3Com Corporation, a leading provider of secure, converged voice and data networking solutions for enterprises of all sizes, today announced a significant milestone in its innovative 3Com^® Open Services Networking (3Com OSN) strategy with the introduction of new OSN applications delivered on its new MSR Series Multi-Service Router platform.

3Com OSN is the industry's first open platform to integrate best-of-breed and open-source applications into the fabric of the network infrastructure, enabling organizations to drive operational simplicity, reduce capital expenditures and operating costs, and achieve lasting investment protection while addressing ever-changing business needs. 3Com OSN enables end users to run open-source, third–party and 3Com-developed applications and solutions that deliver intelligence, flexibility, performance and control directly inside the network with the ease of use, support and economy of an integrated solution. OSN is a key element of the company’s next-generation Secure, Converged Networking strategy to drive even greater application integration directly into the network infrastructure.

The Multi-Service Router with OSN, introduced today, is designed for deployment at enterprise branch and regional offices and by managed service providers seeking to enhance business continuity, security and operational efficiency. In a feature-rich IP router platform, applications run on Open Services Modules (OSM); this makes it easy to deploy a variety of enhancements to communications, security and network performance. There is no need to deploy numerous single-task appliances that complicate network management, take up valuable facility space, and consume excessive power.

"3Com Open Services Networking on the MSR Series platform gives us the unique ability to maintain and enhance our existing open source network performance monitoring investments, while upgrading our infrastructure to achieve better performance and reliability," said David de Weerdt, president and CEO of wireless internet service provider Everus Communications Inc., a 3Com customer in Ontario, Canada. "3Com OSN also will give us the flexibility to quickly deploy new services to create additional value for our customers."

The MSR Series also supports 3Com’s commitment to developing green technologies by requiring less energy to operate than comparable solutions that require deploying additional appliances or devices at each location.

The Power of OSN: Validated and Proven Applications

The new OSN application introduced today is WAN optimization and application acceleration from 3Com Open Network^TM (3Com|ON^TM) Program member Expand Networks. Existing OSN applications include the 3Com Services Monitoring Bundle, security information/event management (SIEM) and network behavior analysis from 3Com|ON Program member Q1 Labs, and e-mail information leak protection from 3Com|ON Program member Vericept. In the coming weeks 3Com will announce details of additional OSN applications from other 3Com|ON Program members.

"Customers will find that the OSN applications available now and in the future for the MSR product line will provide considerable additional functionality," said Steven J. Schuchart, Jr., principle analyst, Enterprise Network Systems, Current Analysis. “This functionality greatly increases the short- and long-term value of the MSR for customers.”

Expand Networks WAN Optimization and Application Acceleration

Expand Networks’ WAN optimization and application acceleration improves network performance and enhances application access, particular in a branch office setting, to help improve employee productivity and eliminating the need for costly bandwidth upgrades. The MSR integrates this critical acceleration functionality into the network for improved performance of up to 400 percent or more, while eliminating the need to deploy a separate appliance at the branch.

“Since networks and business requirements vary from enterprises to enterprise, a best-of-breed environment is the most effective approach for reducing costs and accelerating applications,” said David White, vice president of business development, Expand Networks. “Businesses and service providers deploying the new 3Com Multi-Service Router with Expand’s robust compass platform on an Open Services Module will realize the power of Open Services Networking. We believe the tight integration of application optimization with industry-leading routing capabilities sets 3Com apart from the competition and delivers the business benefits organizations need to maintain a competitive advantage.”