Cingular Introduces the Newest Option Globetrotter GT MAX Laptop Card
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Worldwide HSDPA connectivity, Advanced Receiver Technology and Peak 3.6Mbps Data Rates Enhances Performance and Throughput Speeds
LEUVEN, Belgium, December 20 -- Option N.V. (Euronext: OPTI; OTC: OPNVY) and Cingular Wireless today announced that the newest version of Option's GlobeTrotter GT MAX HSDPA laptop card is now available for purchase from Cingular.
Along with providing global mobile data roaming in more than
115 countries (with access to mobile broadband connections in more than two
dozen countries), the card includes Advanced Receiver Technology, offering
peak theoretical data rates of up to 3.6Mbps on HSDPA networks. As well as
its leading performance, Option's GT MAX series features a retractable
flip-out antenna making the card very convenient for customers to both
transport and use. The Option GT Max 3.6 enables users to quickly and easily
access Email, the Internet, and business applications whether they are
traveling across town or around the world.
Jan Callewaert, CEO Option, commented: "Option's GT MAX 3.6,
combines our user-friendly design and higher data throughput enabled with our
integrated ART architecture, enabling Cingular to provide its customers with
the latest technology while gaining significant operational efficiency in the
network. We're delighted to work with Cingular, one of the world's largest
operators, and the clear market leader in the U.S., to provide their mobile
customers with a versatile and innovative laptop mobility solution."
"The Option GT Max card gives customers the ability to connect
to our 3G BroadbandConnect or EDGE service in the U.S. or to data networks
around the world," said Jeff Bradley, vice president for Cingular's Business
Markets Group. "Additionally, customers who purchase the card today should
know that as coverage and connection speeds increase, they will automatically
receive the faster speeds offered by this card in more places."
Cingular's 3G BroadbandConnect network is available in 145
major metropolitan areas and continues to expand coverage to additional
markets in and around major cities. Cingular's 3G BroadbandConnect network
provides average downlink speeds of 400 - 700 Kbps with bursts to more than
1Mbps and uplink speeds to 384 Kbps. With the 3G service, customers can
download a 1MB file in about 15 seconds.
When traveling outside of Cingular's 3G BroadbandConnect coverage area, the Option GT Max 3.6 works on Cingular's EDGE network which is available in more than 13,000 cities and towns and along more than 40,000 miles of highway.
Pricing and Availability
The Option GT Max 3.6 is available today for purchase through
Cingular Wireless enterprise and retails sales channels for $49.99 (after
rebate) when customers sign up for a two year unlimited DataConnect contract.
Cingular's two year unlimited DataConnect plan is available for $59.99 for
customers who also have a qualifying Cingular voice plan. The $49.99 price is
also available to Cingular customers who travel outside of the United States
when they purchase a one-year contract for either DataConnect North America
($109.99 for 100 MB of monthly use in Canada and Mexico) or DataConnect
Global ($139.99 for 100 MB of monthly use), an overseas plan that provides
service in more than two dozen countries including Japan, China, India,
Taiwan, Mexico, and many countries in Europe. Both international plans
included unlimited data usage on Cingular's domestic data networks.
Unique Features of GlobeTrotter GT MAX 3.6
o Laptop Card supporting data rates of up to 3.6 Mbps on HSDPA
networks;
o Capable of supporting future data rates of up to 7.2 Mbps;
o Five Band flip-out Antenna design (Patented technology) -
eliminates the need to remove the card from the laptop for transport;
o Advanced Receiver Technology, incorporating dual-antenna
Receiver Diversity and Equalization, ensures best possible performance at all
times, even at the edges of network coverage.
o Tri-band HSDPA/UMTS 2100/1900/850 MHz bands compatible with
HSDPA/UMTS networks worldwide;
o Quad Band EDGE/GPRS 1900/1800/900/850 MHz bands - compatible
with World Wide usage;
About Cingular Wireless
Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the
United States, serving 58.7 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture of
AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) and BellSouth Corporation (NYSE: BLS), has the largest
digital voice and data network in the nation -- the ALLOVER(TM) network --
and the largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier.
Cingular is a leader in third generation wireless technology. Its 3G network
is the first widely available service in the world to use HSDPA (High Speed
Downlink Packet Access) technology. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless
carrier to offer Rollover®, the wireless plan that lets customers keep
their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are available at
http://www.cingular.com/.
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
and Taiwan. For more information please visit www.option.com.
Source: Option N V
For more information please contact:
Douglas Ros
Vice President Business Development & Marketing Option
Tel +32-(0)16-317-411
E-mail: d.ros@option.com
Ritch Blasi
Cingular Wireless
Tel +1-973-637-9449
wireless +1-908-612-1760
ritch.blasi@cingular.com
