July 20, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: TUESDAY, JULY 20, 2004
MURRAY HILL, N.J., SAN DIEGO, CA. AND REDMOND, WASH. - Lucent Technologies (NYSE: LU) and Novatel Wireless, Inc. (NASDAQ: NVTL) today announced an agreement with AT&T Wireless (NYSE: AWE) to supply Merlin U520 third-generation (3G) Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Wireless PC Card Modems to support AT&T Wireless' 3G UMTS Network launch in key markets in North America. The cards will be available beginning today through AT&T Wireless' retail outlets and business sales channels in Detroit, Phoenix, San Francisco and Seattle.
Under the agreement, Lucent and Novatel Wireless will supply AT&T Wireless with Merlin U520 UMTS Wireless PC Card Modems -- jointly developed by Lucent and Novatel Wireless -- as well as connectivity software.
The Merlin U520 will enable AT&T Wireless to offer its consumer customers access to enhanced multi-media such as high quality streaming video and audio, music content, graphic intensive photos, gaming, and other multi-media applications at broadband speeds of up to 384 kilobits per second on AT&T Wireless' 3G UMTS network. Business customers will be able to access corporate networks and enterprise applications stored behind corporate firewalls, stay in touch with clients and remain productive while away from the office, ultimately providing companies with a critical competitive advantage.
"The Merlin U520 PC cards are a powerful tool that our business customers can use to take advantage of the high-speed data capabilities of our 3G UMTS networks," said Eric Updyke, vice president - 3G Program Management, AT&T Wireless. "This agreement will enable us to offer our customers a comprehensive range of 3G services to meet all of their business and personal communications needs."
"The Merlin U520 cards will enable AT&T Wireless to offer extremely fast mobile data services to their subscribers," said Mark Anderson, mobility sales vice president, Lucent Technologies. "These services are especially appealing to enterprise users and this collaboration will put AT&T Wireless in a strong position to take advantage of the attractive business market for 3G services."
"The deployment of the Merlin U520 with AT&T Wireless and Lucent is an important milestone in our effort to promote the rapid introduction of 3G UMTS services in North America and builds on similar agreements for the industry leading Merlin U530 recently announced in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region," said Peter Leparulo, CEO of Novatel Wireless. "We look forward to supporting AT&T Wireless on its commercial UMTS service rollout."
Lucent has conducted substantial primary research on the market for mobile high-speed data services, sponsoring a series of in-depth market studies that revealed substantial demand for 3G mobile data access among businesses, particularly for mobile office applications such as e-mails with data-heavy attachments, and corporate Intranet and Internet access.
Lucent and Novatel Wireless are the world's leading providers of 3G UMTS (W-CDMA) wireless PC Card modems to support mobile high-speed data services.
ABOUT AT&T WIRELESS
AT&T Wireless (NYSE: AWE) is the second-largest wireless carrier, based on revenues, in the United States. With 21.692 million subscribers as of March 31, 2004, and revenues of more than $16.8 billion over the past four quarters, AT&T Wireless delivers advanced high-quality mobile wireless communications services, voice and data, to businesses and consumers, in the U.S. and internationally.
ABOUT LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES
Lucent Technologies designs and delivers the systems, services and software that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, Lucent uses its strengths in mobility, optical, software, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for its customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Lucent's customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. For more information on Lucent Technologies, which has headquarters in Murray Hill, N.J., USA, visit www.lucent.com.
ABOUT NOVATEL WIRELESS, INC.
Novatel Wireless, Inc. is a leading provider of wireless broadband access solutions. Novatel Wireless' Merlin PC Cards, Expedite Embedded Modems, and Freedom Box Ruggedized Modems enable high-speed wireless access to personal, corporate and public information via portable computers, handheld devices and vertical market applications. The company delivers innovative 2.5G and 3G solutions to operators, distributors and vertical markets worldwide. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Novatel Wireless is listed on NASDAQ: NVTL.
©2004 Novatel Wireless. All rights reserved. The Novatel Wireless logo, Merlin, Merlin U520, Expedite, and Freedom Box, are trademarks of Novatel Wireless, Inc. All other brands, products and company names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective holders.
This release may contain forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended to date. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements contained herein. These factors include risks relating to technological changes, continued acceptance of Novatel Wireless' products and dependence on intellectual property rights. These factors, as well as other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, are discussed in more detail in Novatel Wireless' filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (available at www.sec.gov) and other regulatory agencies.