Leuven, Belgium – March 14, 2006 – Option NV (Euronext: OPTI, OTC: OPNVY), the wireless technology company, today announced that TIM, a Telecom Italia company (Milan: TIT), has selected and is at present commercialising Option’s GlobeTrotter 3G/EDGE ‘HSDPA-Ready’ data card. Customised to meet the TIM’s specific requirements, the GlobeTrotter 3G/EDGE ‘HSDPA-Ready’ card enables the operator’s 29+ million mobile customers to enjoy broadband wireless access to the internet, e-mail and corporate networks. With TIM’s selection, all FreeMove Alliance members – including Telefonica Moviles, T-Mobile, Orange and TIM – are now procuring data cards from Option.
TIM is Italy’s number one carrier with 27.3 million lines in its domestic market, and a total of 45.6 million customers worldwide. TIM operates close to its home market in countries such as in Turkey, and further away in Latin America. TIM’s membership of the FreeMove alliance is proof of the company’s desire to provide its customers with an integrated service. Together with Orange, T-Mobile and Telefonica Moviles, TIM is part of one of the world’s largest mobile telephony communities spanning 170 million customers in 15 countries across Europe.
On a 3G UMTS network, the GlobeTrotter 3G/EDGE ‘HSDPA Ready’ enables broadband connection to the Internet at data speeds of up to 384kbps. Where 3G services are not available it falls back to EDGE at data speeds of up to 247 kbps. In the absence of an EDGE or 3G UMTS network the data card still enables reliable and secure data connections over traditional GPRS.
The ‘HSDPA-Ready’ concept is unique to Option. When the network operator decides to launch HSDPA services in its territory, a simple firmware upgrade, available via the operator’s website, is sufficient to release the power of HSDPA on the data card.
ABOUT OPTION:
Option NV (www.option.com), the wireless technology company, is a leading innovator in the design, development and manufacture of 3G WCDMA (HSDPA and UMTS), EDGE, GPRS, GSM and WLAN technology products for wireless connectivity solutions. Option has built up an enviable reputation for creating exciting products that enhance the performance and functionality of wireless communications. Option’s headquarters are in Leuven, Belgium. The company has Research & Development in Leuven, a Software and Applications development centre in Adelsried (Germany), a Wireless Router development centre in Stockholm (Sweden) and an ISO 9002 production engineering and logistics facility in Cork, Ireland.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Douglas Ros, Vice President Business Development & Marketing
Tel +32 (0)16 317 411
E-mail: d.ros@option.com
Frederic Convent, CFO
Tel + 32 (0) 16 317 411
E-mail: investor@option.com