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Nortel and BB Mobile, a SOFTBANK Group company, have achieved a second wireless industry milestone with what is believed to be the world's first seamless handoff of voice and data services between a third generation (3G) cellular network operating on the 1.7 GHz radio frequency band and a wireless local area network (LAN).

The test calls, completed on a live Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) 3G cellular network and an 802.11 wireless LAN, signal a new level of freedom, access and mobility for mobile phone users.

Without interruption and using a single device, users will now be able to roam securely between 3G wireless networks and Wi-Fi networks or wireless LANs while browsing the Internet, sending and receiving e-mails, downloading files, and performing other high-speed wireless broadband voice and data services. This seamless mobility is enabled by intelligence built into the network by Nortel.

Setting a new benchmark in convergence, this real-world field test builds on another wireless data transmission success by Nortel and BB Mobile earlier this month. The previous trial achieved Japan's first 14.4 million bits per second (Mbps) wireless data transmission using the 1.7 GHz radio frequency band for mobile communications and Nortel's high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) technology to deliver speeds 30 times faster than commercially deployed networks using UMTS.

"This second demonstration with BB Mobile is an important step in meeting the demand for ubiquitous wireless broadband voice and data services regardless of network or device," said Peter MacKinnon, president GSM/UMTS, Nortel. "The success of the field trials also reinforces Nortel's commitment to working with service providers to develop and deliver high-quality wireless broadband solutions that enhance subscribers' communications experience and increase operator revenue potential."

"The results of these tests with BB Mobile also highlight the level of technological innovation we will continue to bring to Japan?s wireless industry to help drive network convergence and bridge the gap between wireline and wireless 3G networks." said Nick Vreugdenhil, country manager, Japan, Nortel.

Both BB Mobile trials were held in Japan's Tokyo and Saitama prefecture using a live UMTS network at 1.7GHz with Nortel's core network and access network including base stations. The HSDPA tests were conducted after a trial license for W-CDMA at 1.7GHz spectrum was issued by Japan's telecommunications regulator on May 30, 2005.

Nortel recently announced that it has become the first wireless networks supplier to successfully complete a TL 9000 consolidation registration across an end-to-end portfolio of hardware, software and services for HSDPA, UMTS and GSM wireless infrastructure solutions.

Nortel has designed, installed and launched more than 300 wireless networks in over 70 countries. Nortel was the first supplier with wireless networks operating in all advanced radio technologies, and is the only end-to-end provider of all next generation wireless solutions.