Leuven, Belgium – May 18, 2006 – Option N.V. (Euronext: OPTI; OPNVY), the wireless technology company, today announced that Bouygues Telecom, a division of Bouygues (Euronext: EN), has selected Option’s GlobeTrotter FUSION+ ‘HSDPA Ready’ offering its mobile customers the all-in-one PC data card providing EDGE/UMTS/ GPRS and WLAN connectivity. The GlobeTrotter FUSION+ ‘HSDPA Ready’ is branded for Bouygues as “Carte Internet Haut Debit Mobile”. Whenever the French operator decides to roll out an HSDPA network, a web-based firmware upgrade will enable its customers to connect at HSDPA speeds of 1,8 Mbps.
In May 2005, a range of EDGE devices was brought out for the corporate market which run everywhere in France, including PC data cards for intensive users, and PDAs and Smartphones for more moderate users. Bouygues Telecom passed the 8-million-customer mark (5.4 million contract customers) at the beginning of 2006, 10 years after its commercial launch. Its ambition is to become the “preferred brand of mobile services” to further improve customer service. Bouygues Telecom offers its consumer and corporate customers a large range of services on its national broadband Edge network. In early 2006,
i-mode counted over 1,430,000 customers, including 100,000 subscribers to the broadband offer.
The GlobeTrotter FUSION+ ‘HSDPA Ready’ enables reliable and secure data connections over EDGE at up to 247 kbps and GPRS at up to 85.6 kbps. On a 3G network, GlobeTrotter FUSION+ ‘HSDPA Ready’ connects to the Internet at data speeds of up to 1,8Mbps (HSDPA) or 384 kbps (UMTS). Move into range of a public WiFi hotspot, the corporate Wireless LAN, or your home wireless network and the GlobeTrotter Fusion+ ‘HSDPA Ready’ gives you speeds up to 54Mbps.
The GlobeTrotter FUSION+ ‘HSDPA Ready’ wireless data card is available with Option’s GlobeTrotter Mobility Manager. This enables users to enjoy fast, simple and easy access to wireless data whilst hiding the complexity of the underlying wireless technologies from the user. In conjunction with Option’s mobile IP solution “Unlimited Connection”, users can seamlessly roam between 3G, 2G and WLAN access technologies with automatic authentication using the data card’s inbuilt support for PC Smart Card and EAP-SIM.
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