A new research center for the development of high-tech mobile communications and next-generation services and applications has opened at the University of Glamorgan in Wales in partnership with mobile operator Orange. The Wireless Application and Visualisation laboratory is thought to be the only one of its kind to be based at a European university. Part of the university’s Faculty of Advanced Technology, the lab contains two facilities: The Next Generation Wireless Application and Service Creation Facility and the Visualisation Facility. The lab is also supported by France Telecom's R&D UK Ltd., a major technical recruiter in the region, and other industrial partners. Also now open is the Agilent Technologies Photonics Research Lab, which will enable advanced laser and photonics research for integrating photonic technology into wireless communications for the health and security markets. The lab is member of an international "virtual center" that includes the Centre of Excellence of Microphotonics Systems in Australia and research centers in Korea.