3COM

Founded in 1979 by Robert Metcalfe, 3COM was a manufacturer of computer modems, network cards, PC cards, servers, hubs, PalmPilots, and other computer components. The company also purchased U.S. Robotics, another popular manufacturer of modems at the time and owner of Palm.

3Com provided network interface controllers and switches, routers, wireless access points and controllers, IP voice systems, and intrusion prevention systems. 3Com mainly manufactures local area network switches, routers, firewalls that safeguard enterprise networks and data centers, IP storage area network and integrated surveillance solutions, and network administration and access management software. 3Com serves various industries, including education, finance, government, health care, insurance, and manufacturing.

On April 12, 2010, Hewlett-Packard completed the acquisition of 3Com. HP integrated 3Com’s network switching, routing and security solutions with its existing HP ProCurve solutions, creating a comprehensive portfolio for customers.