Editing 3Com (section)

===1997–2000===
[[File:3COM Megahertz 3CCE589ET-6381.jpg|thumb|3Com [[PC Card]] for [[10BASE-T]]]]
In 1997, 3Com merged with [[USRobotics]] (USR), a maker of dial-up modems, and owner of [[Palm, Inc.]] USRobotics was known for its Sportster line of consumer-oriented modems, as well as its Courier business-class modem line. This merger spelled the beginning of the end of 3Com. In addition to consumer network electronics, USRobotics was a well-known manufacturer of a dialup access server, the "Total Control Hub", rebadged by 3Com as the "Total Control 1000", based largely on its Courier modem technology. This key business product competed against Cisco's AS5200 access server line in the mid-1990s as the explosion of the [[Internet]] led to service provider investment in dialup access server equipment. 3Com continued the development of the Total Control line until it was eventually spun off as a part of Commworks, which was then acquired by UTStarcom.<ref>{{cite web|title=3Com / USR/ UTStar Total Control Access Server |work=ISPTrader web site |url=http://www.isptrader.com/content/3com-usr-utstar-total-control-access-server |access-date=August 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713063955/http://www.isptrader.com/content/3com-usr-utstar-total-control-access-server |archive-date=13 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In August 1998, [[Bruce Claflin]] was named [[chief operating officer]]. The modem business was rapidly shrinking. 3Com attempted to enter the [[Digital subscriber line|DSL]] business, but was not successful.

In the lucrative server [[network interface controller]] (NIC) business, 3Com dominated market share, with [[Intel]] only able to break past 3Com after dramatic price slashing. It started developing [[Gigabit Ethernet]] cards in-house but later scrapped the plans. Later, it formed a joint venture with [[Broadcom]], where Broadcom would develop the main [[integrated circuit]] component and the NIC would be 3Com branded.

In 1999, 3Com acquired NBX, a Boston company with an [[VoIP phone|Ethernet-based phone]] system for small and medium-sized businesses. This product proved popular with 3Com's existing distribution channel and saw rapid growth and adoption. As one of the first companies to deliver a complete networked phone system, and increased its distribution channel with larger telephony partners such as [[Southwestern Bell]] and [[Metropark Communications]], 3Com helped make [[Voice over Internet Protocol|VoIP]] into a safe and practical technology with wide adoption.

3Com then tried to move into the smart consumer appliances business and in June 2000, 3Com acquired internet radio startup [[Kerbango]] for $80 million. It developed its [[3Com Audrey|Audrey]] appliance, which made an appearance on ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]''. It scrapped the Audrey and Kerbango products less than a year later.

In March 2000, in a highly public and criticized move, 3Com exited the high-end core routers and switch market to focus on other areas of the business.<ref>{{cite news |title= 3Com exits enterprise network stage |work= Network World |author= Jim Duffy |date= March 20, 2000 |url= http://www.networkworld.com/news/2000/03203exit.html |access-date= September 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015151257/http://www.networkworld.com/news/2000/03203exit.html |archive-date=15 October 2012}}</ref> The CoreBuilder Ethernet and ATM LAN switches, PathBuilder and NetBuilder WAN Routers were all discontinued June 2000. CoreBuilder products and the customer base was migrated over to [[Extreme Networks]]. The PathBuilder and NetBuilder were transitioned to Motorola. 3Com focused its efforts from 2000 to 2003 on building up the HomeConnect, OfficeConnect, SuperStack, NBX and Total Control product lines. Due to this perceived exit from the Enterprise market, 3Com would never gain momentum with large customers or carriers again.

In July 2000, 3Com spun off [[Palm, Inc.|Palm]] as an independent company. Following Palm's IPO, 3Com continued to own 80{{nbsp}}percent of Palm, but 3Com's [[market capitalization]] was smaller than Palm's. U.S. Robotics was also spun out again as a separate company at this time.{{cn|date=March 2024}}