"Wow, has it been 30 years already since 3Com was incorporated?" asked Metcalfe, 3Com founder and now Polaris partner. "Computer communication compatibility, or 3Com for short, was a pretty new idea in 1979. There were hardly any personal computers around, mostly Apple IIs. And the World Wide Web was still 10 years in the future. We were a dotcom before the dots," added Metcalfe. "Our founding idea was to promote open networking standards, and we chose three winners: Ethernet, TCP/IP, and Unix. Our customers turned out enthusiastic about standards and our initial PC LAN products. We grew with them, according to Metcalfe's Law: V~N^2. Happy Birthday, 3Com!"

"3Com is the thriving company it is today because of the culture of innovation that we live and breathe each day," said Bob Mao, CEO of 3Com. "I am humbled to be a part of an organization that has such deep roots in the networking industry and believe that we have the right combination of unique assets, strategic priorities and investment areas that will enable us to continue to create solutions that meet the demands of our customers well into the future."

Starting with the first commercial TCP/IP for UNIX, and then the introduction of the first "Thicknet" Ethernet Transceiver, the 3C100, 3Com's 30-year timeline is dotted with customer-driven technology innovations such as:

The world's first Ethernet adapter card for the PC

The world's first commercial network operating system, Etherseries

Commercialization of Ethernet bridging which later evolved into Ethernet switching

Use of Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) to lower the cost and complexity of networking

The Ethernet stackable hub and switch

The invention and commercialization of Power over Ethernet (PoE)

Creation of IRF® (XRN®) virtual chassis stacking technology

Commercialization of voice-over-IP

For 3Com, innovation hasn't been exclusive to technology. In the 1990s 3Com drove down the cost of networking by vertically integrating R&D and manufacturing.