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

Kim Morningstar
Certicom Corp.
(905) 507-4220 or
1-800-561-6100 (in the U.S.)
kmorning@certicom.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

3Com® and Certicom Team to Deliver Advanced Security for PalmPilot™ Organizers and Palm Computing Platform Applications

Santa Clara, Calif., January 13, 1998 - 3Com Corporation (Nasdaq: COMS) and Certicom Corp., a leading provider of cryptographic security technologies, today announced that they have entered into an agreement for Certicom to provide data security technologies based on Certicom's implementation of an advanced security technology called Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) for use in future versions of 3Com's market-leading PalmPilot connected organizer and the Palm Computing platform.

Security is a critical function for handheld computing products like the PalmPilot organizer, IBM WorkPad PC Companion, Franklin Electronic Day Planner and others that are compatible with the Palm Computing platform. Certicom's industry-leading implementation of ECC technology offers standards-based security levels in the industry's highest performance, most compact and most cost-effective solution, providing these products with strong protection of confidential information and user authentication in electronic commerce and network and wireless communications. By also providing data integrity and proof of transaction, these kinds of capabilities protect businesses and consumers alike.

"Certicom is an ideal partner to help us extend the Palm Computing platform into the next generation of mobile applications and services," said Donna Dubinsky, 3Com vice president and president of Palm Computing, a subsidiary of 3Com Corporation. "They share our vision for the future of portable computing, and they have extensive expertise in designing security capabilities for small form-factor solutions. We look forward to working closely with Certicom to deliver a number of key product and platform services."

Certicom president and CEO Philip Deck added, "The PalmPilot organizer is one of the best examples of success in the mobile computing industry today. The potential of the Palm Computing platform to extend into new areas is enormous, especially with the exceptional support it has won in the developer community. Certicom is delighted to team with 3Com in this effort."Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC), widely recognized as the next generation in security technology, provides higher levels of security at smaller key sizes than any other known public-key cryptographic system. Certicom's unique implementation of ECC provides the compact security, high processing efficiency and broad platform support that the portable computing market demands. Certicom's approach significantly increases the data throughput and reduces demand on resources that are critical to today's wireless and wireline networks.

The Palm Computing platform is an open 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 device operating system, called the Palm OS; the HotSync conduit data synchronization technology; the reference hardware design; and the software interface capabilities to support hardware add-ons. Today, more than 3,500 developers are creating software solutions for the Palm Computing platform, while hundreds of software applications, developer tools and services are already available.

ABOUT CERTICOM
Certicom is a leading provider of cryptographic technologies for computing and communications companies. Vendors of electronic commerce and digital communications products are integrating and deploying Certicom's core technology, the Certicom Elliptic Curve Engine, across a wide range of operating environments and devices to build the strongest, most efficient security into software, smart card and wireless applications. As information security architects, Certicom's teams of engineers and developers provide comprehensive OEM solutions, from advanced cryptographic implementations to consulting for systems integration and development support. Certicom's cryptographic research and product development is based in Toronto, Canada, with sales and marketing operations in San Mateo, Calif. Certicom shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "CIC". For more information, visit Certicom's web site at www.certicom.com.

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 www.3com.com or the PalmPilot product site at www.palmpilot.com.

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3Com, the 3Com logo and Palm Computing are registered trademarks, and PalmPilot, the PalmPilot logo, HotSync and Palm OS are trademarks of 3Com Corporation or its subsidiaries. The PalmPilot product is not manufactured by the Pilot Corporation or Pilot Corporation of America, manufacturers and distributors of writing instruments. Certicom, Certicom Elliptic Curve Engine, and Security Builder are trademarks or registered trademarks of Certicom Corp. All other brands and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.