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mobilkom austria nation' first provider to make full-coverage third generation mobile service available in Styria: A1 UMTS+EDGE

"Styria is the first province in which mobilkom austria can offer full-coverage access to third generation mobile communications. By intelligently complementing UMTS with EDGE carrier technology, we can now offer the residents of Styria the opportunity to use mobile high-speed multimedia services anywhere in Styria," explains Dr. Hannes Ametsreiter, Director of Marketing, Distribution and Customer Services for mobilkom austria. "Our crystal-clear voice quality is now joined by A1's high-speed 3G network." This makes mobilkom austria one of Europe's leading technology providers - as a study by Forrester Research confirms.

Because the combination of UMTS and EDGE represents significant added value for private and business users, the term UMTS+EDGE as been registered by mobilkom austria.
Styria's A1 SHOPS already offer mobiles capable of recognizing both UMTS and EDGE technologies: the Nokia 6630 and the Nokia 6680, available through retailers as of mid-May.

International A1 UMTS+EDGE Usage
The high transmission rates provided by the 3G carrier technology make use of even the most sophisticated and data-intensive applications possible throughout Austria, such as A1 NAVI, the complete satellite navigation system for the mobile phone. Through roaming agreements with numerous foreign operators, data services can be used abroad as well. Such agreements are also in place with mobilkom austria subsidiaries VIPnet in Croatia and Si.mobil in Slovenia, among others.

Full-Coverage Availability of A1 UMTS+EDGE this Summer
Early in 2005, mobilkom austria began its development of A1 UMTS+EDGE in the area south of Vienna, in Styria, and in the province of Salzburg. EDGE coverage in those regions is largely complete. Ametsreiter: "There is now nothing preventing the public from enjoying mobile access to the world of multimedia in this region. mobilkom austria will be offering optimal use of mobile high-speed multimedia services throughout Austria - meaning full-coverage - by the summer of 2005."
The key to A1's success is its leading know-how in the area of radio technology. "The intelligent combination of UMTS and EDGE basic technology makes new transmission facilities in rural areas unnecessary; existing base stations are simply upgraded," says Ametsreiter.

Ideal Start to a Strong Combination
A1 UMTS+EDGE makes optimal use of the respective advantages offered by both EDGE and UMTS. "This offer puts us in the lead in regard to quality, full coverage, and mobile high speed throughout Austria. The success of the 3G card in Austria has demonstrated the great demand for mobile data usage among customers. Now, with A1 UMTS+EDGE, we can offer an excellent response to this customer demand throughout Austria," explains Ametsreiter.

Above all, complementing UMTS with EDGE also makes economic sense. While UMTS today provides population coverage of 60%, the enhancement of the UMTS network through EDGE will make 95% population coverage possible - and that within a very short time. This makes A1 UMTS+EDGE the first and only nationwide high performance, third generation mobile communications network.