For more information, contact:
Doug Picker
Symbol Technologies
(516) 738-4699
picker@symbol.com

Maria Amundson
A&R Partners for 3Com Corp.
(650) 363-0982, ext. 212
maria_amundson@arpartners.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

3Com and Symbol Team to Deliver Vertical Market Handheld Computing Solutions Based on PalmPilot™ Platform

Santa Clara, Calif., October 15, 1997 - 3Com Corporation (Nasdaq: COMS) and Symbol Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: SBL) of Holtsville, NY today announced a strategic alliance to deliver advanced handheld computing solutions based on the market-leading PalmPilot platform for a wide variety of vertical market applications.

The two companies have signed a letter of intent to enter into a licensing agreement whereby Symbol will license the 3Com PalmPilot platform and components of the PalmPilot product technology to create new handheld computing products. Symbol will leverage its expertise in wireless communications, scanning, imaging and rugged computer design technologies to develop, manufacture, market and sell these products to address growing market demand for handheld solutions in a number of markets, including retail, transportation, distribution, logistics, parcel and postal delivery, manufacturing, health care and other industries. "Symbol is the global leader in wireless data transaction systems, bar code data capture and vertical handheld solutions. It is the ideal partner for 3Com in extending the PalmPilot platform into the many vertical markets that rely on these capabilities," said Donna Dubinsky, 3Com vice president and general manager of the company's Palm Computing Division. "For 3Com, this represents another major step forward in our strategy of forging best-of-breed relationships with key industry leaders to address the largest handheld solutions opportunities. We're delighted to be working with Symbol."

Ron Goldman, vice president mobile and wireless systems for Symbol Technologies, said "Demand for highly portable handheld products is growing rapidly in all of our key markets, and Symbol recognizes the potential of the PalmPilot platform for delivering the kinds of products needed to address this demand. We have witnessed the broad success of the PalmPilot handheld organizers and can envision a number of ways to leverage its portability, speed, ease-of-use and powerful development environment to create Symbol solutions specific to the needs of our customers."

The PalmPilot platform is an open software architecture for handheld computing that provides an ideal basis for third-party developers to create and deliver successful mobile computing solutions. The platform consists of four primary components for which developers can write applications: the PalmPilot device operating system, called the Palm OS; the HotSync conduit data synchronization technology; the PalmPilot communications layer; and the software interface capabilities to support other hardware devices. Today, more than 3,000 developers are creating software solutions for the PalmPilot platform, while hundreds of software applications, developer tools and services are already available.

ABOUT SYMBOL
Symbol Technologies is the world leader in bar code-driven data transaction systems with more than five million scanners and hand-held computers installed. The company designs, manufactures and markets bar code scanning equipment, application-specific hand-held computers and radio frequency data communications products and systems that are used as strategic building blocks in solutions for retail, manufacturing, package and parcel delivery, warehousing and distribution, health care and other industries.

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 $6.0 billion and employs approximately 13,200 people in 45 countries. For further information, visit 3Com's World Wide Web site at http://www.3Com.com or the PalmPilot product site at http://www.palmpilot.com.
# # #

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.