Schedule 13G Page 1 of 4 =================== =========================================================== SEC 1745 POTENTIAL PERSONS WHO ARE TO RESPOND TO THE COLLECTION OF (6-00) INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS FORM ARE NOT REQUIRED TO RESPOND UNLESS THE FORM DISPLAYS A CURRENTLY VALID OMB CONTROL NUMBER. =================== =========================================================== ------------------------------ OMB APPROVAL ------------------------------ OMB Number: 3235-0145 ------------------------------ Expires: October 31, 2002 ------------------------------ Estimated average burden hours per response.......14.9 ------------------------------ UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 AMENDMENT NO. ____ Aether Systems, Inc. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Issuer) Common Stock ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Title of Class of Securities) 00808V105 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (CUSIP Number) March 31, 2001 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed: / / Rule 13d-1(b) / / Rule 13d-1(c) /X/ Rule 13d-1(d) The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes). Schedule 13G Page 2 of 4 CUSIP No. 00808V105 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Names of Reporting Persons. I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only). 3Com Corporation 94-2605794 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) / / (b) /X/ Not Applicable ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. SEC Use Only ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Citizenship or Place of Organization U.S. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Sole Voting Power 143,665 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. Shared Voting Power -0- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. Sole Dispositive Power 143,665 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8. Shared Dispositive Power -0- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 143,665 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9) 0.004% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) CO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Schedule 13G Page 3 of 4 ITEM 1. (a) Name of Issuer Aether Systems, Inc. (b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices: 11460 Cronridge Drive Owings Mills, Maryland 21117 ITEM 2. (a) Name of Person Filing 3Com Corporation ("3Com") (b) Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence 5400 Bayfront Plaza Santa Clara, California 95052 (c) Citizenship 3Com is a Delaware corporation (d) Title of Class of Securities Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (e) CUSIP Number 00808V105 ITEM 3. IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 240.13d-1(b) OR 240.13d-2(b) OR (c), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A: Not Applicable ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP (a) Amount beneficially owned: 143,665 (b) Percent of class: 0.004% (c) Number of shares as to which such person has: (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 143,665 shares of Common Stock. (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 0 shares of Common Stock. (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 143,665 shares of Common Stock. (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0 shares of Common Stock. Schedule 13G Page 4 of 4 ITEM 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following: /X/ ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON Not Applicable ITEM 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY Not Applicable ITEM 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP Not Applicable ITEM 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP Not Applicable ITEM 10. CERTIFICATION By signing below each of the undersigned certifies that, to the best of the undersigned's knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect. SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Date: May 22, 2001 3Com Corporation By: /s/ Mark Michael ---------------------------------- Name: Mark Michael Title: General Counsel and Secretary