3Com Makes Network Security Play

H3C sells more than 100 networking devices into the Chinese market, including wireless LAN offerings and high-end core routers and switches, but these are now being pushed into other parts of the globe, including the U.S.

3Com, like most of the tech sector, has felt the strain of the economic downturn, and its recent fourth-quarter revenue dipped more than 8% compared to the same period last year. The networking company nonetheless beat analysts' estimates and its H3C expansion helped grow U.S. revenue 16% sequentially.

"Now the chassis we sell, both inside and outside of China, will have this additional functionality," said Sege. "They are starting to be available now, and we will be continuing to ship them into the first half of 2009."

In addition to its TippingPoint blades, The Mass.-based firm unveiled two new H3C-branded firewalls Monday, one of which is a standalone device. The other is switch blade.

3Com is also touting its networking/security combo as an alternative to software products from Symantec(SYMC) and McAfee(MFE), which was one of TheStreet.com's top tech picks for 2009.

Although lacking its own networking assets, McAfee has fared well during the recession, and recently bust out strong second-quarter numbers.

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