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Company: 3Com

Description: Sometime in 1970, Robert Metcalfe (while a part of Xerox PARC) invented the Ethernet technology. By 1979, together with Bruce Borden and Greg Shaw, they put up the 3Com (actually stands for Computers, Communication, and Compatibility) Corporation which was responsible for the development of hardware devices and accessories that supported the implementation of communication networks on a diverse range of platforms. The initial success of the company was widely associated with the launching of the IBM Personal Computer series in 1982.

The introduction of IBM PC into the consumer market formally brought business computing into residences and along with it the possibility of creating home-based computer networks. This signified a drastic increase in the revenues of 3Com and by 1984, it had decided to go public. Currently, Robert Mao sits as the company CEO with Ron Sege functioning as President and COO. Other luminaries of the management team include Eric Benhamou (Chairman) and Jay Zager (Executive VP and CFO).

The Ethernet card (also referred to as Network Interface Cards) was the initial product that was released to the market by the company for integration with IBM PC, LS-11, and VAX-11 computer systems. EtherSeries represented the brand name used by 3Com for all Ethernet products released to the IT industry during the 1980s.

EtherSeries was composed of various hardware and software components that were intended to allow the connection to shared resources that reside within a LAN (Local Access Network) environment utilizing the protocols associated with XNS. Supported protocols were broken down into four classifications based on their functions. The classifications include: host simulation of IBM systems (Ether-3270), Printing (EtherPrint), File Sharing (EtherShare), and Electronic Mailing (EtherMail).

To further enhance and boost the company’s development and manufacturing operations, the company merged with Bridge Communications in 1987. Products based on the 68000 processor line of Motorola came into development and production. These new product portfolios maintained compatibility with the Etherterm Terminal Emulation application of 3Com. By 1997, 3Com was partnered with U.S. Robotics (dial-up modem manufacturer) along with Palm, Inc. which came at a cost of $7.3 million.

The continued expansion of 3Com included the acquisition of the wireless technology manufacturer Smartcode Technologie in 1999. 3Com gained the ability of supporting the launching of its AirConnect LAN product via this merger.

The system allowed the simultaneous deployment of 63 wireless computer systems up to a maximum distance of 200 feet. Subsequently, 3Com used this wireless technology to release the Palm VII (a handheld digital organizer) which was the very first digital device to be equipped with the wireless communication service Palm.Net.

The technologies developed by 3Com are covered by more than 1,400 U.S. and 180 Chinese issued patents. Currently there are still 1,050 pending patents in China alone with another 35 from around the world. The company also took advantage of the SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) technology for IP telephony to provide the 3Com Convergence Application Suite solutions. This package is made up of platforms, applications, and IP phones.

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