Business Services Industry

3Com Brings Transcend Network Management Tools to the Palm Computing Platform

Business Wire, May 17, 1999

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 17, 1999 --

Integration of Handheld Computing Platform with Enterprise

Network Management Gives IT Professionals Breakthrough Solution for

Greater Mobility and Faster Problem Resolution

3Com Corporation (Nasdaq:COMS) today announced plans to extend Transcend(R) network management capabilities to the Palm Computing(R) platform. By adding the leading handheld product to the network manager's toolkit, 3Com continues to lead the market in simplifying network administration and providing greater flexibility to troubleshoot and maintain critical systems from anywhere in the enterprise.

Synchronized with the Transcend inventory database, Transcend management tools on the Palm(tm) connected organizer will automatically download network device data -- such as IP, MAC and physical port maps -- to help administrators more quickly resolve problems and perform updates. Other Transcend management applications for the Palm Computing platform will offer administrators the ability to receive email, pages or trouble tickets from network events, perform address lookups or view network reports.

"This is the hottest breakthrough in network management accessibility since web-based management," said Kathy Rocha, vice president and general manager of 3Com's Network Management Division. "With Transcend management software on the Palm Computing platform, we can provide increased ease of use and simplicity and offer a new way to access network management information."

Through 3Com's innovative HotSync(R) technology, the Palm Computing platform compresses and transfers network information content, replicating network information for mobile access. This capability provides network administrators and mobile professionals with important network information previously available only via a direct network connection. With the wireless capabilities of the upcoming Palm VII(tm) and the Palm.Net(SM) service, network information can be accessed from the Internet or Intranet via wireless transmissions.

Availability and Hardware Requirements

Transcend network management tools for the Palm computing platform will be available during summer, 1999. Hardware requirements will include a Palm III(tm) organizer or greater, Palm Desktop software, a desktop computer running Microsoft Windows 95 or Microsoft Windows NT and Transcend Enterprise Manager for Windows or NT. Wireless use will require a Palm VII organizer with subscription to the Palm.Net wireless service, a network management station running Transcend software on either Microsoft Windows NT or Unix, with the Transcend integrated web management enabled.

About the Palm Computing Platform

An open architecture for handheld computing, the Palm Computing platform provides an ideal basis for third-party developers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to create and deliver successful mobile computing solutions. The platform consists of five primary components: the reference hardware design, the device operating system called Palm OS(tm) software; the HotSync conduit data synchronization technology; the platform component tools including an applications programming interface (API) that enables developers to write applications; and the software interface capabilities to support hardware add-ons. Today, more than 12,000 developers are creating software and hardware add-on solutions for the Palm Computing platform, while thousands of software applications, developer tools and services are already available.

About 3Com

With more than 200 million customers worldwide, 3Com Corporation connects more people in more ways to information than any other networking company. 3Com delivers innovative information access products and network system solutions to large, medium and small enterprises; carriers and network service providers; PC OEMs; and consumers. 3Com. More connected(tm). 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, HotSync and Palm Computing are registered trademarks, Palm, Palm OS, Palm III, Palm VII and More connected. are trademarks and Palm.Net is a service mark of 3Com Corporation or its subsidiaries. All other company or product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.