Leuven – Belgium, January 31st 2005 – Option N.V. (Euronext: OPTI, OPIN.BR), the wireless technology company, today announced that 2 new customers have selected the GlobeTrotter FUSIONTM, Option’s premier UMTS-GPRS-WLAN/Wi-Fi data card. Both Voxmobile and Monaco Telecom will sell the card under the Option brand GlobeTrotter FUSIONTM.
Voxmobile (www.vox.lu) is one of the leading mobile network operators in Luxemburg. Jean-Claude Bintz, CEO Voxmobile, commented on the agreement: “We are delighted to work with Option because we strongly believe in the potential that the Option data cards will have for our customers and our market. Combining the data transmission of GSM, GPRS, WLAN and, of course, UMTS in one single device is a great step forward towards total mobility.”
Monaco Telecom (www.monaco-telecom.mc) is the leading network operator in Monaco with operations in Europe, Africa, the Mediterranean and the West Indies. The company was established by the government of Monaco in 1997. In March 2004, Cable and Wireless (LSE: CW.C and NYSE: CWP) purchased the 55% stake in Monaco Telecom. Monaco Telecom has the exclusive right to provide its Monegasque customers with all types of communication services.
Both companies operate 2.5 G, 3G & Wi-Fi networks and are continuously signing up new roaming agreements. In selecting Option’s GlobeTrotter FUSION™ data card they will provide the corporate market with a fast, simple and secure mobile data solution across all mobile networks.
On a 3G network the GlobeTrotter FUSION™ enables broadband connection to the internet at data speeds of up to 384kbps. Move into a range of public WiFi hotspot, the corporate WLAN or your home wireless network and the GlobeTrotter FUSION™ provides connection at speeds up to 54Mbps. In areas where 3G or WiFi services are not available GlobeTrotter FUSION™ still ensures reliable and secure data connection over the widely available GPRS services. Option’s GlobeTrotter Mobility Manager™ software enables 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 mobile user will be able to seamlessly roam between access technologies 3G/WLAN/2G with automatic authentication using GlobeTrotter Fusion’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) 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