Leuven – Belgium, September 7 2005 – Option N.V. (Euronext: OPTI, OTC: OPNVY), the wireless technology company, today announced the quad-band version of its flagship GlobeTrotter FUSION™ product. The GlobeTrotter FUSION QUAD is the world’s first 5-band wireless data card combining 3G UMTS at 2100 MHz for EMEA markets, quad- band GPRS 850/900/1800/1900 MHz for worldwide markets and WLAN 802.11g in a single PC data card.
The data card is already shipping to a number of mobile network operators supporting the commercialization of “single tariff packages” combining both UMTS/GPRS and WLAN/Wi-Fi services to their customers.
Douglas Ros, Vice President Business Development & Marketing: “We continue to see an increased need for the business professional to have access to E-mail, Internet and Corporate Intranet services across the world. We accommodated this need for the first time in June of this year when we announced our first quad-band data card, the GlobeTrotter 3G QUAD. We now push ahead and strengthen the product range with the addition of GlobeTrotter FUSION QUAD. Both FUSION products, the GlobeTrotter FUSION™ (dual band) and the new quad-band version, will co-exist in our product portfolio as we see a strong demand from network operators for both national and international variants of our data cards.”
The GlobeTrotter FUSION QUAD further extends Option’s range of GlobeTrotter wireless data cards: GlobeTrotter (GPRS), GlobeTrotter COMBO™ (GPRS/WLAN), GlobeTrotter COMBO EDGE™ (EDGE/GPRS/WLAN), GlobeTrotter 3G QUAD (3G UMTS/GPRS), GlobeTrotter FUSION™ (3G UMTS/GPRS/WLAN), GlobeTrotter EDGE™ (EDGE/GPRS) and GlobeTrotter 3G/EDGE™ (3G UMTS/EDGE/GPRS).
Other product highlights:
– 5-band wireless data card for use on 3G UMTS networks at 2100 MHz for EMEA markets and quad band GPRS 850/900/1800/1900 MHz for worldwide markets
– GlobeTrotter FUSION QUAD supports WLAN 802.11g and 802.11b standards
– Supports IPSec client software for end to end secure corporate data exchange and synchronization over VPN
– Future proof through user upgrade Flash Memory technology
– Seamless handover between WLAN and 2.5G/3G networks with Mobile IP option
– Transparent handover between UMTS and GSM/GPRS networks
– Compatible with nearly all popular notebook PC’s equipped with Type II PC Card slot and Microsoft Windows Operating System
– GlobeTrotter FUSION QUAD support for MAC O/S and Linux on request
– GlobeTrotter FUSION QUAD is customizable for mobile operators and IT manufacturers
In addition to the GlobeTrotter FUSION QUAD wireless data card, Option offers its premier GlobeTrotter Mobility Manager™ software enabling users of the card to have fast, simple and easy access to wireless data whilst hiding from the user the complexity of underlying wireless 3G UMTS, GPRS and WLAN technologies. In conjunction with Option’s mobile IP solution the user will be able to seamlessly roam between access technologies 3G, 2G and WLAN with automatic authentication using GlobeTrotter FUSION QUAD inbuilt support for PC Smart Card and EAP-SIM.
For more detailed information and screenshots
GlobeTrotter FUSION QUAD: www.option.com/products/fusionquad.shtml
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) 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