3Com to stop manufacturing in Singapore

Computer-networking equipment company 3Com said it will close its Singapore manufacturing operations because of the slowdown in spending by phone and Internet companies. According to a Bloomberg News report, citing 3Com spokeswoman Eileen Lim, 3Com is "phasing out manufacturing in Singapore," although the republic will "remain as a regional distribution center." Manufacturing of switches will be moved to Ireland, the newswire said. Meanwhile, 3Com's servers, desktops and mobile connectivity products had earlier been outsourced to Singapore-based Flextronics International. CNET Singapore staff reported from Singapore.