Jones throws in 3Com towel to take time out

Sonix founder Bob Jones is leaving 3Com at the end of this week, two years after selling his remote access business to 3Com for $70 million.

Jones, widely credited within the industry for creating the successful 3Com/Sonix channel model, said that he would be taking a short break from the industry, but expected to return. ?I have no specific plans at the moment,? he told PC Dealer. ?But I will be staying in the IT industry.?

He said that he was not sad to be leaving 3Com. ?If I was, I wouldn?t be going,? he said.

Jones said he had always been involved with firms that sold through the channel and it was a model he felt comfortable with.

Neil Ledger, MD at Data Connectivity, said he hoped that Jones would set up a new business because ?he has always made us lots of money?.

Since the Sonix sale in 1995, Jones ? a former Venturer of the Year award winner ? had been working as product marketing manager and then joint general manager at 3Com.