Business Services Industry

3Com AirConnect Wireless LAN Awarded Wi-Fi Certification From Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance; Approval Ensures Compatibility With Other Vendors' Wi-Fi Products

Business Wire, April 18, 2000

Business Editors/High-tech Writers

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 18, 2000

3Com Corporation (Nasdaq:COMS) today announced that its 3Com(R) AirConnect(R) 11Mbps Wireless LAN is among the first products awarded the Wi-Fi(TM) certification for interoperability.

Granted by the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA), the Wi-Fi compatibility logo serves as the "seal of interoperability" for products based on the IEEE 802.11b standard -- assuring consumers and corporate customers that 3Com's solution will work with wireless LAN products from other vendors.

The AirConnect wireless LAN delivers simple and reliable wireless connectivity at Ethernet speeds -- enabling customers to improve their productivity by extending network access beyond the desktop and provide real-time information when and where people need it. Wi-Fi certification ensures that users will experience the benefits of wireless LANs when moving across different environments, such as their office, home and in public areas -- regardless of what wireless infrastructure equipment is installed. Interoperability also protects customers' investments by allowing them to switch between vendors for their wireless access points and PC Cards.

"The skyrocketing wireless industry has been plagued by competing standards and lack of cross-vendor compatibility. To eliminate customer confusion and simplify purchase decisions, 3Com has developed Wi-Fi compliant wireless LAN solutions that interoperate with other vendors' products," said Paul Fulton, vice president and general manager of 3Com's Wireless Connectivity Division. "Such interoperability is key to advancing the adoption of wireless LANs into the corporate, small business, home and public access markets."

The 3Com AirConnect Wireless LAN is based on the Wi-Fi standard (also known as IEEE 802.11b), which is backed by the industry's leading wireless LAN and PC manufacturers. Wi-Fi is the only wireless LAN standard available today that provides wireless access at Ethernet speeds. In addition, declining costs are now making Wi-Fi systems more attractive to corporate, small business and home users. Only the Wi-Fi logo can ensure that a user's wireless LAN device can traverse these different environments and be compatible wherever they go.

"As a founding member of WECA, we are pleased that the AirConnect solution has passed the organization's rigorous set of interoperability tests," said David Cohen, vice chairman of WECA and product manager for 3Com's Wireless Connectivity Division. "The Wi-Fi certification process involved an unprecedented level of vendor cooperation, which demonstrates the prevailing intent of the industry giants to adopt 802.11b as the defacto standard for wireless LANs."

The 3Com AirConnect 11Mbps Wireless LAN 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 $1795, and plans to offer an AirConnect PCI Card for desktop PCs this spring. For additional information, visit http://www.3Com.com/wireless.> About the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance

The Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA) is a non-profit organization formed in 1999 to certify interoperability of Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b High Rate) products and to promote Wi-Fi as the global wireless LAN standard across all market segments. WECA has defined a test suite that defines how member products are tested to certify that they are interoperable with other vendor products. An independent test lab, The Silicon Valley Networking Lab, Inc. (www.svnl.com), conducts the testing. Consumers are assured that any product bearing the Wi-Fi logo will work with other Wi-Fi products. For additional information about WECA or the Wi-Fi certification process, visit www.wi-fi.org.

About 3Com Corporation

With more than 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 web-enabled solutions to consumers, small- to medium-sized business locations and network service providers. For more information, visit 3Com's web site @ www.3com.com/pressbox.> Note to Editors: 3Com and AirConnect are registered trademarks of 3Com Corporation. 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.