ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Motorola, Inc. (NYSE:MOT) today announced that the company has reached agreement with SOFTBANK Group for the deployment of a WiMAX (IEEE 802.16e-2005) trial network in Tokyo.

Motorola is supplying an end-to-end trial system including access points, an access network, and prototype WiMAX mobile handheld devices. The trial will enable SOFTBANK Group to assess the effectiveness of WiMAX as a wireless broadband technology, and its potential as an integrated part of SOFTBANK’s growing portfolio of telecommunications services.

SOFTBANK Group aims to offer seamless mobility to customers in Japan with its mobile communications, fixed-line telecommunications and fixed-line broadband services. The company acquired Vodafone K.K., which is the third largest mobile service operator in Japan, in April 2006. SOFTBANK Group currently has more than 26 million fixed-line and mobile communications customers in Japan.

Expected to begin in September 2006, the five-month trial will focus on performance of WiMAX in the 2.5GHz spectrum with regards to throughput and range, as well as the speed of network handovers between access points.

Motorola will be deploying five WiMAX access points and 25 prototype WiMAX mobile handheld devices. The trial will also showcase MIMO (multi-input, multi-output) capabilities of Motorola’s WiMAX solutions in supporting multi-antenna telecommunications systems as well as enabling greater data throughput and range. Motorola will also lend its wireless broadband expertise by providing technical support and consulting throughout the WiMAX trial.

Motorola Inc. (NYSE: MOT)

SoftBank Corp.