Cingular Introduces the Newest Option Globetrotter GT MAX Laptop Card

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

- Laptop Card supporting data rates of up to 3.6 Mbps on HSDPA networks;

- Capable of supporting future data rates of up to 7.2 Mbps;

- Five Band flip-out Antenna design (Patented technology) - eliminates the need to remove the card from the laptop for transport;

- Advanced Receiver Technology, incorporating dual-antenna Receiver Diversity and Equalization, ensures best possible performance at all times, even at the edges of network coverage.

- Tri-band HSDPA/UMTS 2100/1900/850 MHz bands compatible with HSDPA/UMTS networks worldwide;

- 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(r), the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are available at http://www.cingular.com/.

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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 http://www.option.com.

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