Austrian Mobile Users Surf at Top Speed With Globetrotter GT MAX

21 May 2006

Option N.V. (Euronext: OPTI; OPNVY), the wireless technology company, today announced that Hutchison 3G Austria or 3 (www.drei.com) has selected GlobeTrotter GT MAX as its new wireless broadband data card for the Austrian market, further completing the operator's 3G HSDPA/UMTS data offerings. The GT MAX, sold under the 3 brand and offering broadband data speeds up to 1.8 Mbps, features Option's unique integrated flip-out antenna design. Austrian mobile users will benefit from the fastest wireless connection available and anywhere - anytime access. GT MAX once inserted in a laptop may be operated by simply deploying the 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.

Hutchison 3G Austria is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hong Kong based Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. The company delivers third-generation mobile multimedia and communications services under the 3 brand in Austria, offering a convergence of media, information and telephony to enable live video calls, multimedia content and entertainment while on the move. As of March 2006 the company served more than 340.000 customers. 3 services are available from sister companies in Australia, UK, Denmark, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy and Sweden. 3 also hold UMTS licenses in Ireland and Norway. Option has currently been chosen by 4 operators within the Hutchison 3G group (Sweden, Denmark, UK and Austria).

The GlobeTrotter GT MAX supports HSDPA 1.8 Mbps and 3G UMTS as well as Quad band EDGE/GPRS connectivity. Hutchison 3G also selected Option's GlobeTrotter Mobility Manager, client connectivity software solution, enabling users to enjoy fast, simple and easy access to wireless data whilst hiding the complexity of the underlying wireless technologies from the user. GlobeTrotter Mobility Manager is also available with Option's Mobile IP solution "Unlimited Connection", enabling users to seamlessly roam between WWAN technologies such as 3G, 2G, and other local wireless and wired services such as WLAN/Wi-Fi, home or office Ethernet LAN connections. In this scenario the operator provided SIM (Subscriber Identification Module) is used for automated authentication and access with Option's inbuilt PC Smart Card and EAP-SIM technology.

About Option

Option NV (www.option.com), the wireless technology company, is a leading innovator in the design, development and manufacture of 3G WCDMA (HSDPA 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) and an ISO 9002 production engineering and logistics facility in Cork, Ireland.

About 3

Hutchison 3G Austria is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hutchison Whampoa Limited ("HWL"). Based in Hong Kong, HWL has been granted an UMTS license in November 2000 to operate third generation mobile services in Austria. In May 2003, Hutchison 3G Austria launched the first purely mobile multimedia in the Austrian market under the brand "3" and has already acquired the status of UMTS market leader with a total of 240,000 customers (as of March 2005). 3 is a convergence of telecommunication, internet and classic media, providing innovative multimedia products and services for mobile usage (e.g. video call, video clips, etc.) and conventional mobile communication services (e.g. voice calls, SMS, MMS).

For further information: please contact: Douglas Ros, Vice President Business Development & Marketing, Option, Tel +32(0)16-317-411, E-mail: d.ros@option.com; Frederic Convent, CFO Option, Tel + 32(0)16-317-411, E-mail: investor@option.com; Mag. Maritheres Paul, Company spokesperson Hutchison 3G, Austria, Tel.: +43(0)50660-33700, 3Mobile: +43(0)660-3773773, E-mail: maritheres.paul@drei.com

Source: newswire