BARCELONA, Spain – February 11 2008 – Option (Euronext: OPTI; OTC: OPNVY), the wireless technology company, today announced that the Company’s wireless devices have been selected by VimpelCom as the Russian operator builds its product portfolio of mobile broadband solutions.
The mobile operator recently introduced the iCON 7.2 USB modem, as well as the GT MAX and GT EXPRESS HSDPA wireless data cards for ‘prosumer’ and professional market segments. These backward-compatible quad-band EDGE devices are capable of delivering data rates of up to 274 kbps on existing 2G networks while allowing Russian’s travelling abroad to take full advantage of 3G or HSUPA where available.
Devices, packaging, application software and manuals are being customised to reflect VimpelCom’s Beeline brand and to meet local language needs.
The VimpelCom Group holds GSM and 3G licenses covering a population of about 250 million. The company operates in 78 regions with an aggregate population of 140 million in the rapidly expanding Russian market and has also been granted national licenses in Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia and Armenia.
Founded in 1992, VimpelCom deployed the first dual-band GSM900/1800 network in Russia, pioneered pre-pay services and became the first Russian company to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange. Trading under the Beeline brand, the Group enjoyed customer growth of 18.9 per cent in the year to 30 September 2007,
ending the period with an active subscriber base totalling 50.7 million including 41.8 million in Russia.