3Com Launches VoIP Solution Provider Program


MARLBOROUGH, Mass., March 1, 2004 /Wi-Fi Technology News/- 3Com Corporation (Nasdaq: COMS) today announced it has launched a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Solution Provider Program (VSPP) in North America that allows 3Com reseller partners access to IP telephony applications across its VCX? V7000 and NBX? IP telephony product lines.

Under the newly created two-tier system, 3Com said it would provide "Reseller Approved" status to applicants sponsored by 3Com voice resellers that agree to install, test and provide first-line application support. Additionally, the company has established a "3Com Approved" status for select developers whose products will be installed, rigorously tested and approved by 3Com.

VSPP has been created to meet reseller sales demand that requires unique collaboration with application developers. 3Com's newly released VCX V7000 IP telephony solution has generated significant interest among leading suppliers because of its unrivaled open-standards, carrier-class architecture.

Based on the preferred session initiation protocol (SIP), the VCX architecture features a multi-tier, modular platform ideal for software flexibility and survivability. Because the VCX solution was originally designed to operate in carrier networks with geographically dispersed deployments and tens of thousands of users, new applications can be deployed and managed easily and cost effectively to multiple sites, on a modular basis from one central location.

"The 3Com VoIP Solution Provider Program is designed for and driven by end-user needs and market requirements," said Pat Rudolph, 3Com director of solutions architecture, enterprise voice solutions. "We are committed to ensuring that current partners will experience a seamless transition and new partners will find our VSPP program second to none. We believe that all partners will enjoy the benefits of being associated with a strong brand like 3Com and an award-winning technology like the 3Com VCX V7000 IP Telephony Solution."

Numerous third-party, application developers have been authorized and are experiencing the benefits of being associated with 3Com and its VSPP.

Esna Technologies, Inc., a 3Com approved partner, is authorized to sell its unified communications application through 3Com's channel of authorized VoIP resellers. Known as Telephony OfficeLinX? enterprise edition, the Esnatech application provides enterprises' end users universal access to voice, fax and e-mail messages from virtually any communications device. The enterprise edition includes automatic speech recognition (ASR), allowing callers to speak the department or name of the person they are calling and text-to-speech (TTS) enabling users to have their e-mails read back to them.

"Esnatech is delighted to be a 3Com approved partner in the new VSPP program", said Scott Amoros, director of channel distribution for Esnatech. "The Telephony OfficeLinx enterprise edition enables 3Com's VoIP resellers to offer customers a complete messaging solution that leverages their voice and data IP infrastructure. Customers can retrieve and respond to any type of message --voice, e-mail or fax -- from any type of device ? e-mail Inbox, PDA, office phone, cell phone, remote PC or any WAP device."

BrightArrow Technologies Inc., a 3Com approved partner, offers an application targeted at improving enterprise companies' customer care operations and their employees' productivity. BrightArrow's ExecutiveAssistant is a timesaving application that adds cost-effective speech-recognition, find me/follow me and speech-dialing features to NBX solutions. BrightArrow's Call Recording and Monitoring allows users to record any inbound, outbound and extension-to-extension calls and monitor phone conversations, respectively, from a 3Com NBX IP telephony system.

"3Com has again shown their vision of delivering a complete solution by providing an open platform," said Raymond Bily, CEO of BrightArrow Technologies. "Over the years, we have worked closely with 3Com to supplement their solution with dozens of major features that are unprecedented because we are not constrained by the limits of legacy PBXs. BrightArrow ExecutiveAssistant stands in testament to 3Com's understanding of how to open a telephony platform and identify technology partners to deliver a complete communication solution that exactly and completely serves the need of the customer."

Interstar Technologies, a 3Com approved partner, is a pre-eminent developer of enterprise fax solutions for converged IP networks. Interstar started the fax server revolution in 1996 with LightningFAX? and reinvented the fax server in 2002 with XMediusFAX?. Interstar is committed to bringing the best electronic messaging technology in the world to enterprise markets, financial institutions, governments, and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partners through its innovative, award-winning software offerings.

"We are extremely pleased to be part of this exciting opportunity and to continue to develop our on-going relationship with 3Com," said Michael Di Perno, vice president of strategic accounts for Interstar. "As a result of today's announcement, Interstar will be able to significantly enhance its service offerings to its clients. We will be able to offer a more complete offering while ensuring we continue to lead the market in enterprise fax solutions for converged IP networks."

About 3Com
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 http://www.3com.com/pressbox.