News
Issue #2002 - 39 (October 2002)
(Updated Oct. 15, 2002)

INFRASTRUCTURE, PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Bytemobile's Macara Platform Deployed by Orange UK and T-Mobile

Mountain View, California - October 15, 2002 - Bytemobile, the company dedicated to accelerating the growth of the wireless data market through significantly improving the user experience and operator efficiency, today announced that it has signed a software licensing and support services agreement which will see T-Mobile and Orange UK use its Macara platform. The Macara platform, an optimization service node (OSN), further increases the speed of Orange's GPRS services, significantly enhancing Internet access performance for customers.

"At Orange, we are seeking the best performance and services for our customers, and the Macara platform plays an important part in helping us deliver optimized services via GPRS," said Graham Baxter, head of Network Design at Orange.

Real-time improvement in mobile data delivery
The Macara platform further optimizes the delivery of applications and content such as web pages over wireless IP data networks, while improving overall network utilization. As a result of this optimization, Orange customers experience even faster application performance and web page downloads.

The Macara platform also incorporates advanced networking technology that enables carriers to build intelligence into their wireless data network. Additional services may include: subscriber service, enterprise support and advanced networking solutions.

According to analyst Mark Blowers of The Butler Group, "optimizing mobile networks today is critical for European carriers to succeed in the short-term and effectively position for 3G. Implementing technology that creates a 3G-quality end-user experience with current infrastructures drives wireless data adoption and revenues while at the same time reducing costs for the carriers."

"By deploying the Macara platform in their GPRS network, Orange will further maximize the use of its spectrum and network by regulating the flow of data," said Chris Jenkins, managing director for Bytemobile. "Orange is a key innovator in the mobile world. The selection of Bytemobile underscores Orange's customer commitment to provide the most advanced and highest quality service available."

About Bytemobile
Bytemobile's end-to-end solution is a unique suite of compression, acceleration and network connectivity technologies and services combined with IP packet networking, mobile cellular, applications and client device expertise. It allows mobile operators and enterprises to significantly improve the user experience and security of current and future wireless data networks. 

Announced customers include Vodafone UK, Nextel Communications and Sprint. The company is headquartered in Mountain View, California and with offices in East Sussex, England and Tokyo, Japan.

About Orange
Orange provides a broad range of personal communications services, including Orange GSM 1800 services and other digital cellular telephone services.

In August 2000 Orange plc was acquired by France Telecom, leading to the creation of Europe's second largest mobile operator. The new Orange has operations in 22 countries across Europe and beyond, and aims to have a presence in markets covering 1.5 billion people worldwide by 2005. § As at the end of June 2002, Orange had over 12.8 million customers in the UK, 18.6 million in France and approximately 41.4 million controlled customers worldwide. Orange UK now offers roaming in 123 countries on 274 networks.

About T-Mobile 
T-Mobile can operates the world's largest all GSM/GPRS network - Europe and USA.

For more information: www.orange.com

MobileInfo Comments and Advisory: Bytemobile's OSN (optimization Service Node) is a very desirable software that optimizes bandwidth utilization in IP networks. Earlier, carriers have been slow to accepting the need for this optimization because it ran against their strategy of selling more capacity. Now they have come to the stark realization that they need all the help that they can get to improve effective speed of 2.5G networks and perceived user experience. Better late than never. This is good news for the users, Bytemobile and the carriers. The company has received validation of its approach from major carriers. We fully support Bytemobile's effort in taking inefficiencies out of the wireless networks. The company should do well.

Note: This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Readers should take appropriate caution in developing plans utilizing these products, services and technology architectures.  All trademarks used in this summary are the property of their respective owners.