| 3Com Pairs Voice over Internet Protocol and Power over Ethernet for Outstanding Versatility and Functionality |
| Innovative 3Com® NBX® IP Telephony and SuperStack® 3 Power over Ethernet Switching Solutions Give Private and Public Enterprises Advanced Communications |
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MARLBOROUGH, Mass., May 3, 2004 — Organizations are coupling voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) solutions and Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) switches from 3Com Corporation (Nasdaq: COMS) to obtain the benefits of integrated telephony and data communications. The SuperStack 3 Switch 4400 PWR provides standards-based 802.3af PoE and Quality of Service (QoS) capabilities to support advanced converged network applications. Two organizations that are reaping benefits of IP telephony are Central Kitsap School District of Silverdale, Wash., and Host Marriott Corporation of Bethesda, Md. Central Kitsap, which enrolls more than 13,000 students in grades K-12, is using 130 3Com PoE-supported switches today to power 1,750 3Com IP phones distributed across 25 sites. Host Marriott, which owns a string of luxury hotels, relies on the switches to drive 220 3Com IP phones at its corporate headquarters. "Using the 3Com NBX solution with the SuperStack 3 Switch 4400 PWR was the only way to affordably deploy telephones throughout an organization as large as ours, which we learned after exhaustively exploring the marketplace," said Di Brown, tech support manager, Central Kitsap School District. "We saved tens of thousands of dollars by eliminating the need to rewire our facilities for additional electrical outlets, while obtaining outstanding, feature-rich voice and data services. The Switch 4400 PWR, for example, offers a PoE system with a proven record of reliability and functionality." Using 3Com products, Central Kitsap and Host Marriott now deliver electrical current over the same Ethernet cabling used to transmit data traffic. The SuperStack 3 Switch 4400 PWR supplies power for devices such as computers, printers, wireless access points, and scanners over existing network wiring, enabling enterprises to offer business services where electrical outlets are unavailable or too costly to install. In addition to distributing robust 10/100-network connectivity in a stackable, highly-scalable chassis, the intelligent switch features advanced traffic management, enabling organizations to prioritize time-sensitive communications like voice and video. Each switch supports up to 24 3Com IP phones and automatically prioritizes their voice traffic. When coupled with 3Com VCX™ and NBX systems IP telephony solutions, they offer one of the simplest, most cost-effective strategies for deploying voice services. "The 3Com solution reduced our electrical wiring requirements while giving us crystal-clear telephony and high-speed networking," said Jules Sieburgh, senior vice president and chief technology officer, Host Marriott Corporation. "The 3Com NBX system provides a rich suite of business voice services and is much more affordable to operate than our prior PBX system. The Switch 4400 PWR lets us optimize network performance by segmenting classes of traffic like voice and web data onto virtual local area networks (VLANs), ensuring timely delivery of phone services and applications to employees. Our 3Com systems provide extraordinary flexibility." Central Kitsap had to install telephones in every venue of learning to enhance safety for its students and communications among teachers and parents. By merging Power over Ethernet with VoIP, the district met this challenge cost-effectively and easily. It lowered its monthly phone costs by $4,000 by replacing over 400 Centrex lines with an NBX solution that distributes voice services between schools over T1 lines. Additionally, because the district had many buildings where adding power outlets to support phones was either impractical or impossible, the 3Com solution helped slash deployment costs. "The expense of installing traditional phone solutions and electrical outlets in our facilities would have been sky high—a major problem at a time when budgets are tight," said Brown. "3Com, however, gave us a perfect solution. Power over Ethernet did away with potential electrical cabling costs and reduced installation time. The 3Com NBX platforms are much simpler to maintain and more affordable than our prior hodgepodge of conventional phone systems, and 3Com greatly lowered our cost of ownership." In addition, Central Kitsap is creating a single, cohesive voice communications system, using its 3Com NBX solution throughout its 150 square mile school district. Users can now access each other with four-digit dialing and voice conferencing. Support for e-911 services gives authorities the precise location of emergency calls on school campuses, a vital safety feature. Built-in voice mail can also be delivered to e-mail accounts as attached audio files, facilitating messaging among faculty, staff, and parents. And multiple automated attendants process messaging after school hours as well as during the day when school operators are unable to handle the volume of calls. "Traditional technologies simply cannot provide the level of services that 3Com solutions deliver, let alone be as affordable and easy to use," said Brown. "Moreover, our 3Com systems interoperate effortlessly with our legacy Dell, Intel, and Cisco devices. For delivering voice and data services to users, 3Com IP and Power over Ethernet solutions are unmatched for reliability, capabilities, and cost-savings." About 3Com Corporation 3Com is a leading provider of innovative, practical and high-value voice and data networking products, services and solutions for enterprises of all sizes and public sector organizations. For further information, please visit www.3com.com, or the press site www.3com.com/pressbox. 3Com and the 3Com logo are registered trademarks of 3Com Corporation. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective holders. |
| This press release was accurate at the time it was issued but may not reflect 3Com's current strategy or product offering. |
