Birdstep Technology ASA, the leading provider of seamless connectivity and mobility software for laptop, PDAs and smartphones today launched SmartConnect, a unique application that automatically chooses the best available network for mobile phones equipped with WiFi/WLAN and 3G, giving users an easy way to utilize WiFi/WLAN/3G to connect to the internet.

Recent research has shown that there are a number of challenges that users face when trying to connect a dual radio device to the internet. The user interface is not always intuitive; the multitude of networks makes it difficult to select the best connection and change it when moving around.

Birdstep's SmartConnect addresses all of these issues; the client ensures that the user is always connected to the best available network with the minimum of user intervention. In addition, the unique support for 3rd party VPN modules ensures that corporate data can be accessed without compromising security or ease of use. Finally, the intelligent hotspot login module enables smartphone users to automatically login to the WiFi/WLAN hotspots they have subscribed to.

"SmartConnect has been developed based on end-user feedback and Birdstep's long, solid experience helping users to connect their laptops to the internet over wireless networks. The launch of SmartConnect demonstrates Birdstep's market leading position in seamless connectivity and mobility solutions" said Petri Markkanen, CEO at Birdstep.

Some SmartConnect highlights are:

• Intelligent WiFi Login Module
• WISP-r and HTTP based login
• Supports customized modules for network operators
• SIM and Device Locks - The SmartConnect client can be locked in the following ways:
• To only operate with a specific operator's SIM cards
• To only operate on a specific type or brand of device
• Seamless Mobility - The SmartConnect client has a built-in optional SmartRoaming client that enables seamless mobility, providing session persistency:
• Compliant with IETF Mobile IP standards
• IOT with major HA vendors (Cisco, Nortel, Nokia networks, etc)
• Supports NAT traversal and is compatible with all leading VPN solutions
• Diagnostics - The SmartConnect client includes a control interface for network diagnostics

The SmartConnect product is generally available from the Nokia Download Catalogue from the 12th of February 2007 and will be demonstrated at the 3GSM World in Barcelona on the newly launched Nokia Eseries and Nseries phones.

About Birdstep (www.birdstep.com)

Birdstep Technology ASA is a public company listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE) under the ticker 'BIRD'. The company is headquartered in Oslo, Norway with four wholly-owned subsidiaries: Birdstep AB in Sweden, Birdstep Technology Inc. in Seattle, US, Birdstep Technology in San Francisco, US and Birdstep Technology Ltd in Cambridge, UK.

Birdstep Technology is a global software development, marketing and sales company offering seamless connectivity and mobility client software for mobile data users on laptops, Pocket PCs and smartphones, as well as state of the art embedded database technologies.

Birdstep has an installed base at more than 40 operators globally including T-mobile Group, Vodafone Group, Orange, TIM, Turkcell, TMN, Sprint, KPN, E-plus, Telenor and TeliaSonera. The company also cooperates with global partners such as Nokia, SonyEricsson, Cisco, Ericsson, Nortel Networks, HP and Fujitsu Siemens Computers.