Novatel Wireless Announces Approval of the Industry's First Wireless Broadband PCI ExpressCard(TM)

SAN DIEGO, Jun 19, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Novatel Wireless, Inc. (Nasdaq:NVTL), a leading provider of wireless broadband access solutions, today announced it has received compliance approval on its Merlin(TM) ExpressCard(TM) XV620 from PCMCIA, a leading technology trade association for the ExpressCard(TM) and PC Card(TM) standards. This ExpressCard is the first PCI ExpressCard/34 solution available on the market that incorporates EV-DO technology (backward compatible with CDMA legacy technology) offering connection speeds to the Internet of up to 2.4 Mbps (megabits per second).

Novatel Wireless' new ExpressCard products address an urgent need presented by the mobile computing market. Many notebook manufacturers have commercially available products that incorporate a slot for this new standard, and many other manufacturers will soon be releasing notebooks that offer this slot. The ExpressCard standard is the next generation of PC card technology which allows notebook computer users to add new hardware capabilities

The solution meets the power and performance requirements of the ExpressCard module specification. The PCMCIA working group developed the next-generation ExpressCard specification to take advantage of the scalable, high-bandwidth serial PCI Express interface and USB 2.0 interface found on today's PCs.

Compliant systems and modules earn the right to display the ExpressCard logo that specifies the product is interoperable with other ExpressCard products and offers features such as plug'n'play installation and auto-configuration.

"Having a compliant ExpressCard/34 wireless WAN (WWAN) solution available is a significant achievement for today's notebook users," said Brad Saunders, chairman, PCMCIA. "Leading notebook developers have quickly incorporated ExpressCard slots into a broad range of their notebook products. Consumers have been pushing developers to deliver ExpressCard modules that offer wireless and other capabilities that leverage the performance enhancements offered by this new standard. We are excited that Novatel Wireless took an aggressive lead in bringing to the market the first compliant ExpressCard/34 WWAN module that proudly displays the ExpressCard logo, an energetic orange rabbit."

ABOUT NOVATEL WIRELESS

Novatel Wireless, Inc. is revolutionizing wireless communications. The company is a leader in the design and development of innovative wireless broadband access solutions based on 3G W CDMA (HSDPA & UMTS), CDMA and GSM technologies. Novatel Wireless' Merlin(TM) PC Cards, Expedite(R) Embedded Modules, MobiLink(TM) Communications Software Suite, Ovation(TM) 3G Multimedia Application Consoles and Conversa(TM) Software Suite enable high-speed wireless access. The company delivers innovative 3G solutions to operators, distributors and vertical markets worldwide. Headquartered in San Diego, 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.

For Novatel Wireless, Inc.
Aida Causevic/Noah Dye, 619-516-2559
[email protected]

Copyright Business Wire 2006

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