August 16, 2004
TRAPEZE NETWORKS ANNOUNCES STRATEGIC MULTI-PHASE PRODUCT AGREEMENT WITH 3COM
3Com Selects Trapeze After Comprehensive Analysis of the Wireless LAN Switch Vendors PLEASANTON, Calif. — Aug. 16, 2004 — Trapeze Networks™, the award-winning provider of the enterprise wireless LAN (WLAN) Mobility System™, today announced that it has signed a strategic product agreement with 3Com Corporation (Nasdaq: COMS), a leading network equipment supplier. In addition, 3Com and Trapeze have agreed to work on joint development to bring new innovation to 3Com's enterprise wireless solutions.
The collaboration of the two companies involves a long-term, multi-phase relationship that will begin with 3Com purchasing OEM products from Trapeze Networks, an agreement to license Trapeze's RingMaster™ wireless planning, deployment and management software, in addition to jointly developing new products and customizing existing Trapeze products. 3Com solutions will leverage Trapeze technology, and will be optimized for 3Com's unique product portfolio and network management platform.
3Com offers one of the broadest ranges of networking solutions, including an expansive suite of wireless systems, available today. With the addition of the Trapeze products, 3Com's wireless offerings are extended further and better address emerging customer requirements. Moreover, part of the strategy is to integrate Trapeze's full featured wireless switch and management systems seamlessly with other 3Com switching, wireless, and voice solutions, creating more opportunities for potential sales from 3Com's extensive worldwide customer base.
The Dell'Oro Group 5-year forecast for wireless LAN sales predicts that enterprise access point shipments will increase by 75 percent in 2004, signifying a dramatic change in enterprise willingness to implement wireless. The analysts predict overall wireless LAN products will grow 20 percent during the same period to $2.1 billion.
Additionally, Dell'Oro states that 3Com's wireless LAN revenue grew 14% from the fourth quarter in 2003 to the first quarter in 2004, fortifying the company's leadership position in wireless and reinforcing the growth in the market.
"Alliances of this type are becoming a core element of the wireless LAN industry," said Craig J. Mathias, principal with the wireless and mobile advisory firm Farpoint Group (Ashland, Mass.). "There are clear benefits here for both Trapeze and 3Com, and we expect that future products from both firms will also benefit customers by giving them a wider range of choices."
"We thoroughly researched a wide range of the wireless LAN vendors in the industry and chose Trapeze Networks over the other start-up and incumbent vendors because of the robust WLAN architecture and feature-rich, scalable product line," said Anik Bose, vice president of corporate business development at 3Com. "We believe Trapeze and its product portfolio will provide us with a stronger combined solution and help us continue to build on our successes in wireless."
"Our long-term strategy includes the formation of strategic partnerships with large networking vendors who have significant market share and momentum in the wireless space," said Jim Vogt, president and CEO of Trapeze Networks. "3Com is one of the largest wireless LAN equipment manufacturers in the world, with reach and penetration into multiple market segments and a larger wireless market share than all of our competitor's OEM deals combined. This relationship will provide us with an increase in our worldwide channel and distribution capabilities and will allow us to reach new customer segments we are not able to get to on our own."
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.
About Trapeze Networks
Trapeze Networks delivers the power of business applications and services to the mobile enterprise workforce. The company's wireless LAN Mobility System enhances productivity, introduces new efficiencies and accelerates business response time by delivering secure mobility for roaming users, sophisticated services for both users and IT, all while offering the lowest total cost of ownership of any WLAN infrastructure provider. Trapeze has been the recipient of seven industry awards in recognition of its product and technology strength. Founded in March 2002, Trapeze raised $50 million in venture funding to date and is headquartered in Pleasanton, Calif., U.S.A. For more information, please visit www.trapezenetworks.com.
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