Trio Team on Security

PARIS -- Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE:ALA), a worldwide leader in telecommunications network equipment, applications and services, Birdstep Technology, a global provider of Mobile IP software client technology and Gemplus International S.A. (Euronext:LU0121706294 - GEM andNASDAQ: GEMP), the world's leading provider of smart card based solutions, announced today an alliance to jointly develop, promote and market the industry's most secure solution for seamless service continuity between GSM/GPRS/EDGE, UMTS or CDMA mobile networks and WLAN.This alliance will also apply to emerging technologies such as WiMAX.

This collaboration will enable users of laptops and PDAs to have an "always best connected" experience at any time, and to seamlessly profit from a smart card (SIM) based secure handover between heterogeneous access networks, ensuring the highest data rate, relying on a single subscription.

Alcatel will integrate the new Birdstep's intelligent Mobile IP client software into its EvoliumTM multi-access offering. This will enable seamless roaming across multiple access networks, with a smart card (SIM) enabled client software designed by Gemplus for secured wireless communications and transactions. This unique combination will provide mobile operators with the best of breed solution for secure mobile broadband service continuity.

All it requires is the client software to be installed on the end-users' Mobile/WLAN enabled laptop or PDA and the SIM card to be integrated in a PCMCIA card inside the laptop. In the near future, the SIM will be in a USB key plugged onto the PDA, or simply inside a BlueTooth-enabled handset. As soon as users pass by a WLAN hot spot, the intelligent client software automatically notifies the end-user of broadband services availability directly accessed in a totally transparent manner.

"The Birdstep Mobile IP client software has evolved to meet the demands of infrastructure vendors and other component vendors who want to provide seamless mobility with their solutions", commented Jørgen Bredesen, chief executive officer of Birdstep Technology. "By jointly creating end-to-end seamless solutions for operators, our alliance with Alcatel and Gemplus will provide a one-stop-shop for the market in need of secure seamless mobility."

"The Gemplus smart card authentication solution allows service providers to offer a totally reliable and convenient tool for accessing a network, WLAN, GPRS or even 3G, while providing the same user experience", declared Jacques Seneca, Executive Vice President, Gemplus Business Development Group. "The partnership with Alcatel and Birdstep establishes a consistent offer for providing a unique experience for seamless mobile data access via a laptop or a PDA."

"Alcatel's vision is to consider the end-user at the center of the mobile experience by offering solutions guaranteeing totally transparent access to services from any device, regardless of the access technology," stated Marc Rouanne, Chief Operating Officer of Alcatel's mobile activities. "Our alliance with Birdstep and Gemplus supports this strategy and allows us toprovide operators with new business opportunities based onthecomplementary interaction of their mobile networks today with WLAN, tomorrow with WiMAX."

Alcatel SA

Birdstep Technology ASA

Gemplus SA