OPTION UNVEILS INNOVATIVE “HSDPA-READY” SOLUTION EMPOWERING NETWORK OPERATORS TO MARKET HSDPA SERVICES TODAY
tLeuven – Belgium, September 28 2005 – Option N.V. (Euronext: OPTI, OTC: OPNVY), the wireless technology company, today unveiled its innovative HSDPA-Ready technology that enables Option’s GlobeTrotter 3G/EDGE™ and the GlobeTrotter FUSION+™ wireless data cards to be upgraded by the user into full-blown HSDPA devices.
Currently 3 major network operators have announced solutions based on Option’s HSDPA- Ready products.
tToday’s mobile market is highly competitive. Network operators are striving to capture new data users whose expectations are formed by their fixed line experience with ADSL or WLAN services. The transition to HSDPA with speeds up to 1.8 Mbps, enabling the reality of cost-effective wide area broadband wireless, is a compelling solution for network operators and their data subscriber customers. Option’s HSDPA-Ready solution is leading the way in bringing a significant competitive advantage to network operators. These operators are, as of today, empowered to market data cards that are HSDPA-Ready. Whenever the operator decides to launch HSDPA services in its territory, a simple firmware upgrade, available via the operator’s website, is sufficient to release the full power of HSDPA on the Option data card. The mobile user is also a clear winner. In buying a GlobeTrotter 3G/EDGE™ or GlobeTrotter FUSION+™ data solution today, the user is assured of the fact that the investment is secure and future-proof for impending HSDPA services.
tJan Callewaert, CEO Option: “The real innovation of our HSDPA-Ready solution lies in its simplicity. This unique and innovative solution gives our network operator customers a compelling marketing advantage of between 4 to 6 months. Users may otherwise delay their data card buying decision until HSDPA services are launched. Now users can purchase our GlobeTrotter 3G/EDGE™ or GlobeTrotter FUSION+™ HSDPA Ready wireless data cards taking advantage of the latest combination of 3G and EDGE technologies without the need to buy a new card in 2006 when the HSDPA services become available. Listening to and understanding the need of our customers, combining know-how with the technologies driving our business, once again has resulted in a world’s first technology innovation. I am very proud of this accomplishment and congratulate the Option team for the excellent work”
tOption announced its first water-proof HSDPA demonstrations early this year at CeBIT 2005 (Hannover, March 2005) and CTIA Wireless (New-Orleans, March 2005) tradeshows. Currently the GlobeTrotter 3G/EDGE™ and the GlobeTrotter FUSION+™ are “HSDPA-Ready”.
About HSDPA
HSDPA is a migration technology for the UMTS wireless standard used by leading mobile network operators across Europe, Japan and North America to deliver voice and data services. HSDPA boosts network capacity to carry up to three times as much data traffic and up to twice as many wireless users per cell site compared to today’s UMTS networks. By making more efficient use of the existing network and boosting throughput, HSDPA significantly reduces operating costs while delivering a better end user experience. As such HSDPA will enable faster mobile services like high-resolution interactive gaming, multimedia music tracks, DVD-quality film and video.
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
Keywords: HSDPA, data card, GlobeTrotter, EDGE, WLAN, Wi-Fi, GlobeTrotter FUSION, GlobeTrotter FUSION QUAD, GlobeTrotter FUSION+, EDGE data card, data card solution, HSDPA Services.