AT&T Wireless, Metrowerks, Motorola, Novatel, Unwired Planet, others sponsor milestone event for developers, integrators and resellers of PalmPilot platform solutions

SANTA CLARA, Calif., September 29, 1997 -- In response to broad industry support for the market-leading PalmPilot handheld computing platform, 3Com Corporation (Nasdaq: COMS) will host the first 3Com PalmPilot Developer Conference October 14-17 in San Francisco's Center for the Arts Yerba Buena Gardens. 3Com created the conference to help PalmPilot solution providers, system integrators, value added resellers (VARs) and corporate customers maximize their business and technology opportunities in the burgeoning handheld computing marketplace. Top executives of the Palm Computing subsidiary of 3Com will deliver keynote addresses, as well as industry leaders Robert Amezcua of IBM Global Mobile Solutions and Stewart Alsop of New Venture associates. The opening day of the conference will feature a special broadcast message from 3Com president and CEO Eric Benhamou.

The conference will offer attendees a comprehensive series of seminars, covering key issues in business development and technology. The business development track will include sessions on mobile enterprise markets, opportunities for wireless solutions, enterprise database access and other business and marketing topics. The technical track will cover topics in software and hardware development, PalmPilot user interface design and other PalmPilot architecture, tools and training and programming issues, with hands-on development labs. All seminars will be led by experts from the 3Com PalmPilot product development team and third-party experts who have developed tools for the PalmPilot platform. In addition, a PalmPilot Innovator Showcase will demonstrate a compelling selection of handheld solutions and tools currently available from third-party developer partners.

"With over 3,000 PalmPilot software development kits in use and hundreds of PalmPilot applications and hardware add-ons already available, the PalmPilot platform clearly has a solid foundation within the mobile and handheld computing developer community. This tremendous support has helped lead the PalmPilot connected organizer into the enterprise as a foundation for broad-based corporate solutions," said Ed Colligan, vice president of marketing for the Palm Computing subsidiary of 3Com. "This conference provides an ideal forum for our partners to work closely with each other and with the 3Com team to exchange ideas, explore possibilities, and help maximize partner opportunities in the handheld solutions market."

"IBM clearly realizes the need for PC companion mobile solutions in a broad range of industries, especially health care, banking and finance and insurance," said Robert Amezcua, vice president of the Global Mobile Solutions Group of IBM Corp. "With our recently released IBM WorkPad product, an IBM-branded PalmPilot product, IBM values the ongoing support and success of the PalmPilot solution developer community. We welcome the opportunity to participate in the conference and to work closely with these partners to help extend the opportunities for world-class enterprise mobile solutions."

3Com PalmPilot Developer Conference sponsors include AT&T Wireless, Aportis Technologies, Metrowerks, Motorola, Noblestar Systems, Novatel, Quality Partners, Unwired Planet, and the Windward Group. In a related announcement, 3Com today introduced the 3Com PalmPilot Solution Provider Program. This program offers developers and VARs a broad range of benefits, including technical support and training options, access to on-line forums, special development and testing product offers, event and other co-marketing options, electronic and catalog promotion and joint sales call support.

With the increasingly mobile, global nature of information management in the enterprise, handheld computers represent the next wave in corporate computing. Companies need their field workforces and other mobile workers to have fast, easy and highly portable connectivity with critical information resident on enterprise networks. Hundreds of major companies and organizations, including Charles Schwab, Coca Cola, Dell Computer, Nissan Motor Corp., Oracle, Sprint Corporation and the U.S. Senate, have addressed this need with the PalmPilot handheld device.

The PalmPilot platform consists of four open components for which developers can write applications: the Palm OS operating system; the HotSync conduit data synchronization technology; the PalmPilot communications layer; and software interface capabilities to enable other hardware device add-ons.

Registration Information
Interested parties can register for the PalmPilot Developer Conference via Web, phone or mail. Use the online form at www.palmpilot.com to register immediately. Refer to the PalmPilot Developer Conference communication information below for registration via phone or mail. Conference fees are $695 US dollars if paid on or before September 30, 1997, and $795 US dollars on or after October 1, 1997. For more information on the Developer Conference, PalmPilot Solution Providers Program or the PalmPilot product, visit http://www.palmpilot.com or call 1-800-279-3666 in the U.S. or Canada.

ABOUT 3COM
3Com Corporation enables individuals and organizations worldwide to communicate and share information and resources at anytime from anywhere. As one of the world's preeminent suppliers 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 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 $5.6 billion and employs approximately 13,000 people in 45 countries. For further information, visit 3Com's World Wide Web site at http://www.3com.com.

PalmPilot Developer Conference registration information:

To register by phone: (800) 279-3666

To register by e-mail: palmpilotreg@batnet.com

To register on the Web: http://www.palmpilot.com

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3Com and the 3Com logo are registered trademarks, and PalmPilot, Palm OS, HotSync 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.