Jon Zilber

3Com Jon Zilber

It's the hottest tech startup that nobody remembers. What went wrong? 3Com's game-changing technology helped make everything from the Internet, WiFi, and email part of our daily lives today. The company's charismatic founder invented the core networking technology that made it possible to connect every computer, tablet, and phone on the planet today-and later famously (and incorrectly) predicted the imminent death of the Internet. (you'll learn how he famously ate his own words.) 3Com's legacy paved the way for the networked lifestyle-from Facebook to spam-that define our lives today. More than just a history of a once-powerful tech powerhouse, you'll take away some key business lessons that are still relevant today. And you'll meet a kaleidoscopic cast of characters that bring to life how different personalities and leadership styles can shape the trajectory of any company striving for the brass ring. You'll hear stories-drawn from dozens of first-hand interviews with 3Com executives and competitors-featuring tech icons like Steve Jobs popping in and casually changing the world-and tales where international skullduggery (real or imagined) involving companies like Huawei, Palm, and 3Com's arch-rival Cisco is par for the course. Brilliant innovations, bungled mergers, record-smashing IPOs, and record-breaking financial "irregularities" are all part of the sweeping saga of 3Com's 30-year rollercoaster ride.