Europe Germany : Option N.V. announced that Vodafone is the first operator in Germany to offer an HSUPA data card. The Option GlobeTrotter EXPRESS HSUPA data card, including the Cardbus-ExpressCard Converter, is customized to the exacting requirements of the operator and is branded by Vodafone in Germany as the “Mobile Connect Card Express UMTS Broadband” data card.

The GlobeTrotter EXPRESS HSUPA data card offers DSL-like performance with wireless downloads at speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps and uploads at up to the operator’s network speed of 1.45 Mbps. Measuring just 34 mm across, this future-proof, sleek and stylish device is the ideal connectivity tool for the mobile road warrior. Including Option’s compact Cardbus-ExpressCard Converter, Vodafone’s offer will enjoy an even broader appeal: the data card can be installed in laptops with PC Card and/or ExpressCard expansion slots.

Option announced its HSUPA product line, including data cards, USB wireless modems and embedded wireless modules, in February 2007 at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona. HSUPA increases the maximum uplink bandwidth, the top speed for data transmission from mobile communication devices to the network, from 384 kbps to up to 2 Mbps while offering downlink speeds up to 7.2Mbps. With HSUPA technology services such as live video shows, high-quality multi-media messaging, video sharing services, multimedia instant messaging, user created contents and mobile blogging “on the go” become a reality.

Part of Vodafone Group, the world’s largest international mobile operator, Vodafone Germany is headquartered in Duesseldorf, has about 30 million customers and an annual turnover exceeding 8 billion euros