Whitecap Systems and 3Com Carrier Networks Business Announce Performance Management Tool to Reduce Network Service Provider Customer Churn

Business Wire, Dec 19, 2000

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

WALTHAM, Mass. and SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 19, 2000

Whitecap's Portsmith(TM) Network Performance Monitoring (NPM) tool to complement 3Com's CommWorks(R) 5000 Network and Service Management

System by providing long-term historical trending, critical data for

capacity planning, improving QoS, and enhancing NSP profitability by

helping to lower customer churn.

Whitecap Systems and 3Com Corporation's Carrier Networks Business have announced the release of a key Performance Management Tool to complement 3Com's CommWorks(R) 5000 Network and Service Management System. The solution combines 3Com's carrier-class configuration, equipment, network and service management system with Whitecap's Portsmith(TM) NPM tool for capacity planning, performance management and QoS enhancement and addresses the most critical NSP challenge: how to reduce customer churn.

Whitecap's Portsmith(TM) NPM solution is a non-invasive network performance management tool developed within the stringent telco environment that is flexible, scalable, easy to use and, most importantly, designed from the ground-up to address the network management challenges unique to the NSP environment. These challenges include maintaining quality of service (QoS) and managing capacity planning in the face of explosive growth.

Speaking on the implications of the new alliance, Shawn Brown, Whitecap's Vice President of Worldwide Sales commented: "Considering 3Com Carrier Networks' dominant role in worldwide access technology, we are very excited about our new relationship. We believe that 3Com Carrier Networks' customers will truly benefit from the capabilities of our Portsmith(TM) NPM solution, and will quickly realize the incredible positive effects - more profitability and reduced customer churn - within a very short time frame."

Amit Tiwari, Director, Product Management, Enhanced Data Systems for 3Com carrier Networks, added: "Whitecap offers a carrier class product that addresses the critical needs of Tier I network service providers. The product, Portsmith(TM) NPM, offers the ability to assist with capacity planning and the improvement of QoS. This directly reduces customer churn - one of the most important and costly issues that NSPs face today."

About 3Com Corporation

3Com (NASDAQ:COMS) simplifies how people connect to information and services through easy-to-use, connectivity products and solutions for consumers and commercial organizations. The company also provides access infrastructures and IP services platforms for network service providers. For further information, visit www.3com.com or the press site at www.3com.com/pressbox.> About Whitecap Systems

Whitecap Systems Inc., based in Waltham, Massachusetts, is a Management Service Provider (MSP) offering Network Performance Monitoring Tools to Network Service Providers (NSPs) that deploy large, distributed carrier class networks.

Combining a strong industry focus with experienced carrier and IP leadership, Whitecap Systems is uniquely positioned to offer solutions for improved NSP functionality and profitability. For further information, visit www.whitecapsystems.net.

Note to Editors: 3Com and CommWorks are registered trademarks of 3Com Corporation. Portsmith is a trademark of Whitecap Systems Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective companies.