Qualcomm Inc (QCOM)

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Option Achieves Industry's First HSUPA Calls Using Next Generation Wireless Data Card

http://www.bbwexchange.com/pubs/2006/10/15/page1423-239829.asp

10/15/06 - Option (Euronext: OPTI, OTC: OPNVY) announced that they have successfully completed one of the industry's first demonstrations of live HSUPA (High Speed Uplink Packet Access) data card calls reaching a wireless uplink transmission rate of 1.3 Mbps and a wireless downlink of 2.7 Mbps at application level. The test calls were carried out at Nortel's(*) (NYSE: NT; TSX: NT) research campus in Chateaufort, France. Commercial availability of "HSUPA-Ready" and full HSUPA products from Option are planned for the first half of 2007.

HSUPA, the next step after HSDPA, enhances the data speed in the uplink up to a theoretical maximum of 5.7 Mbps, from the 384 kbps currently available with HSDPA. Higher performance is achieved through more efficient uplink scheduling in the base station and faster retransmission control. Whereas HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) enables users to receive large data files across the "downlink", HSUPA increases the speed at which users can send large data files across the "uplink". Traditional business applications along with many consumer applications will greatly benefit from these enhanced uplink speeds.

A laptop fitted with an Option HSUPA data card (category 3 in uplink, cat 6 in downlink) based on QUALCOMM (NASDAQ: QCOM) Mobile Station Modem (TM) (MSM(TM)) MSM7200(TM) chipset and commercial HSDPA/HSUPA network equipment from Nortel were used to achieve the new record data speeds. The companies completed an initial series of tests showcasing the HSUPA advantages for a large number of applications such as: uploading a 15 MB file onto a server, sending and receiving e-mails with large attachments, demonstrating the simultaneous HSD (High Speed Downlink) and HSUPA capabilities and video conference over IP. In addition, the HSUPA and HSDPA calls were also conducted in a car while driving at 50 km/h. The tests clearly demonstrate the capacity of mobile wireless broadband for high quality Mobile-TV, High Definition Video on demand, MP3 downloads, person-to-person data applications and real-time person-to-person gaming.

Jan Callewaert, CEO of Option: "Another world first for Option, this successful HSUPA test confirms our product roadmap is on schedule and underscores our commitment to bringing the most advanced wireless broadband solutions to market. The strong relationships that we enjoy with leading chipset suppliers and infrastructure providers - QUALCOMM and Nortel, - are important elements in our continuing technological and product leadership."

"This demonstration is an important milestone in making true wireless broadband a reality," said Dr. Sanjay K. Jha, president of QUALCOMM CDMA Technologies. "QUALCOMM is pleased to be working with Option to drive HSDPA and HSUPA deployment for wireless users around the world."

Option announced its first HSDPA demonstrations at CeBIT 2005 and CTIA Wireless 2005 tradeshows. In September 2005 the company announced its worldwide unique "HSDPA-Ready" concept. In December 2005 Option was the first to demonstrate data cards working at 3.6 Mbps. Subsequently in January 2006 this year Cingular demonstrated Option's 3.6 HSDPA card live at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics show. In June 2006 the company announced its "7.2 Ready" product, the GlobeTrotter GT MAX, as a continuation of its HSDPA strategy. With today's announcement of the world's first HSUPA data call the company is further building on its leadership in cellular technologies.

By Robert Hoskins