3Com and Computer Associates Extend Enterprise Data to the Palm Computing Platform

The Original Press Release

3Com and Computer Associates Extend Enterprise Data to the Palm Computing Platform

NEW ORLEANS — April 28, 1998 — Collaboration Unites Industry-Leading Enterprise Data Access And Information Management Solutions With World-Leading Handheld Computing Platform

Palm Computing, Inc., a 3Com company (NASDAQ:COMS), today announced it is working with Computer Associates International, Inc. (NYSE:CA) to bring mobile connectivity to CA's Harmony line of Information Management Solutions. The integration of the Palm Computing(R) platform and CA's enterprise information solutions will enable people to quickly and easily access information resident in complex corporate networks and legacy enterprise databases via Palm Computing platform products such as the 3Com(R) Palm III(TM) and PalmPilot(TM) Professional Edition connected organizers. This relationship builds on 3Com's strategy to bring a broad range of mobile computing solutions for the enterprise and vertical markets to the industry-leading Palm Computing platform.

The companies will jointly work on extensions to CA's technology for user interface development and deployment that serves the Harmony solution suite. With these extensions, developers can build new applications that put information from enterprise sources onto Palm Computing platform products, including the IBM WorkPad PC companion, the Franklin Covey Electronic Day Planner, and future products from Symbol Technologies in addition to the 3Com Palm III and 3Com PalmPilot Professional Edition connected organizers. Harmony is a comprehensive information infrastructure that allows organizations to exploit new technologies while integrating existing applications and data sources. Unprecedented in its scope, Harmony provides an extensible, vendor-neutral, standards-friendly platform on which CA and other vendors can build durable solutions.

The first CA deliverables in Harmony are Opal(TM), Jasmine(TM), Ingres(TM) II, CA-IDMS(TM) and CA-DATACOM(TM). Mark Bercow, vice president of strategic alliances and platform development for Palm Computing, said, "CA's support of the Palm Computing platform demonstrates the increasingly critical role of mobile connectivity in the enterprise and vertical markets. This alliance will give CA customers portable access to legacy systems and growing information resources from virtually anywhere." The Harmony strategy, introduced at CA-World in New Orleans, represents a comprehensive solution to enterprise information application development needs. "As the development of the Harmony strategy continues, we anticipate integrating Palm Computing platform devices throughout our large client base, and we foresee tremendous benefits across a wide range of vertical industries," said Yogesh Gupta, CA senior vice president of product strategy.

"Our customers require the best possible solutions for mobile information access, the Palm Computing platform is an ideal foundation on which to deliver them." Over 7,000 developers are creating software applications, conduits and hardware add-ons for the Palm Computing platform, with over 1,000 titles and products already available. An open architecture for handheld computing, the Palm Computing platform provides an ideal basis for third-party developers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to create and deliver successful mobile computing solutions. The platform consists of five primary components: the reference hardware design, the device operating system called the Palm OS(TM); the HotSync(R) conduit data synchronization technology; the platform component tools including an applications programming interface (API) that enables developers to write applications; and the software interface capabilities to support hardware add-ons.

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. The company provides large enterprises, small and medium enterprises, carriers and network service providers, and consumers comprehensive, innovative information access products and system solutions for building intelligent, reliable and high performance local and wide area networks. For further information, visit 3Com's World Wide Web site at http://www.3com.com or the press site at http://www.3com.com/pressbox. NOTE TO EDITORS: 3Com, Palm Computing, and HotSync are registered trademarks, and PalmPilot, Palm III, and Palm OS are trademarks of 3Com Corporation. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

CONTACT:
A&R Partners
Allen Bush, 650/363-0982, ext. 228
[email protected]
OR
Palm Computing
Elizabeth Cardinale, 650/237-6390
[email protected]