3Com and Westcon Group to part by mutual agreement

3Com Corporation, a leading provider of secure converged networking (SCN) solutions for enterprises of all sizes, and Westcon Group, an IT distributor specialising in networking technology, solutions for convergence, security and storage, have today announced that they have mutually agreed to terminate their partnership agreement in Australia, expected to take effect by the end of August.

Wendy O’ Keeffe, managing director of Westcon Group in Australia and New Zealand, said, “Westcon Group has enjoyed a successful long-term relationship with 3Com in Australia. As we continue to refine our local and global strategy, it is important that we align our portfolio around key vendors that are both synergistic with our core competencies and deliver consistent growth and profitability for Westcon Group and our channel partners.  We wish 3Com all the very best for the future.” 

“The Westcon Group and 3Com relationship in Australia has been a positive one, and we would like to thank them for their commitment and contribution to us,” said Grant Howe, country manager, 3Com Australia.  “They have made a strategic decision to re-focus their portfolio of offerings, and we feel that it is best for us to jointly terminate the agreement.”

As part of a more focused channel strategy, 3Com Australia is investing additional resources to support and further strengthen its channels in Australia.  It has already begun to dedicate additional channel resources in the country and will announce a new distributor in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, existing 3Com customers can contact 3Com at +61 2 9937 5000 or email to: apr_partnerservices@3com.com for further details.

About Westcon Group

Westcon is the world’s leading specialty distributor of advanced network technology solutions.

Through its Westcon, Comstor and Voda One brands, Westcon Group is a significant sales channel for Cisco, Nortel Networks, Avaya and close to 100 other industry-leading vendors.  Founded in 1985, Westcon Group has particular expertise in the convergence of voice, data and video applications and technologies, including VoIP, network security and wireless and mobility-based connectivity.

Westcon Group’s Westcon, Comstor and Voda One business practices offers significant benefits to its networking and communications equipment vendor partners as well as its reseller, systems integrator and service provider customers. For vendors, Westcon Group acts as an indirect sales channel, allowing use of its sales force, technical capabilities, logistics services and breadth of customer relationships to cost-effectively distribute vendors’ networking and communications products across six continents: North and South America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. For customers, Westcon Group provides technical expertise, sales support and services, training, marketing programs, logistics services and a conduit to leading technology vendors.

About 3Com Corporation

3Com Corporation (NASDAQ: COMS) is a leading provider of secure, converged voice and data networking solutions for enterprises of all sizes.  3Com offers a broad line of innovative products backed by world class sales, service and support, which excel at delivering business value for its customers.  3Com also includes H3C Technologies Co., Limited (H3C), a China-based provider of network infrastructure products.  H3C brings high-performance, cost-effective product development and a strong footprint in one of the world’s most dynamic markets.  Through its TippingPoint division, 3Com is a leading provider of network-based intrusion prevention systems that deliver in-depth application protection, infrastructure protection, and performance protection.  For further information, please visit www.3com.com, or the press site www.3com.com/pressbox.

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