Bouygues Telecom has selected Nortel as one of its suppliers for its national high-speed mobile internet and voice network. The advanced UMTS network, based on Nortel HSDPA technology, is being designed to provide customers in France with services such as high-quality live TV, high definition video on demand, MP3 streaming and multi-user mobile gaming when it goes live in early 2007. The new 5-year contract stipulates that Nortel is responsible for rolling out the network in 4 out of 6 of Bouygues Telecom’s operational regions in France; including the Western, South Western, Northeastern and Mediterranean regions.

“We have strong ties with Bouygues Telecom, having supplied their network from their first GSM implementation through to our EDGE solutions, and now we will help them take the important next step to 3.5G,” said Michel Clement, president of Southern Europe, Nortel. “Nortel’s HSDPA technology allows mobile operators to provide new real-time services that increase the end-user’s experience and helps build customer loyalty.”

Nortel is currently a key supplier of Bouygues’ EDGE and GPRS networks. The current infrastructure provides Bouygues Telecom with the appropriate foundation for the new network upgrade. It utilizes bandwidth more efficiently, which means it can relay cost-saving advantages to customers.

Nortel’s HSDPA solution can provide connectivity at speeds up to 7.2 Mbps. The company achieved the industry’s first HSDPA mobile call in January 2005. Nortel completed the first live test calls using a commercial handset solution for HSDPA in March 2005. In June 2005, Nortel became the first wireless network supplier to complete the TL9000 registration standard for Quality Management System Requirements and Measurements across its HSDPA, UMTS and GSM wireless infrastructure solutions.

In addition to Bouygues Telecom, Nortel has worked with a number of wireless operators on HSDPA deployments, including Orange France, Vodafone Spain in Barcelona (during 3GSM World Congress in February 2006), EDGE Wireless in the US, SKT and KTF in Korea, Partner Communications in Israel, and Mobilkom Austria.

Pantech Group announced ambitious plans to build market share and increase sales in France, one of Pantech’s strategic handset markets in Europe, through aggressive brand development initiatives and supply partnerships.

At a press conference today in Paris – the company’s first official engagement with the media in France – Pantech outlined its distribution and product launch strategies for the French market, along with details of its long term brand positioning plans. The company aims to become one of the top five most popular handset brands in France by the end of 2008.

Bells Kim, General Manager, Pantech France, said: “This is a critical market for Pantech, in terms of establishing our brand in Europe and creating increased customer awareness in key European countries. By supplying handsets through major operators, we can reinforce our market growth in France and support our brand development in other markets”.

Pantech already supplies phones to shops of SFR, the second largest mobile operator in France, and has just diversified its distribution channel through a partnership with another leading mobile operator, Bouygues TГ©lГ©com. Also, Pantech is in negotiations with other operators and open market distributors to increase its sales volume.

“The French have long been renowned for their sense of good taste across a vast range of areas, from clothing and apparel to cuisine and fine wines. We believe that our focus on advanced, stylish design and innovation means that we will be able to offer a genuinely �different’ option for mobile users in France,” said Mr. Kim.

Pantech plans to actively market its clamshell PG-3500 model in France. The slim, compact, attractively designed model, to be supplied to Bouygues TГ©lГ©com, has a range of fun multimedia applications, including a 1.3 mega pixel camera, MPEG4 camcorder, and MP3 player supported by an external memory. The phone also features wireless Bluetooth technology/USB function and JAVA technology.

Pantech also plans to launch a marketing campaign to enhance its brand image in France, which will include the launch of an elegant, attention grabbing billboard campaign. The company plans to have a neon sign of its logo in the core location of Peripherique, in Paris, to be lit from June 1, 2006.

By participating in the two recent premier European technology trade shows, CeBIT 2006 and the 3GSM World Congress 2006, Pantech showed its long term commitment to not only France but the entire European market.

PG-3500 features include:

Size & weight: 92.7 x 45 x 16.8 mm, 75g

Display: Main: 1.9” 260K TFT (size: 176 x 220 pixels)

Sub: 1.2” 65K TFT (size: 96×128 pixels)

Color: Black and silver

Camera:1.3 Mega pixel with a digital 4x zoom and a built-in flash

Memory: 512/128Mb (Micro SD card slot provided)

Video recording function

Music Player, 64 Polyphonic/MP3 ringtones

Bluetooth technology

SMS/MMS/E-mail