FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Allen Bush
A&R Partners (415) 363-0982, ext. 228
allen_bush@arpartners.com

SANTA CLARA, Calif., August 4, 1997 -- 3Com Corporation (Nasdaq: COMS) today announced the availability of Microsoft Windows-based development tools for the PalmPilot connected organizer, enabling software developers working in the Windows environment to quickly and easily create applications for the industry-leading PalmPilot handheld computing platform. Currently, over 3,000 developers are creating software for the 3Com PalmPilot product, formerly known as the U.S. Robotics PalmPilot connected organizer, with over 400 software products already available in a wide variety of application areas.

The new Windows programming tools significantly expand the potential market for applications and custom corporate solutions that work with the PalmPilot device.

These new tools, along with the existing PalmPilot development tools for the Macintosh operating system and C, C++, Java and BASIC programming languages, are offered in Metrowerks, Inc.'s popular CodeWarrior for PalmPilot software development kit and several shareware development kits available via the Internet. In addition, forms applications development packages and content creation software are available for the PalmPilot platform.

"We've received an enormous number of requests for Windows-based development tools for the PalmPilot platform, far outweighing the requests for our Mac tools. Given this level of interest, we expect to see the number of developers increase significantly," said Ed Colligan, vice president of marketing for Palm Computing, Inc., the subsidiary of 3Com that designs and markets the PalmPilot handheld computer. "These developers are instrumental in adding to the productivity and value of the platform. Their work will facilitate the continued growth of the PalmPilot platform as a corporate solution and extend its functionality into entirely new areas."

 The Windows tools provide a number of ways for developers to easily and quickly create new PalmPilot compatible software. The Metrowerks CodeWarrior for the PalmPilot software development kit offers a set of easy-to-use tools in an award-winning, integrated development environment complete with project manager, resource and text editors, a debugger, a class browser, and online documentation and tutorials. Feras I nformation Technologies' CASL (Compact Application Solution Language) Tools also provide an intuitive Windows-based integrated development environment. In addition, a collection of shareware tools called the Alternative Software Development Kit (ASDK) offers a PalmPilot emulator for Windows, a code-compiler, and several Windows utilities.

 Developers interested in creating conduits to link desktop applications to the PalmPilot platform can choose between the PalmPilot Conduit software development kit, a C++ Windows tool kit, and RTAccess from the Windward Group. In addition, the JUMP Java shareware development kit affords Java specialists the opportunity to develop either conduits or PalmPilot applications in familiar Java code.

 Software applications that rely on forms for fast, efficient collection of data can be easily written for the PalmPilot platform using forms- and conduit-creation software packages such as PilotForms from Pendragon Software, PenRight! from PenRight! Software and Satellite Forms from SoftMagic. The forms-based solutions allow corporate users to more effectively collect data from the field and synchronize mobile workers with corporate databases.

David Rensin, Practice Area Manager of the Mobile Computing Group of systems integrator Noblestar Systems Corp., uses Satellite Forms to create custom forms-based solutions. "Satellite Forms and the PalmPilot platform allow Noblestar Systems to develop world-class handheld solutions for capturing crucial information from the field. Our customers are mostly large organizations with highly mobile workforces, and they are delighted with their custom PalmPilot solutions," said Rensin.

The PalmPilot platform inspires developers to create entirely new kinds of applications as well. Aegean Associates, Inc.'s OnTap, for example, uses Internet-like hypertext links and varying font types and styles to translate corporate documents into formats ideally suited for the handheld environment. The new Windows tools for the PalmPilot platform are available immediately from Metrowerks (www.metrowerks.com) and Feras Information Technologies (www.caslsoft.com), and via the Website www.massena.com, an aggregation of PalmPilot development tools and developer news. In addition, forms development kits from PilotForms (www.pendragon-software.com) and Satellite Forms (www.softmagic.com), and conduit development kits from 3Com (www.palmpilot.com) and the Windward Group (www.wwg.com) are available immediately.

The award-winning PalmPilot connected organizers, designed as companion products to personal computers, enable mobile users to manage their schedules and personal information both remotely and on their desktops. The PalmPilot HotSync technology enables users to synchronize all of their contact, scheduling, and personal information with a personal computer at the touch of a button. According to leading computer research firms Dataquest and PC Data, the PalmPilot product holds a 51% share of the standard handheld computer market and a 70% share of U.S. retail sell through of PDAs and HPCs. These firms estimate that the market will grow to 2 million units this year and to 5 million units by 2000. For further information, visit the PalmPilot Web site at http://www.palmpilot.com.

3Com Corporation enables individuals and organizations worldwide to communicate and share information and resources at anytime from anywhere. As the world's preeminent supplier of data, voice and video communications technology, 3Com has delivered networking solutions to more than 100 million customers worldwide. With global reach and local touch, the company gives enterprises, network service providers and carriers, small businesses and consumers the most comprehensive, innovative information access products and system solutions for building intelligent, reliable and high performance local and wide area networks. 3Com has worldwide revenues of more than $5.5 billion and employs approximately 13,500 people in 45 countries. For further information, visit 3Com's new World Wide Web site at http://www.3Com.com or call 1-800-NET-3COM.

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3Com and the 3Com logo are registered trademarks, and HotSync, PalmPilot and the PalmPilot logo are trademarks of 3Com Corporation or its subsidiaries. All other brands and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.