3Com unveils breakthrough Internet appliance experience

Delivering on the promise of providing radical simplicity and convenience for consumers, 3Com Corporation today introduced Audrey, a breakthrough Internet appliance created for the kitchen, living room or "nerve centre" of any home. Audrey, with one-touch access to email, Internet channels, a household calendar, address book and Palm HotSync technology, debuts as the first in 3Com`s Ergo line of lifestyle-centered connected appliances.

"Audrey marks 3Com`s entrance into a virtually untapped high-growth consumer market and represents 3Com`s strategic focus on providing radical simplicity to the consumer," said Eric Benhamou, chairman and CEO of 3Com Corporation.

Audrey, a connected appliance that works with multiple ISPs, enables intuitive information access, communication and organization for entire households in three easy ways:

• Convenient and immediate access to favorite pre-selected Internet content is as easy as changing the channel on a television. Simply scroll through the content with a turn of Audrey`s channel selector knob.

• Staying in touch through email has never been easier. Scribble a hand-written message, type or speak a message and send with the tap of a stylus.

• Keep track of individual and family plans, appointments and special events on the family calendar; and, if desired, synchronize with two Palm-compatible handheld organizers.

Recognizing true convenience as the key to a competitive leadership position, 3Com conducted in-home research on how families work and live and how they want technology to work for them. The Ergo (pronounced "air-go") products, named for a Latin term meaning "therefore," represent the best of the Internet in a convenient and intuitive way.

"The Audrey experience allows consumers to spend less time with technology and more time doing the things they really want to do," said Don Fotsch, vice president and general manager of 3Com`s Internet Appliance Division. "Our focus is to remove the complexity associated with accessing information on the Internet. Just like flipping a light switch, or turning on the radio, simply turn Audrey`s dial and the information is there. Accessing postal code-specific weather, for example, is a virtually instant experience with Audrey."

Tune to Favorite Internet Channels with a Twist of the Dial 3Com`s lifestyle research revealed that people want immediate access to specific information such as news, sports and weather. By turning Audrey`s channel selector knob, preferred Internet channels scroll across the bottom of the screen as if on a filmstrip. Audrey arrives out-of-the-box preset with the following basic channels:

• News - ABCNEWS.com

• Weather - AccuWeather.com

• Sports - ESPN.com

• Stock quotes/Financial News - CBS MarketWatch.com

• Entertainment - Mr. Showbiz

People can customize some of the basic channels to meet personal information needs such as local weather information or stock quotes. In addition to these basic channels, consumers can also select six additional channels from a growing list of lifestyle-oriented Internet content and e-commerce providers. Credit card and shipping information can be kept securely on file, allowing consumers to order Chinese take-out, purchase sunscreen for a weekend trip or buy a couple of CDs online at the turn of the dial. New channels will regularly become available as partners sign up with 3Com to offer specialized content for Audrey customers. For those who wish to print an email or Internet information, two USB ports on Audrey are available to connect a new Bubble Jet printer from Canon Computer Systems Inc.

Quick, easy email

Audrey provides an intuitive, on-the-fly email experience. Touch the "Mail" button at the bottom of the screen for three convenient input options-type, speak or scribble a handwritten message. When docked in the top of the unit, Audrey`s stylus flashes green when new email arrives.

Coordinated Family Calendar

Audrey replaces the clutter and chaos of the typical family refrigerator calendaring and messaging system. For the first time ever, two individual Palm datebooks can synchronize into a single, color-coded household calendar. To make planning a breeze, daily weather forecasts appear on the calendar at the push of a button. A shared family address book can be similarly created using HotSync technology.

Everything but the Kitchen Sync

• Keep existing ISP and email address with Audrey; no designated service contract is required. An AT&T WorldNet Service, the preferred ISP for Audrey users, allows an account to be instantly created for users without an ISP or for those whose ISP is not compatible with Audrey.

• Play tunes from the Internet using Real Audio, or replay a voice email over Audrey`s stereo speakers.

• Audrey features a built in V.90 56K modem and can be set to dial into the Internet several times per day to refresh its Internet channels and download new email. Cable or DSL (broadband) users may connect Audrey with an Audrey-specific Ethernet adapter.

• For typing, Audrey has a small, infrared keyboard that hangs neatly on the back of the device when not in use.

• Two Palm organizers can synchronize with Audrey`s shared family calendar.

• Audrey is powered by the QNX operating system fused with Palm HotSync technology and 3Com designed software features.

• Audrey receives system software upgrades transparently and automatically over the Internet using Marimba`s Castanet technology to simplify the experience.

• For creative color coordination with other appliances in the home, Audrey is available in five colors: ocean, meadow, sunshine, linen and slate.

• A snapshot of a Web page can be instantly inserted into email by simply highlighting it with the stylus and attaching it into an outgoing message.

• Additional buttons to the right of the screen activate a family datebook, address book, actions palette and Web browser.

Pricing, availability and warranty

Audrey is available in the United States for an estimated street price starting at $499.

Connected appliance market

According to Cahners In-Stat, the five-year growth rate for total worldwide Line-Powered Internet Appliances is a very healthy 73 percent. (Cahners In-Stat, February 2000) "Audrey is very user friendly, while the dial gives it a `familiar` feel to a TV or radio. The note scribbling feature is a super, personalized way of sending or leaving a message, and is as easy as grabbing a piece of paper and writing on it," said Joyce Putscher, director at In-Stat`s Consumer & Convergence Group.

3Com`s Digital Home

3Com`s vision of a digital home is one that connects family members to each other and to important information - both within and outside the home. Based on real-life consumer needs for Internet connectivity, the digital home parlays 3Com`s acknowledged expertise in networking computers and enriches consumers` lifestyles with simple, reliable and innovative products. Encompassing a wide variety of available products, 3Com is the only company that provides every connectivity element required by digital home members - such as cable and DSL modems, home network products, Internet appliances and PC WebCams.