Exclusively developed for the Vodafone Group and its Partner Networks, the new ExpressCard is designed to achieve peak HSDPA download speeds of 7.2 Mbps with HSUPA uploads at up to 5.76 Mbps - depending on the network availability. This is the first commercial device in the market based on Qualcomm's state-of-the-art MSM7225 chipset.

The new ExpressCard offers the best combination of upload and download speeds available today, and uniquely, can support high speeds in downlink and uplink concurrently. Customers and network operators are demanding higher speeds for the improved user-experience when accessing social networks, posting content and videos to blogs and websites such as YouTube and Wikipedia, and using applications such as real-time location services.

The ExpressCard also sets a new benchmark by supporting HSDPA and HSUPA in the 900 MHz band. This extra band satisfies a growing need among mobile operators, especially in Europe and Australia, who are using the band to upgrade their legacy 2G networks to 3G in order to improve mobile broadband coverage in buildings and to extend the reach of their broadband offerings in rural areas.

"The development program for this new product was based on Option's long-standing relationship with the Vodafone Group. A stylish design is important for mass-market appeal, while the unprecedented growth of voice and data traffic in the 2100Mhz band is making HSPA support in the 900 MHz band a commercial imperative. Our new device is the first commercially available HSPA ExpressCard in the world to incorporate support for that 900Mhz band," said Jan Callewaert, CEO of Option.

Initial shipments have been delivered to Elisa, the Vodafone partner network in Finland and the world's first commercial 3G HSPA 900 MHz operator. Other operators within the Vodafone Group of Companies are also planning commercial roll-outs of the new device.

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