3Com Connects Small Offices

Enterprise Networks & Servers, Nov 2003

3Com Corp. has delivered new enterprise remote office router solutions featuring the 3Com Router 3000, and introduced new small business security and router solutions, featuring the 3Com OfficeConnect VPN Firewall and the OfficeConnect Secure Router. These solutions are designed to simplify the ways that small offices - either enterprise remote sites or standalone small offices/small businesses - connect to the Internet and to other sites.

The 3Com Router 3000 family includes three router models with different wide area network interfaces. They offer a reliable solution for connecting to the Internet and back into the local area network for both local and wide area connectivity in an integrated, standards-based system. The routers support more advanced services, such as traffic prioritization (QoS), IP and IPX Routing, advanced filtering and multicast support to assure the most efficient way to handle data, voice and content delivery.

The 3Com OfficeConnect VPN Firewall and the OfficeConnect Secure Router, a small office/home office router, are for smaller offices that utilize broadband connections (cable or DSL) or already have WAN service in place. These locations typically don't require as many features (such as IP multicast and quality of service) as the Router 3000 family offers, but need a plugn-play security device to ensure data protection while conducting business through WAN connections to customers, partners, suppliers and other constituents.

"3Com's small office solutions come at the right time as customers are increasingly trying to strike a better balance among features, ease of use and cost of technology, while VPN security technology is poised to continue to grow in significance in the small business market," said Kneko Burney, chief market strategist, In-Stat/MDR. "SCom's new small office solutions are well-positioned and offer the same ease-of-use and reliability to meet small office requirements as 3Com has done repeatedly with its other small office switch and wireless products."