network-based intrusion prevention systems that deliver in-depth application protection, infrastructure protection, and performance protection. For further information, please visit www.3com.com, or the press site www.3com.com/pressbox.
About Bain Capital
Bain Capital, LLC (www.baincapital.com) is a global private investment firm that manages several pools of capital including private equity, venture capital, public equity and leveraged debt assets with more than $50 billion in assets under management. Since its inception in 1984, Bain Capital has made private equity investments and add-on acquisitions in over 250 companies in a variety of industries around the world, and has a team of almost 200 professionals dedicated to investing in and supporting its portfolio companies. Bain Capital has a long history of investing in technology businesses, including current investments in SunGard Data Systems, NXP, Sensata Technologies, FCI, Sun Telephone, Applied Systems and MEI Conlux. Headquartered in Boston, Bain Capital has offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, New York, London and Munich.
Additional Information About the Transaction and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed merger, 3Com will file a proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors and security holders are advised to read the proxy statement when it becomes available because it will contain important information about 3Com and the proposed transaction. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement (when available) and other documents filed by 3Com at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov. The proxy statement and such other documents may also be obtained for free from 3Com by directing such request to 3Com Corporation 350 Campus Drive, Marlborough, MA 01752-3064 Attention: Investor Relations; Telephone: 508-323-1198. Investors and security holders are urged to read the proxy statement and the other relevant materials when they become available before making any voting or investment decision with respect to the proposed transaction.
3Com and its directors, executive officers and other members of its management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from its shareholders in connection with the proposed merger. Information concerning the interests of 3Com’s participants in the solicitation is set forth in 3Com’s proxy statements and Annual Reports on Form 10-K, previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in the proxy statement relating to the merger when it becomes available.
Safe Harbor
This news release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including forward-looking statements regarding our proposed acquisition by Bain, and our business objectives. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, risks relating to: our ability to close the Bain transaction and to execute on our business plan and other risks detailed in the Company’s filings with the SEC, including those discussed in the Company’s annual report filed with the SEC on Form 10-K for the year ended June 1, 2007.
3Com Corporation does not intend, and disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking information contained in this release or with respect to the announcements described herein.
Copyright (C) 2007 3Com Corporation. 3Com, the 3Com logo and TippingPoint are registered trademarks of 3Com Corporation. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective holders.
CONTACT: Media & Investor Relations
3Com Corporation
John Vincenzo, 508-323-1260
john_vincenzo@3com.com
or
For Bain Capital:
Stanton Crenshaw Communications
Alex Stanton, 212-780-0701
alex@stantoncrenshaw.com
3Com Corporation has been named winner of the “Most Innovative IBM System i Solution” award in the annual IBM PartnerWorld Beacon Awards competition, recognizing IBM Business Partners for their ingenuity, innovation, customer satisfaction and outstanding achievements in providing on demand business solutions.
3Com Corporation teamed with IBM to deliver an innovative, highly differentiated IP Telephony solution for customers. Delivering tight integration of the 3Com VCX™ IP Telephony platform with System i, as well as with Lotus Notes and SameTime applications, provides small and medium business (SMB) customers with an economical, value-added solution that previously would only have been available to large corporations willing to invest significantly in custom integration.
The System i IP Telephony solution enables the customer to use excess capacity on their existing System i server to run IP Telephony applications such as dial tone, messaging and conferencing rather than requiring the purchase of new standalone servers. The solution also uses the same System i management tools customers are familiar with rather than having to learn new management systems and eliminates the need to invest incrementally in IT staff to maintain less reliable, non-System i servers when deploying IP Telephony. With the System i IP Telephony solution, clients experience significantly higher degrees of availability and uptime.
The System i IP Telephony solution is helping reduce the typical sales cycle by as much as 33-50 percent. Although the solution was recently announced in November 2006, IBM and 3Com have secured several clients and are continuing to advance the partnership.
Judges remarked that 3Com Corporation’s solution “showcases the unique benefits of the System i platform and is one of the most innovative solutions on the market for System i. 3Com’s investment, leadership and cross industry solution capabilities make them an invaluable Business Partner.”
“Recognized by the Beacon Awards, 3Com Corporation has worked closely with IBM and its Business Partners to provide clients with innovative solutions that solve real business issues,” said Ravi Marwaha, general manager, IBM Global Business Partners. “3Com Corporation has set the standard for business excellence by delivering unique solutions as well as high customer satisfaction.”
“We are honored that IBM selected 3Com as the most innovative solution for System i,” said Bob Dechant, senior vice president and general manager of 3Com’s Data and Voice Business Unit. “Customers and partners alike have recognized the value and opportunity delivered by the System i IP Telephony solution. By continuing to expand the relationship and unify telephony with business applications, we are creating an even more unique and compelling value proposition in the marketplace.”
About IBM PartnerWorld Beacon Awards:
Nearly 662 nominations were judged by a team of leading industry journalists, analysts, and IBM executives, who selected winners and finalists in 38 award categories. These IBM Business Partners will be honored during the IBM PartnerWorld 2007 Conference in St. Louis, April 29 - May 2. For more information about the IBM PartnerWorld Beacon Awards please visit http://www-1.ibm.com/partnerworld/pwhome.nsf/weblook/pw2007_awards.html.
About 3Com Corporation
3Com Corporation (NASDAQ: COMS) is a leading provider of secure, converged voice and data networking solutions for enterprises of all sizes. 3Com offers a broad line of innovative products backed by world class sales, service and support, which excel at delivering business value for its customers. Through its TippingPoint division, 3Com is the leading provider of network-based intrusion prevention systems that deliver in-depth application protection, infrastructure protection, and performance protection. 3Com also is the majority owner of Huawei-3Com Co., Limited (H3C). On March 22, 2007, 3Com announced that the company has received approval from the People’s Republic of China to acquire Huawei Technologies’ remaining 49 percent stake in H3C and take full ownership, pending customary closing deliverables. H3C brings innovative and cost-effective product development and manufacturing and a strong footprint in one of the world’s most dynamic markets. For further information, please visit www.3com.com, or the press site www.3com.com/pressbox.
