HP Gets Networking, Security, VOIP, China from 3Com Acquisition

by Jeffrey Burt

HP ProCurve has strong small business networking offerings but has never had a significant core data center switch. With 3Com, HP will be able to add such hardware as the H3C S12500, a data center aggregation and high-end enterprise core switch that 3Com introduced in May. The switch offers greater performance and better energy efficiency than competing switches, according to 3Com officials.

Included in the deal will be 3Coms TippingPoint network security subsidiary, which offers enterprise-level products that will add to HP’s networking capabilities. In October, TippingPoint introduced its N-Platform, a new intrusion prevention system platform for data centers and core networks.

Through the 3Com deal, HP also will get access to the company’s line of IP phones, including the 3102 business phone.

The Chinese market is one of the largest and fastest-growing in the world. It also is home to 3Com’s headquarters, where the company’s H3C is the biggest challenger to Cisco.