SANTA CLARA, Calif. — December 6,
1999 — 3Com Corporation (Nasdaq: COMS) today unveiled the newest
enhancements to its award-winning NBX® 100 communications system that
puts the power of sophisticated IP telephony applications within the
reach of businesses deploying a single network for voice and data
communications. NBX 100 communications systems’ Release 2 hardware
and software has been designed to support larger organizations and
more sophisticated workgroups because the system can now be installed
with up to 200 system ports.
This enhanced capacity includes a new
NBX Digital Line card, allowing customers to take advantage of T1
services for high volume, low-cost connectivity to the local and long
distance telephone service provider. NBX Analog Terminal cards now
support industry standard analog phones and faxes, increasing
customers’ flexibility to support diverse applications. N Beyond
additional capacity, new software services in Release 2 give the NBX
100 communications system the functionality necessary in managing
enterprise in-bound call centers and to minimize outbound calling
costs.
Today’s announcement includes plans
for a worldwide rollout of the 3Com® NBX 100 communications system.
The system will soon become available in the United Kingdom and
Mexico, indicating that the market for data LAN and voice
communications is growing globally.
"3Com brings powerful voice and
data converged networking capabilities to a new level with today’s
NBX 100 communications system announcement, reinforcing the
company’s position as one of the world’s leaders in LAN telephony
solutions," said Dan Massiello, vice president, Voice Solutions
Group, Network Systems Business Unit, 3Com. "3Com’s end-to-end
IP telephony solutions gives businesses the fundamental e-networking
building blocks needed to embrace the e-business age."
The 3Com NBX 100 Communications
System’s E-Networking Capabilities
Enhancements to both hardware and software components deliver
significant benefits in virtually any type of business or
network/communications infrastructure, including: digital T1 line
support; integration of existing analog phones, advanced automated
attendant capabilities and call center features, ensuring that all
calls are quickly and efficiently handled. All features are
administered through 3Com’s intuitive NetSet management system,
providing customers with the ability to easily manage changes or
additions to staff or work flows. 3Com’s NBX 100 communications
system’s key attributes of e-networks for e-business gives end users
the ability to access information and people through various
infrastructure types and mediums, delivering the reliability of
integrated communications applications, such as CTI enabled call
center services, on the converged voice and data LAN.
Following is a summary the NBX 100
communications system’s major new hardware capabilities in Release
2:
- 3Com NBX Digital Line card supports
T1 services, allowing customers to take advantage of a rich set of
networking features such as DID, Tie Trunks and DNIS.
- 3Com NBX Analog Terminal Adapter
(ATA) comes in both a single desktop version, supporting a single
industry standard analog connections as well as a chassis-based
card that supports four analog connections. NBX ATA allows
customers to add traditional analog phones and FAX machines to
their LAN telephony networks, saving on installation and wiring
and even offers customers the option of using a simple, low-cost
cordless phones for increased access throughout the office.
Following is a summary of the NBX 100
communications system’s major new software capabilities in Release
2:
- Call Center Services – include
caller to agent routing services; call queuing; calling groups;
and multi-level reporting services. Call center reports are fully
integrated into the Call Detail Reports package that ships free
with every system.
- Call Handling Services – include
enhanced time-of-day operations; enhanced in-bound routing with
customizable timers, improved call pickup services; enhanced
message waiting indication for phantom mailboxes; account codes
services used with the NBX Call Reports for client bill-back
services; and LCD internal directory dialing via soft-keys.
- Advanced PowerMail eXchange Features
include: multiple, multi-level auto attendant services for
customized greeting and routing designs. System design and
administration is configurable via 3Com NBX 100 NetSet web
browser-based tool. NetSet supports local and remote configuration
services from almost anywhere in the world.
- Dial Plan Updates. The NBX 100
communications system’s new automatic route selection feature
allows for the selection of the most cost-effective available
facility for placing outgoing calls. Enhanced toll restrictions (NANP
support), digit insertion/digit deletion for tie trunks, seamless
H.323 routing and alternate long distant carrier selection allows
complete customer flexibility.
- Enhanced IP Services. Release 2
provides IGMP services to enable Layer 3 IP multi-casting across
multiple sub-nets or WANs. Telecommuters and branch locations now
have increased access to the system’s services. The new services
include four-party conference calling, personal line appearances,
line status indications and paging capabilities.
3Com NBX 100 Communications System
in the Channel
3Com now delivers a greater market opportunity for its authorized
resellers with the 3Com NBX 100 communications system’s increased
scalability supporting larger-sized organizations and branch sites
with T1 connections and up to 200 users. The new software
capabilities, such as hunt group support, multiple multi-level auto
attendant and time-of-day service modes, make the NBX 100
communications system the leading choice for customers integrating
data and phone networks in order to access its cost-savings,
reliability and applications flexibility. The addition of enhanced
dial plan services supports customer requirements for multi-location
solutions that can easily integrate with a variety of local and
long-distance network providers. Continuing its commitment to customer
satisfaction, 3Com will provide free software upgrades to Release 2
from Release 1.1 to all Release 1.1 owners through their authorized
resellers.
Interested Resellers can learn about
the 3Com Authorized Reseller Partner program and requirements by
calling1-888-629-0070.
3Com NBX 100 Communications System
Pricing and Availability
Scheduled to become available in January 2000 in North America, the
NBX 100 communications system Release 2 is priced based on specific
configuration and its software is free NBX 100 communications system
release 1 product owners.
For $14,000 USD list price, a business
would receive:
- One attendant console;
- 19 multi-line business phone sets
- 8 CO lines ports with Caller ID
support services
- 24-port Ethernet LAN;
- Release 2.0 Applications Suite:
- Multiple - multi-level Automated
Attendant, Voicemail with Unified Messaging client, Call Detail
Reporting Services; customizable reporting agent; CTI TAPI
services for every user, Call Center Services, Internetworking
Dial plan services supporting telecommuter and branch operations
over Layer 2 or Layer 3 (IP) networks; Analog Terminal Adapter for
FAX machines administered via NetSet.
For $40,000 USD list price, a business
would receive a system supporting 24 Lines (T1), 80 Multi-line
Business Phones and the full array of Release 2 services and features.
Interested customers can contact 3Com
for more information about the NBX 100 communications system at
1-800-NET-3COM.
About 3Com Corporation
With over 300 million customer connections worldwide, 3Com Corporation
connects more people and organizations to information and each other
in more innovative, simple and reliable ways than any other networking
company. 3Com delivers e-Networking solutions through information
access products and network systems to enterprises, small businesses,
consumers, carriers and network service providers. For further
information, visit 3Com's World Wide Web site at www.3com.com or the
3Com's Press box.
3Com and NBX are registered trademarks
and More connected.™ is a trademark of 3Com Corporation. All other
company or product names may be trademarks of the respective companies
with which they are associated.
