Leuven – Belgium, March 30 2005 – Option N.V. (Euronext: OPTI, OPIN.BR), the wireless technology company, today announced that Turkcell has launched Option’s GlobeTrotter COMBO EDGE in Turkey. The data card has been customized for Turkcell and is sold under the TurkcellConnect brand.
Among Europe’s top ten biggest GSM operators in terms of subscribers, Turkcell is the leading GSM operator in Turkey with 23.4 million postpaid and prepaid customers as December 31, 2004. Turkcell provides high-quality wireless telephone services throughout Turkey and has coverage of 100% of the towns with more than 10,000 inhabitants. Turkcell provides roaming with 435 operators in 174 countries as of January 12, 2005. Turkcell is the only NYSE listed company in Turkey (New York: TKC and Istanbul Stock Exchange: TCELL). Turkcell has interests in international GSM operations in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova and Northern Cyprus, which have a total of 3.5 million subscribers as of September 30, 2004.
EDGE, Enhanced Data for Global Evolution (E-GPRS), is a technology that gives GPRS networks the capacity to provide data services similar to the third generation of mobile telephony. By deploying E-GPRS as an overlay within an existing GPRS network Turkcell can provide four times the data capacity of GPRS per subscriber.
On an EDGE network, GlobeTrotter COMBO EDGE enables connection to the Internet at data speeds of up to 247 kbps. Move into range of a public Wi-Fi hotspot, the corporate wireless network or the home wireless network and the GlobeTrotter COMBO EDGE provides connection at speeds up to 54Mbps. In areas where EDGE or Wi-Fi services are not available the data card still enables reliable and secure data connections over traditional GPRS.
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 and General Counsel
Tel + 32 (0) 16 317 411
E-mail: investor@option.com