3Com to support Lucent Technologies' 56 Kbps modem technology for Internet and WAN applications

Business Wire, Nov 21, 1996

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NOVEMBER 21, 1996--Lucent Technologies' Microelectronics Group and 3Com Corporation (Nasdaq: COMS) have announced plans to enable 3Com to bring 56 Kbps modem technology to the central-site remote access concentrator and wide area network (WAN) markets. The announcement was made at the Comdex(a) trade show here today.

3Com plans to offer customers of its AccessBuilder(R) 8000 remote-access concentrator a field software upgrade that will allow the system to communicate with end-user modems incorporating Lucent's patented V.flex(R)2 technology. The AccessBuilder 8000 is used by network service providers to provide dial access to the Internet and other online services. The product is currently deployed in major telecom carrier and Internet service provider sites throughout the world. The upgrade, which will be available for trial in the first quarter of 1997, will allow this existing equipment to transmit data at up to 56 Kbps -- at least twice the speed of most modems in use today.

"Upgrading 3Com's installed base of central-site server modems will immediately give millions of end users high-speed access to the Internet," said Bob Rango, general manager of multimedia integrated circuits for Lucent's Microelectronics Group.

Although no industry-wide standard exists yet for 56-Kbps modem communications, 3Com intends to support Lucent's V.flex2 technology. On November 15, Lucent and Rockwell Semiconductor Systems announced that they will make Lucent's V.flex2 and Rockwell's K56Plus(TM) modem chip sets interoperable by the first quarter of 1997. That means 3Com equipment will also be interoperable with modems based on Rockwell's chips.

"3Com has always been committed to standards, and will support whatever 56-Kbps standard emerges. In the meantime, however, we have customers who are interested in quickly deploying this higher-speed technology, and we want to meet their needs," said Jim Olson, senior vice president/general manager for 3Com's WAN Operations. "Also, with Lucent and Rockwell working together on interoperability, our customers can be assured of interoperability with the vast majority of the 56 Kbps client modems that will be deployed next year."

Lucent Technologies recently announced three modem chips (DSP1643, DSP1673, DSP1674) that address the PC OEM, retail-modem and central-site markets. Lucent will begin shipping these products in the first quarter of 1997. The products are being demonstrated this week at Comdex. Seven of the top ten global modem manufacturers use chips from Lucent Technologies.

3Com Corporation has helped more than 40 million people gain access to critical information through high-speed networks. Designed to serve large enterprises, service providers, small offices and homes, 3Com products provide a scaleable architecture to meet the present and future connectivity needs of today's users. With research and development on three continents, 3Com is one of the data networking industry's largest and fastest growing companies. Its innovative manufacturing, marketing, sales and support simplify communication, optimize reliability and protect customers' investments.

Lucent Technologies designs, builds and delivers a wide range of public and private networks, communications systems and software, consumer and business telephone systems and microelectronic components. Bell Laboratories is the research and development arm for the company, which was formed as a result of AT&T's restructuring and became a fully independent company -- separate from AT&T -- on September 30.

Lucent's Microelectronics Group manufactures integrated circuits, optoelectronic components and power systems for the computer and communications industries. -0-

(a) Comdex is a trademark of Softbank Comdex, Inc.

3Com and AccessBuilder are registered trademarks of 3Com Corporation.

V.flex2 is a registered trademark of Lucent Technologies.

K56Plus is a trademark of Rockwell.

CONTACT: For further information:

Charlie Hartley

Lucent Technologies

(908) 508-8226

or

Jennifer Wade

3Com Corp.

(408) 764-5137