Novatel Wireless and Siemens Complete 3.6Mbps Data Call on Tri-Band HSDPA PC Card Modem

SAN DIEGO & BERLIN, Jan 31, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Novatel Wireless, Inc. (Nasdaq:NVTL), a leading provider of wireless broadband access solutions, today announced it has developed the Merlin U870, a High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) PC Card Modem, to support the global rollout of HSDPA networks.

Novatel Wireless and Siemens have successfully completed their first 3.6Mbps (megabits per second) data call, a wireless link between a base station and a wireless modem. The test data call took place at Siemens' labs in Berlin, using the company's NodeB 880 base station and Novatel Wireless' Merlin U870.

The Merlin U870 is Novatel Wireless' second-generation HSDPA PC Card Modem, which provides accelerated HSDPA speeds of up to 3.6Mbps (megabits per second), compared to the industry's current 1.8Mbps. The product also works on the 800, 1900 and 2100 MHz HSDPA bands in North America and Europe, making it a global roaming card. The card is backward compatible with currently deployed data network technologies including UMTS, EDGE and GPRS.

"With the introduction of our second-generation tri-band HSDPA PC Card Modem and the successful completion of the first 3.6Mbps data call with Siemens, Novatel Wireless reconfirms its leadership position in the wireless broadband market worldwide," said Peter Leparulo, chief executive officer for Novatel Wireless. "With established partners like Siemens, and cutting-edge products, Novatel Wireless is continuing its focus on offering operators advanced end-to-end HSDPA solutions."

Novatel Wireless was first to commercialize UMTS PC cards both in Europe and North America. The company's Merlin PC data cards have been sold by 41 operators in 32 countries throughout Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and North America.

The Siemens Communications Group is one of the largest players in the global telecommunications industry. The company offers a full-line portfolio of innovative solutions for voice and data communication. Its comprehensive offerings range from devices right through to complex network infrastructures and services for wireless, fixed and enterprise networks. It is the largest Group within the Siemens organization and operates in more than 160 countries around the world. In fiscal 2005 (September 30), its 54,500-strong workforce posted sales of over 13 billion euros.

More about Siemens Communications at http://www.siemens.com/communications

Novatel Wireless, Inc. is a leading provider of wireless broadband access solutions. Novatel Wireless' Merlin(TM) PC Cards, Expedite(TM) Embedded Modems, Freedom Box(TM) Ruggedized Modems, MobiLink(TM) Communications Software Suite, Ovation(TM) 3G Multimedia Application Consoles and Conversa(TM) Software Suite enable high-speed wireless access to personal, corporate and public information. The company delivers innovative 3G solutions to operators, distributors and vertical markets worldwide. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Novatel Wireless is listed on NASDAQ: NVTL. For more information, visit www.novatelwireless.com. (NVTLG)

(C) 2006 Novatel Wireless. All rights reserved. The Novatel Wireless logo, Merlin, Expedite, Expedite EV620, Freedom Box, MobiLink, Ovation, and Conversa are trademarks of Novatel Wireless, Inc. Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

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, new product introductions, 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.

SOURCE: Novatel Wireless, Inc.

LEWIS PR
for Novatel Wireless
Aida Causevic/Katie Assar, +1-619-516-2559
[email protected]

Copyright Business Wire 2006

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