LEUVEN, Belgium – June 7, 2007 – Option (Euronext: OPTI; OTC: OPNVY), the wireless technology company, announced today the acquisition of a team of engineers and laboratory facilities from BenQ Mobile GmbH & Co, the former Siemens AG mobile devices business.
Located in Kamp-Lintfort near Düsseldorf, Germany – a renowned centre for mobile telecommunications companies – the team of 50 highly qualified engineers adds more than 750 man-years of wireless experience and expertise to Option’s global engineering capability.
Reporting to, and collaborating closely with Option’s HQ engineering group in Leuven, the multi-disciplinary Kamp-Lintfort team, will focus on the development of embedded broadband cellular connectivity solutions for mobile internet devices – a new category of devices that is emerging between the PDA and laptop PC product categories that we know today. Existing engineering resources at Option’s Leuven HQ will concentrate on extending the company’s leadership in wireless data cards, USB devices, modules for laptops and wireless routers.
“With skilled engineers in short supply, this opportunity to acquire an established, highly skilled engineering team and fully-equipped facility was too good to miss.” said Jan Callewaert, Option’s CEO. “Our new team in Germany is ready to make an immediate impact on our drive into mobile internet devices and other new product lines for 2008.”
Acquisition of state-of-the-art facilities in Kamp-Lintfort, including fully equipped laboratories, an advanced Electro-Magnetic Compatibility test chamber and office space, will require a one-off investment of €4 million. Total impact on operating expenses for 2007, mainly related to R&D, will be €3 million.
About Option
Option, the wireless technology company, is a leading innovator in the design, development and manufacture of 3G WCDMA (HSPA 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 and Düsseldorf (Germany), 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). Option also has sales & support operations in the US, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan. For more information please visit www.option.com.
For more information please contact
Jan Callewaert, CEO
Tel +32 (0)16 317 411
Jan Poté, Marketing & Communications Manager
Tel + 32 (0) 475 92 55 82 E-mail: j.pote@option.com