3Com
A former American computer-networking manufacturer best known for commercializing Ethernet connectivity and supplying enterprise, small-business, and consumer networking products.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
3Com Corporation was an American digital-electronics and computer-networking company founded in 1979 by Robert Metcalfe, Howard Charney, and other co-founders. Its name was derived from “Computer Communication Compatibility,” reflecting the company’s emphasis on interoperable computer communications and Ethernet, the local-area networking technology Metcalfe had helped develop at Xerox PARC. The business began by turning Ethernet concepts into practical products, especially network-interface cards and related equipment for early personal computers and workstations. It later expanded into hubs, bridges, routers, switches, network-management software, wireless products, security systems, and voice-over-IP platforms. During the 1980s, 3Com helped establish Ethernet as a practical networking standard for offices and institutional users. Its EtherLink adapters supported a range of computer systems, while software and server products such as 3+Share, 3+Mail, and 3Server provided file sharing, printing, electronic mail, routing, and terminal-emulation functions. The 1987 merger with Bridge Communications broadened the company’s portfolio into communication servers, XNS routers, bridges, and other enterprise equipment. Further acquisitions added networking technologies and regional market access. 3Com became a public company in 1984 and grew into a major supplier of local-area-network infrastructure. Its product families included Ethernet adapters, SuperStack switches and hubs, OfficeConnect products for smaller offices, and later wireless, security, IP-telephony, and network-management systems. The 1997 combination with U.S. Robotics gave 3Com modem, dial-up-access, consumer-networking, and Palm handheld-computing assets. Although the transaction expanded the company’s technology portfolio, the subsequent diversification was later criticized as strategic competition intensified and several markets weakened. The company made a major strategic retreat from high-end core routing and switching in 2000, discontinuing or transferring products including CoreBuilder, PathBuilder, and NetBuilder. It instead emphasized consumer and small-business networking, OfficeConnect, SuperStack, HomeConnect, NBX voice systems, and Total Control access products. This withdrawal reduced its momentum with large enterprise and carrier customers. At the same time, the spread of built-in network interfaces reduced demand for 3Com’s historically important add-in network cards, contributing to restructurings, divestitures, and substantial workforce reductions. 3Com later sought renewed international and enterprise growth through its relationship with Huawei. A 2003 Huawei-3Com joint venture, known as H3C, gave the company a stronger presence in China and supplied products under the H3C and 3Com names. In 2007, 3Com purchased Huawei’s remaining interest in H3C. A proposed 2007 acquisition by Bain Capital, involving minority financing from Huawei, failed after United States regulatory and national-security concerns. 3Com was ultimately acquired by Hewlett-Packard for $2.7 billion in cash. The transaction closed on April 12, 2010, ending 3Com’s existence as an independent public company. Following HP’s later corporate restructuring and acquisition of Aruba Networks, the remaining networking business was absorbed into HPE’s networking operations, and 3Com ceased to function as an independent market identity.
History
3Com’s origins lay in Ethernet research at Xerox PARC. Robert Metcalfe joined PARC in 1972 after studying networking systems such as ALOHAnet and, with David Boggs, developed early Ethernet implementations. By the mid-1970s the work had produced a functioning wired-networking concept and later contributed to Xerox Network Systems. Metcalfe left Xerox in 1979 after concluding that the technology was not being commercially developed, and he co-founded 3Com with Howard Charney and others. The new company initially concentrated on Ethernet adapters for early computer systems, including DEC machines, Sun workstations, and IBM PCs. It expanded its offering with software and PC-based products for file sharing, printing, messaging, routing, IBM-host emulation, and LAN administration. The EtherSeries and 3+ families helped position 3Com as a supplier of complete small and medium-sized network environments rather than merely a component manufacturer. Its 1984 public offering provided capital for continued growth. A 1987 merger with Bridge Communications expanded the company into communication servers, bridges, XNS routers, X.25 gateways, and network-control software. During the 1990s, acquisitions including BICC Data Networks, Chipcom, and other networking companies broadened the portfolio. 3Com also became visible outside the technology sector when it secured naming rights to San Francisco’s Candlestick Park in 1995, an agreement that ended in 2002. The 1997 merger with U.S. Robotics was a turning point. It added Sportster and Courier modems, Total Control access servers, consumer products, and Palm. The modem and dial-up businesses were significant during the Internet-access expansion, but their prospects deteriorated as broadband replaced dial-up. 3Com also attempted to enter DSL and consumer smart appliances. Its acquisition of Kerbango in 2000 led to the Audrey Internet appliance, which was promoted publicly but discontinued along with Kerbango products in less than a year. Palm was spun off in 2000, and U.S. Robotics was again separated as an independent company. In March 2000, 3Com announced a withdrawal from high-end core routers and switches. CoreBuilder, PathBuilder, and NetBuilder products were discontinued or transferred to other companies. The move redirected resources toward HomeConnect, OfficeConnect, SuperStack, NBX, and Total Control. However, it also weakened the company’s position with large enterprise and carrier accounts. Built-in Ethernet functionality in new computers further eroded the add-in network-interface-card business, leading to layoffs and the sale or closure of multiple divisions. 3Com moved its headquarters from Santa Clara to Marlborough in 2003 and established Huawei-3Com, or H3C, with Huawei. H3C strengthened the company’s Chinese presence and supported a broader enterprise networking portfolio. In 2003, 3Com sold its CommWorks subsidiary to UTStarcom. In 2005 it acquired TippingPoint, adding intrusion-prevention technology. In 2007, 3Com bought Huawei’s remaining H3C interest for $882 million, obtaining full ownership of the venture. Leadership and strategy remained unsettled. Bruce Claflin served as chief executive until 2006, followed briefly by R. Scott Murray, who resigned over concerns he associated with Huawei’s business ethics and potential cybersecurity risks. Edgar Masri returned as chief executive, but left in 2008 after the failed Bain transaction. Robert Mao then became chief executive, with Ron Sege as president and chief operating officer. The company reported fiscal 2008 revenue of $1.3 billion and more than 6,000 employees, but its independent future remained uncertain. On November 11, 2009, Hewlett-Packard announced a $2.7 billion cash acquisition of 3Com. The transaction closed on April 12, 2010. After HP later separated into HP Inc. and Hewlett Packard Enterprise and acquired Aruba Networks, the former 3Com networking operations were integrated into HPE’s networking business. The 3Com name consequently disappeared as an independent corporate brand.
- 2010
Acquisition completed
[1]Hewlett-Packard completes the purchase on April 12, 2010.
- 2009
HP acquisition announced
[1]Hewlett-Packard announces a $2.7 billion all-cash acquisition of 3Com.
- 2007
Full ownership of H3C
[1]3Com buys Huawei’s remaining interest in H3C for $882 million.
- 2005
TippingPoint acquisition
[1]3Com acquires TippingPoint and adds intrusion-prevention and network-security products.
- 2003
H3C venture and headquarters move
[1]3Com moves its headquarters to Marlborough and forms Huawei-3Com while expanding in China.
- 2000
Core-networking withdrawal
[1]3Com exits high-end core router and switch markets and refocuses on selected product families.
- 1997
U.S. Robotics merger
[1]3Com combines with U.S. Robotics, acquiring modem, access-server, consumer, and Palm-related businesses.
- 1987
Bridge Communications merger
[1]The merger broadens 3Com’s enterprise communications and routing portfolio.
- 1984
Initial public offering
[1]3Com becomes a publicly traded company.
- 1981
Bill Krause joins as president
[1]Bill Krause becomes president and later leads the company as chief executive.
Products and positioning
Ethernet, enterprise LAN, small-business networking, and network-connectivity infrastructure supplier
Ethernet network-interface cards
EtherLink
One of 3Com’s foundational product families, EtherLink adapters connected personal computers and workstations to Ethernet local-area networks. The line supported several computer platforms and helped establish 3Com’s early identity as an Ethernet hardware supplier.
Stackable switches and hubs
SuperStack
A widely recognized family of stackable Ethernet networking equipment for enterprise and institutional LANs. SuperStack products provided progressively faster and more manageable switching and connectivity capabilities as organizations moved from shared Ethernet toward switched networks.
Small-business networking
OfficeConnect
A product family designed for small businesses, branch offices, and other less complex environments. OfficeConnect equipment addressed basic switching, connectivity, and network-extension needs with a simpler positioning than 3Com’s larger enterprise systems.
Consumer networking and peripherals
HomeConnect
A consumer-oriented line that included networking products and USB webcams with associated software. It represented 3Com’s effort to extend its connectivity expertise beyond corporate LAN infrastructure.
IP telephony · 1999
NBX
An Ethernet-based business telephone system acquired from NBX in 1999. The platform used IP networking and supported voice-over-IP functions for small and medium-sized organizations, helping make networked telephony practical through 3Com’s distribution channels.
Enterprise IP telephony
VCX
A 3Com voice platform based on IP and Session Initiation Protocol technologies. VCX complemented the NBX line by addressing broader enterprise telephony and computer-telephony-integration requirements.
Network security · 2005
TippingPoint
A network-security product line obtained through 3Com’s acquisition of TippingPoint in 2005. Its intrusion-prevention systems extended 3Com’s portfolio beyond connectivity into active protection and security monitoring.
Dial-up access servers
Total Control
A carrier-oriented access-server family associated with U.S. Robotics and later marketed by 3Com as Total Control 1000. It supported service-provider dial-up infrastructure during the expansion of Internet access, before the market shifted toward broadband.
Enterprise switches and routers · 2003
H3C networking systems
Enterprise networking products developed and marketed through Huawei-3Com and later fully owned by 3Com. The portfolio included fixed and modular switches, routers, wireless products, and related infrastructure, with particular importance in China and other international markets.
Marketing campaigns
- 2000Audrey consumer appliance promotion
United States
Following its acquisition of Kerbango, 3Com promoted the Audrey Internet appliance as part of an attempt to enter the consumer smart-appliance market. The product received public exposure, including an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Outcome. Audrey and the Kerbango products were discontinued in less than a year.
- 1995Candlestick Park naming-rights agreement
United States
3Com entered an agreement to pay for naming rights to San Francisco’s Candlestick Park, increasing public visibility for the technology company outside its core industry. The arrangement ended in 2002.
Outcome. Agreement ended in 2002.
Brand decisions
2009
Agree to Hewlett-Packard acquisitionM&ABackground
After years of strategic retrenchment and restructuring, 3Com pursued a corporate sale.
Action taken
Hewlett-Packard announced an all-cash agreement to acquire 3Com for $2.7 billion.
Aftermath
The transaction closed in April 2010 and 3Com ceased operating as an independent company.
Acquisition value. $2.7 billion (Announced November 11, 2009; completed April 12, 2010)
2007
Acquire Huawei’s remaining H3C stakeM&ABackground
3Com sought greater control over the Huawei-3Com business and its growing Chinese enterprise-networking presence.
Action taken
3Com purchased Huawei’s 49 percent interest and obtained full ownership of H3C.
Aftermath
H3C became a wholly owned 3Com business and an important part of the company’s international enterprise portfolio.
Acquisition consideration. $882 million (2007)
2007
Bain Capital buyout proposalM&ABackground
Bain Capital proposed acquiring 3Com with minority equity financing from Huawei, but the proposed ownership structure raised United States national-security and regulatory concerns.
Action taken
3Com agreed to the proposed $2.2 billion transaction, but the deal was abandoned in early 2008 after regulatory opposition.
Aftermath
The failed transaction preceded Edgar Masri’s departure and left 3Com seeking another strategic outcome.
Proposed acquisition value. $2.2 billion (2007 proposal; abandoned in 2008)
2000
Withdraw from high-end core networkingStrategyBackground
3Com faced intensifying competition and decided to leave the high-end core-router and core-switch segments.
Action taken
The company discontinued CoreBuilder, PathBuilder, and NetBuilder lines and transferred related customers or products to Extreme Networks and Motorola.
Aftermath
The move concentrated resources on consumer, small-business, access, and selected enterprise lines but weakened 3Com’s position with large enterprise and carrier customers.
2000
Spin off PalmOtherBackground
Palm had become a distinct business within 3Com after the U.S. Robotics combination.
Action taken
3Com spun Palm off as an independent public company while retaining a large ownership stake initially.
Aftermath
The transaction highlighted the market’s valuation of Palm and increased pressure on 3Com’s broader corporate strategy.
Recent events
- 2010
Hewlett-Packard completes 3Com acquisition[1]
M&A
The acquisition closed on April 12, ending 3Com’s independent corporate existence.
- 2009
Hewlett-Packard agrees to acquire 3Com[1]
M&A
Hewlett-Packard announced an all-cash agreement to purchase 3Com for $2.7 billion.
- 2008
Bain Capital acquisition proposal collapses[1]
M&A · Regulation
A proposed $2.2 billion buyout involving minority financing from Huawei failed after United States regulatory and national-security concerns.
- 2003
3Com forms Huawei-3Com venture[1]
M&A
The venture expanded 3Com’s presence in China and created a platform for products sold under the H3C and 3Com brands.
- 2000
3Com exits high-end core routing and switching[1]
Product generation
The company discontinued or transferred major CoreBuilder, PathBuilder, and NetBuilder lines while refocusing on other product families.
- 2000
3Com acquires Kerbango[1]
M&A · Product launch
3Com bought the Internet-radio startup and developed the Audrey consumer appliance, but discontinued the Kerbango and Audrey products within about a year.
- 1997
3Com combines with U.S. Robotics[1]
M&A
The combination added modem, access-server, consumer-networking, and Palm handheld-computing businesses.
- 1987
3Com merges with Bridge Communications[1]
M&A
The transaction expanded 3Com into communication servers, bridges, routers, and related enterprise networking systems.
- 1984
3Com becomes a public company[1]
Other
3Com completed its initial public offering, supporting its expansion as an Ethernet and local-area-networking supplier.
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