Vodafone looking at alternative high-speed mobile data system

May 10, 2004

Flarion Technologies, the architect of the FLASH-OFDM wireless broadband system and Vodafone KK in Japan announced it will conduct a technology trial of Flarion's system for mobile broadband services.

"Vodafone undertakes technical trials of emerging technologies to ensure we are well positioned to drive future research into mobile system solutions. Such programmes also enable Vodafone to respond quickly to commercial opportunities with specific market requirements should the need arise," said Professor Michael Walker, Vodafone Group Research and Development Director.

The mobile broadband trial will start in mid 2004 and will cover metropolitan areas of Tokyo. Vodafone will conduct field tests of Flarion's system performance, user mobility, subscriber scalability, robustness, and transparent delivery of enterprise and consumer applications over an end-to-end IP network infrastructure. The trial will use Flarion's commercially available FLASH-OFDM PC card modems for laptops and PDAs to field test broadband Internet access, enterprise productivity applications, as well as gaming.

"Flarion is very excited to be working with one of the world's foremost leaders in mobile services," said Ray Dolan, chairman and CEO of Flarion Technologies. "With Vodafone, Flarion will earn valuable customer and field experiences that may benefit commercial customers in the near future."

With Flarion's IP friendly FLASH-OFDM technology, mobile operators can seamlessly connect corporate LANs with a wireless Wide Area Network with the speed and low packet latency that should exceed stringent corporate network requirements. With FLASH-OFDM, users do not need to make any modifications to user settings, applications, protocols, content or devices to experience mobile broadband with cellular coverage.