VoiceCon 2005 – ORLANDO, Fla., – Feb. 15, 2005 – 3Com Corporation (Nasdaq: COMS) and Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) announced that the companies are working together to deliver a new wave of mobility in enterprise communications. By combining 3Com’s Internet Protocol (IP)-private branch exchange (PBX) and wireless local area network (WLAN) switch with RIM’s BlackBerry® wireless solution for WLAN networks, the companies plan to offer a rich set of voice and data applications to on-campus enterprise users.
The joint 3Com – RIM WLAN solution will provide corporate and government organizations with the flexibility of a session initiation protocol (SIP)-based BlackBerry handheld that is tied into their existing PBX telephony. The solution will enable on-campus employees to use always-on BlackBerry applications such as email, VoIP, browser and organizer in conjunction with the BlackBerry platform’s unique connectivity features including push-based services, advanced security and back-end integration.
The 3Com - RIM alliance demonstrates the power of standards by integrating advanced SIP standard-based products. Together, the 3Com® Convergence Applications Suite and the 802.11b-based BlackBerry 7270 deliver a unique mobility solution. The 3Com wireless local area network (LAN) switch and RIM’s BlackBerry Enterprise Server™ enhance security and facilitate faster hand-offs, ensuring quality of service.
“The 3Com and Research In Motion alliance is another signal that there is a growing need to address the mobility requirements of on-premise workers or ‘campus warriors’ inside an enterprise,” said Zeus Kerravala, vice president of enterprise infrastructure for The Yankee Group. “Instant access to your voice and data communications from one device has gone from a ‘nice to have’ to a ‘must have’ and it has become incumbent for enterprises who want their associates to be productive to find ways to use this type of technology moving forward.”
“Leveraging both companies' respective strengths, the 3Com-Research In Motion alliance enables businesses to deploy standards-based, world-class IP telephony and wireless solutions in order to provide their campus employees with seamless access to time-sensitive information,” said Dave Hattey, 3Com vice president and general manager, enterprise solutions. “Companies today are under enormous pressure to lower costs and increase organizational effectiveness. One of the most cost effective ways to do this is through our SIP standards-based converged communications suite integrated with RIM’s enterprise-mobility communications solutions.”
“The BlackBerry 7270 and BlackBerry Enterprise Server solution for WLAN networks and 3Com’s IP telephony network and WLAN switch will extend the BlackBerry experience to a new category of enterprise users in corporate and government organizations,” said Larry Conlee, COO at Research In Motion. “The benefits of always-on connectivity will become available to on-campus employees through a cost-effective solution that can enhance communications, collaboration and workflow.”
Benefits of a 3Com-RIM IP Mobility Solution
The 3Com-RIM IP mobility solution is being designed to enhance user productivity for employees at headquarters, branch office locations and home offices and increase the overall organizational effectiveness of the enterprise.
The benefits to enterprises are:
- Open standards and architecture. The 3Com IP Mobility module is based on SIP, which significantly reduces the cost of owning a reliable, customizable next generation IP communications platform that enables employees to work more freely and productively. 3Com’s new wireless switch conforms to IEEE 802.11 standards and the BlackBerry 7270 is based on IEEE 802.11 standards for wireless and SIP for telephony application. The BlackBerry platform also supports open industry standards such as Java;
- Low cost of ownership. The 3Com IP Mobility module supports a variety of investment and deployment strategies, including traditional PBX preservation or replacement, and use of standard computing platforms;
- Increase user productivity. The 3Com IP Mobility module allows “Campus Warrior” associates to have greater access to their voice and data communications resulting in improved productivity gains and higher organizational effectiveness; and
- Increased wireless security. The BlackBerry platform sets the standard for secure wireless data access with its advanced security architecture and support for Triple DES, AES and S/MIME. Intelligent Wi-Fi® also helps communication using AAA servers reduce network bandwidth stress and allows for security profiling by user and group. Rogue detection and isolation also help ensure only authorized users access the network.
3Com’s commitment to deliver innovative, practical and high-value voice and data networking products and solutions for enterprises of all sizes continues with the 3Com-RIM IP Mobility Solution. The solution is comprised of a 3Com VCX™ Gateway, 3Com Wireless LAN Mobility System, and Blackberry 7270 handhelds.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About 3Com IP Telephony
3Com has been a major contributor to the convergence industry since the introduction in 1998 of the world's first IP-PBX, the 3Com® NBX® system. The company developed an architecture for a distributed softswitch for AT&T and brought the first commercially deployed carrier softswitch to market in 1999. The 3Com® VCX™ IP Telephony module was first introduced in 2003 for large enterprises. Today, the company combines these products under the 3Com Convergence Applications Suite, which includes IP Telephony, IP Messaging, IP Conferencing and IP Contact Center capabilities. For further information, please visit www.3com.com/voip.
About 3Com Corporation
3Com 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. When customers exercise choice, their choice is 3Com. For furtherinformation, please visit www.3com.com, or the press site www.3com.com/pressbox.
About Research In Motion
Research In Motion is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. Through the development of integrated hardware, software and services that support multiple wireless network standards, Research In Motion provides platforms and solutions for seamless access to time sensitive information including email, phone, SMS messaging, Internet and intranet-based applications. Research In Motion technology also enables a broad array of third party developers and manufacturers to enhance their products and services with wireless connectivity to data. Research In Motion's portfolio of award-winning products, services and embedded technologies are used by thousands of organizations around the world and include the BlackBerry® wireless platform, the Research In Motion Wireless Handheld™ product line, software development tools, radio-modems and software/hardware licensing agreements. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, Research In Motion operates offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Research In Motion is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq: RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RIM). For more information, visit www.rim.com or www.blackberry.com.
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