The new product family provides ADSL and SDSL service and upgrades allow ISPs to add advanced services, including converged voice and data services, to DSL customers.

by Wayne Kawamoto [September 10, 2001]

3Com Corporation (NASDAQ:COMS) announced its OfficeConnect Gateway family to help service providers and businesses leverage the high speed connections of Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) to offer data and voice access.

According to 3Com, its OfficeConnect Gateway allows service providers to advance the deployment of voice and data services to businesses over existing phone lines. 3Com's gateways may be implemented for efficient data-only connections or scaled for voice by the simple addition of the voice expansion unit.

At the same time, 3Com says it is enabling businesses users to cut costs by converging their voice and data networks, using DSL technology, yet still benefitting from the same quality that they are accustomed to. These connections should enable businesses to easily share information and allow secure access to company data using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). Unlike other DSL solutions, 3Com does not require a customer to purchase additional equipment in order to enjoy the benefits of VPNs, but instead has built the functionality directly into the OfficeConnect Gateway.

These new products join 3Com's existing DSL solutions, which should enable service providers to offer advanced services and ultimately meet the needs of small businesses, enterprise branch offices and teleworkers. 3Com also introduced the OfficeConnect Remote 612 ADSL Router, a data-only router that provides economical Internet and LAN connectivity.

The new gateway family offers voice capabilities, secure connections, scalability with 3Com's networked telephony solution, and interoperability with major DSLAM and voice gateway suppliers.

3Com says its new gateway offers the following advantages.

• The 3Com gateway solution enables service providers to give businesses the support of up to 12 toll-quality telephone lines.
• By making advanced Virtual Private Network (VPN) capabilities, the new OfficeConnect Gateways enable a service provider to offer secure connections for employees, suppliers and customers over the public Internet.
• 3Com's solution provides the flexibility to easily add voice lines as the company grows and businesses can further expand their voice solutions by connecting the 3Com NBX, a communications system providing voice connections for up to 100 users, to the OfficeConnect Gateway.
• The OfficeConnect Gateway has broad compatibility with major DSLAM vendors and is interoperable with leading Voice Gateways including Jetstream, CopperCom, as well as ATM Forum LES 1.0 compliant gateways including Tdsoft and MetaSwitch.

"The new value proposition that we have developed for service providers to offer to businesses is outstanding, creating new business growth opportunities and cost savings for all parties involved," said Roger Sands, business line manager for the Business Access Solutions Division in 3Com's Business Networks Company. "We have developed a unique set of business class data and voice routers that are expected to help speed up the adoption of voice and data services based on DSL, which is the most cost-effective way for businesses to connect to the Internet and make phone calls."

"The market for VoDSL services will begin a new stage of growth over the next several months," said Teresa Mastrangelo, an analyst with communications research and consulting firm RHK. "The technology has matured and vendors are beginning to prove they can deliver the right mix of solutions and price points to help service providers accelerate the adoption of VoDSL services by business customers."

Pricing and availability

The OfficeConnect Gateway for ADSL is now available worldwide while the OfficeConnect Gateway for SHDSL and the OfficeConnect 612 ADSL Router will be available on October 12, 2001. Software will require Windows 95 or later PC with a CD-ROM drive.

The OfficeConnect Gateway ADSL Data is priced at $599 (U.S. list) while the OfficeConnect Gateway ADSL Data and Voice is priced at $799 (U.S. list).

The OfficeConnect Gateway SHDSL Data is priced at $699 (U.S. list) and the OfficeConnect Gateway SHDSL Data and Voice is priced at $899 (U.S. list).

The OfficeConnect Gateway Voice Expansion is priced at $799 (U.S. list) and is compatible with both ADSL and SHDSL connections.

The OfficeConnect Remote 612 ADSL router is priced at $329 (U.S. list).

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