Swisscom Mobile, Pannon Hungary and Partner Communications Israel expand range of mobile data solutions
LEUVEN, Belgium – April 20, 2007 – Option (Euronext: OPTI; OTC: OPNVY), the wireless technology company, today reported growing demand for its EXPRESS 7.2 data card and ICON 7.2 USB wireless modems from leading mobile operators in Switzerland, Hungary and Israel.
GlobeTrotter EXPRESS 7.2 data cards pack Option’s advanced data communication capabilities into the slim-line, future-proof, ExpressCard form factor compatible with the 34mm expansion slots increasingly found on the latest laptops. The GlobeSurfer® ICON 7.2 wireless modem delivers DSL-like performance in a compact device that can plug directly into the USB port of any laptop or desktop PC. Its sleek and stylish design will appeal to the growing consumer market for flexible wireless data solutions.
Swisscom Mobile, a long-established Option partner is adding Option’s EXPRESS card to its award-winning Mobile Unlimited product portfolio. At the same time, Switzerland’s innovative market leader is doubling the speed of its entire HSDPA network, which already serves 40 per cent of the Swiss population, to 3.6 Mbps.
Early April, Hungarian operator Pannon launched HSDPA wireless broadband services targeting both mobile users and residential customers. Part of the Telenor group, Pannon holds a 34% of the Hungarian market. Its HSDPA service, which offers transmission rates between 1.8 and 3.6 Mbps, is currently available to 33% of the population in Budapest and 43 other towns. The GlobeTrotter EXPRESS 7.2 is being offered to laptop users while desktop users can avoid fixed-line broadband provisioning delays that are typically measured in weeks by choosing the GlobeSurfer® ICON 7.2.
Partner Communications Company Ltd (NASDAQ & Tel Aviv Stock Exchange: PTNR), operating the Orange network in Israel, is also offering the GlobeSurfer® ICON 7.2 as an easy-to-install cellular broadband service. Part of Hutchison Telecom International, Partner is a leading Israeli mobile communications operator with a market share of approximately 32% at the end of 2006. Partner is implementing HSDPA to offer fast download speeds up to 3.6 Mbps throughout most of the urban centres in the country.
Jan Callewaert, CEO at Option: “The migration of laptop manufacturers to the ExpressCard form-factor and the adoption of wireless USB modems as an alternative to DSL are important trends to monitor in 2007. These latest operator agreements demonstrate that Option’s product portfolio is well placed to satisfy any changes in consumer demand.”
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, a Software and Applications development centre in Adelsried (Germany), a Wireless Router development centre in Stockholm (Sweden), 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
Douglas Ros, Vice President Business Development
Tel +32 (0)16 317 411, E-mail: d.ros@option.com
Frederic Convent, CFO Option
Tel + 32 (0) 16 317 471, E-mail: investor@option.com