Rogers Wireless Offers Canadian Mobile Users Fastest Access to the Internet with Option's GT MAX '7.2 Ready' Data Card
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LEUVEN, Belgium, April 2 - Option (Euronext: OPTI; OTC:OPNVY), the wireless technology company, today announced that Rogers Wireless will be offering its Canadian mobile customers the world's fastest cellular connection following the selection of Option's GlobeTrotter GT MAX "7.2 Ready" HSDPA data card. As well as its cutting-edge performance, Option's GT MAX series features the unique integrated flip-out antenna: for ease and convenience, the antenna is simply retracted for briefcase or carry bag transport without the need to remove the wireless data card from the laptop. Canadian users are in for a great experience both in speed and user friendliness.
Sold under the GT MAX "7.2 Ready" brand, the data card delivers tri-band HSDPA at data speeds up to 3.6 Mbps. Option's broadband wireless data card is already compatible with mobile network infrastructure equipment capable of supporting higher HSDPA data rates of up to 7.2 Mbps. Backward compatibility ensures HSDPA connections at lower data rates of 3.6 Mbps and 1.8 Mbps. The wireless data card also has inherent support for 3G operation at 384 kbps as well as quad-band EDGE and GPRS. The GT MAX's support for this low frequency band and the built-in Advanced Radio Technology further enhances indoor connectivity.
Rogers Wireless is the largest Canadian wireless communications service provider, serving nearly 6.8 million wireless voice and data subscribers.
Rogers Wireless is the only wireless service provider in Canada operating on the world standard GSM/GPRS/EDGE and HSDPA technology platform with coverage to approximately 94% of Canada's population. Moreover, the data card will also be available to the more than 1.3 million Fido subscribers in Canada.
Fido has been a subsidiary of Rogers Wireless Inc. since November 2004.
Jan Callewaert, CEO Option commented: "With Rogers Wireless we are expanding our global footprint to the Canadian territory. We are very pleased that they have selected our GT MAX data card as their flagship product. I am looking forward to a long term relationship with Rogers."
Option's unique Advanced Radio Technology (ART) internal architecture differentiates the GlobeTrotter GT MAX "7.2 Ready" from other HSDPA devices by introducing Receive Diversity and Receive Equalization into the product design, delivering important performance benefits to users and operators.
Receive Diversity exploits dual antenna and receive chains to improve signal reception and reduce the impact of spatial variations in signal strength. Receive Equalization, on the other hand, improves immunity to interference of the radio signal. In usage scenarios tested during GT MAX field trials, ART improved average throughput speeds up to 50% compared with non-ART devices giving greater connection stability and higher data throughput vastly improving the overall user experience. For operators, mobile receive diversity increases network capacity by up to a factor of two while reducing base station power requirements.
Unique Features of GlobeTrotter GT MAX commercialised by Rogers Wireless:
Unrivalled features in a single wireless Data Card device;
Five Band flip-out Antenna design (Patented technology);
No need to remove the card from the laptop for transport;
Tri-band HSDPA/UMTS 2100/1900/850 MHz bands - compatible with World Wide usage;
Advanced Receiver Technology (Receive Diversity & Equalisation);
Quad Band EDGE/GPRS 1900/1800/900/850 MHz bands - compatible with World Wide usage;
Future Proof "7.2 Mbps Ready" - No need to purchase a new wireless data card;
Designed for Windows XP and Windows Vista Capable.
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
Source: Option N V
For more information please contact: Douglas Ros, Vice President - Business Development +32(0)16317411, d.ros@option.com
