Europe Belguim : Option N.V. announced that it has marked a major milestone with the United States Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) final approval of the first High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA) data card: the GlobeTrotter EXPRESS HSUPA. The technical certification of the FCC is mandatory for use on HSUPA networks in the U.S. Following this approval, the wireless broadband data card is now ready to be commercialised in U.S. markets.

The GlobeTrotter Express HSUPA data card is based on QUALCOMM’s Mobile Station Modemtm MSM7200tm product, the first chipset to enable HSUPA. The increased data rates, in both downlink and now uplink modes, offered by HSUPA will enrich mobile broadband access to offer diverse services such as live video streaming, video-sharing services, sending and receiving email with large attachments, user-created content and blogging.

The GlobeTrotter EXPRESS HSUPA packs advanced data communication capabilities into the slim-line ExpressCard compatible with the 34 mm expansion slots increasingly found on the latest laptops. Incorporating triple-band HSPA and UMTS, the data card is designed to achieve peak HSDPA down¬load speeds of 7.2 Mbps and HSUPA upload rates approaching 2 Mbps. Back¬ward compatibility ensures HSDPA connections at lower data rates of 3.6 Mbps and 1.8 Mbps with upload speeds up to 384 Kbps. The data card also has inherent support for tri-band UMTS operation at 384 Kbps as well as quad-band EDGE and GPRS for worldwide connectivity.

To promote the efficient use of the radio spectrum in U.S. markets, the FCC has developed technical standards for devices that are capable of emitting radiofrequency energy when in use, including such as wireless broadband data cards. These products, which including Option’s GlobeTrotter EXPRESS HSUPA, need to receive FCC identification numbers in accordance with the Commission Equipment Authorization rules prior to marketing in US markets. This FCC certification is similar to the CE certificate for the European markets.