3Com Delivers Industry’s First Unified Switch for Small and Medium Businesses

Easy to Use, Cost-Effective Solution Combines all of the Components Necessary for Wireless and Wired Data Access and VoIP Networking in One Box

MARLBOROUGH, MASS. — October 2, 2006 — 3Com Corporation (NASDAQ: COMS) today announced the industry???s first unified switch for small and medium businesses (SMBs) that converges wired and wireless networking functionality and includes Power over Ethernet (PoE) to support Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony on a single platform. The 3Com®Unified Gigabit Wireless PoE Switch 24 is an easy to deploy and manage solution that is cost-effective and designed for SMBs that want all of the elements of a business-class network, as well as a platform for delivering advanced communications solutions such as wireless and VoIP, in one box.

Purpose-built for organizations with 5 to 250 users, the 3Com Unified Switch for SMBs enables organizations to manage all critical networking functions as one device because they are all integrated in a single unit. 3Com designed the switch to deliver upfront and ongoing cost savings when compared to competitive solutions that don???t offer the same level of functionality in one box, or are not seamlessly integrated. The switch is ideal for SMBs that have limited resources dedicated to managing and upgrading their network.

“3Com has delivered the first, Gigabit-class unified switching solution for the SMB market that we???ve tested,” said Kevin Tolly, president, the Tolly Group. “The Unified Switch proved in testing that it offers Gigabit-speed throughput, PoE support and ease of management for small and medium sized organizations that are seeking to upgrade their out-of-date networks and want to protect their investments as they add functionality to support their growing businesses.”

“As a small business that stakes its reputation on delivering reliable Internet access and communications solutions to our customers, we need a flexible and scalable platform that we can implement to meet their increasing demand. At the same time, we need a solution inside our network that is easily managed, so we can focus on delivering for our customers,” said Jason Houts, VP of Operations at MTS, Inc.“The 3Com Unified Switch for SMBs is a perfect all-in-one platform for our customers, and for our growing business. It delivers everything needed to deliver a converged solution in one box, which takes unnecessary complexity and additional costs out of the equation.”

The 3Com Unified Switch for SMBs offers all of the wired and wireless functionality critical for a secure, convergence-ready SMB network, including:

* Full, Layer 2 line rate gigabit speeds with zero packet loss across all 24 ports;
* Full 802.3af Power over Ethernet support available on each of its 24 ports;
* Auto-voice VLAN capability;
* 802.1X authentication;
* Wireless WPA2 security and AES encryption;
* Rogue wireless access point detection and mitigation;
* Wireless fast roaming and automatic load balancing across managed APs; and
* Support for emerging standards such as 802.11n

“Our partners and end users are constantly looking for differentiated solutions to help them compete effectively and operate efficiently. The convergence of wired and wireless voice and data communications and security enable new levels of interaction with customers, employees and business partners that fuel increased productivity and success,” said Nikos Koutsoukos, director of Product Line Management for SMB at 3Com. “The 3Com Unified Switch for SMBs delivers unparalleled functionality to power a converged network. It is another proof point in 3Com???s commitment to delivering an end-to-end portfolio of secure, converged solutions for organizations of all sizes.”

Unique Access Point Strategy
Only 3Com delivers dual mode access points that are shipped as standalone APs but that can be converted to managed APs as the user grows its wireless infrastructure and wants to take advantage of a seamlessly managed wireless network. The 3Com AP7760 single radio 802.11a/b/g and AP8760 dual radio APs are easily converted from standalone to managed mode with the simple click of a button on the graphical user interface. By delivering the industry???s only purpose-built dual mode access points, which can be re-deployed as business requirements change, 3Com adds another level of investment protection for an organization???s expanding wireless needs.

The 3Com Unified Switch for SMBs can be fully-managed via a Web interface that features a simple five click set up wizard, or by the CLI, Telnet, Console and SNMP interfaces if desired. With full management capabilities, 3Com VARs can configure and deploy the switch as part of a managed solution for SMBs that want to outsource their network. By providing a single box solution, 3Com believes that both customers and VARs have the opportunity to realize cost savings when compared to solutions that require multiple boxes.

Pricing and Availability
The 3Com Unified Switch for SMBs is scheduled to be available globally from 3Com channel partners within 30 days at a list price of $2750 USD. The 3Com Wireless 7760 11a/b/g PoE Access Point is currently available worldwide at a list price of $249 USD, and the 3Com Wireless 8760 Dual-Radio 11a/b/g PoE Access Point is currently available worldwide at a list price of $399 USD.

About 3Com Corporation
3Com Corporation (NASDAQ: COMS) is a leading provider of secure, converged voice and data networking solutions for enterprises of all sizes. 3Com offers a broad line of innovative products backed by world class sales, service and support, which excel at delivering business value for its customers. Through its TippingPoint division, 3Com is the leading provider of network-based intrusion prevention systems that deliver in-depth application protection, infrastructure protection, and performance protection. 3Com also is the majority owner of Huawei-3Com Co., Ltd. (H-3C), a China-based joint venture formed by 3Com and Huawei in November 2003. H-3C brings innovative and cost-effective product development and manufacturing and a strong footprint in one of the world’s most dynamic markets. For further information, please visit www.3com.com, or the press site www.3com.com/pressbox.

Copyright © 2006 3Com Corporation. 3Com and the 3Com logo are registered trademarks and TippingPoint is a trademark of 3Com Corporation. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective holders.

Safe Harbor
This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including forward-looking statements regarding our product release schedule and product features and performance. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, risks relating to: the market acceptance of our products; our ability to timely deliver these products; the ability of our products to meet customer needs; and other risks detailed in the Company???s filings with the SEC, including those discussed in the Company???s annual report filed with the SEC on Form 10-K for the year ended June 2, 2006. 3Com Corporation does not intend, and disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking information contained in this release or with respect to the announcements described herein.

This press release was accurate at the time it was issued but may not reflect 3Com’s current strategy or product offering.

Contact Information

John Vincenzo

Corporate Communications, Public and Analyst Relations

3Com Corporation

Contact via E-mail