Access Media International (AMI) declares 3com the #1 Small Business Networking Brand

3Com Corporation has announced that US-based research and consulting firm Access Media International (AMI), finds 3Com`s products and services "excellent" for the second year in its just-released Small Business Market Opportunity study. The 1999 small business study shows 3Com #1 in all three categories for brand preference in front of Cisco Systems, Nortel Networks and Ascend: designing products specifically for small businesses, product performance and service and support.

The AMI study also finds that small businesses have greatly increased LAN networking and Internet/Web applications this year. The report shows:

• 24% growth in LAN connected PCs with 13.4 million,

• 52% growth in LANs with 2.1 million,

• 44% growth in Internet access with 3.61 million, 71% increase in Web sites with 1.37 million and 23% growth in e-commerce with .49 million.

"3Com is the clear leader in small business networking," says Andy Bose, president and CEO, AMI. "Our 1999 study reaffirms 3Com`s long-standing position as the top networking vendor designing high-performing products that align with small business technology applications and are offered with a comprehensive service and support package."

"The AMI 1999 Small Business study signals 3Com`s victory in networking small businesses - the research clearly shows that 3Com is the first choice for small businesses," says 3Com SA`s product marketing manager, Gavin Levin. "We`re focused on developing and delivering innovative, reliable products that are easy-to-use. Our products are designed specifically for small business data and voice networks that connect business owners to the information and the people they need to succeed."

AMI 1999 Small Business Market Opportunities Study

3Com ranked #1 in all three 1999 categories for networking brand preference. The three categories were product performance at 30% (Cisco 20%, Ascend 6%, Nortel did not rank); designs small business-specific products at 23% (Cisco at 8%, Ascend at 4%, Nortel Networks at 1%); and service/support at 11% (Cisco 9%, Ascend at 6%, Nortel Networks did not rank).

3Com in the Small Business Networking Market

Levin says that 3Com earned its leadership position it has held since 1996 by delivering the right innovations through traditional channel partners and expanding to new PC OEM partners such as Gateway and Micron and new small business distributors.

"These relationships continue to extend 3Com`s worldwide reach for its small business networking solutions and give users a variety of ways to purchase - either through small business VARs, PC OEMs or computer stores/retail outlets," he says.

According to AMI`s report, 64% of small businesses in 1999 purchased networking equipment from VARs and local computer dealers and 72% of small businesses planning to implement a LAN in the next 12 months say they expect to purchase future networking equipment from VARs and local computer stores and 34% from retailers.

With its award-winning OfficeConnect and SuperStack II product lines, 3Com delivers the broadest solution set for LAN, WAN and remote access networking for small and growing businesses, says Levin.

"Small businesses can network their PCs for printer/file sharing and gain access to the Internet for Web presence, email and e-commerce for cost-effective and reliable communications made simple," says Levin.

Building on this solid foundation, 3Com markets and has more than 400 small businesses around the world deploying NBX 100 converged networking solutions -- networking combining data, voice and video - that give small businesses the competitive edge, making them more connected and helping build their success.