Novatel Wireless Modem Earns "Designed for Windows XP Logo"

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – December 12, 2002 – Novatel Wireless, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVTL), a provider of wireless data access solutions, today announced the Merlin C201 Wireless PC Card Modem meets the quality standards of Microsoft Corporation’s “Designed for Windows XP Logo” program. The Merlin C201 supported Microsoft Windows XP at launch and now has successfully passed the stringent compatibility and performance testing set forth in the Designed for Windows XP logo program to ensure a high-quality computing experience with the Windows XP operating system.

The Merlin C201 is a wireless PC card modem that operates on CDMA2000 1X networks including the enhanced Sprint Nationwide PCS Network. Featuring an embedded antenna to reduce the risk of breakage and repair costs, the Type II PC card provides access to email, corporate databases and the Internet at peak speeds of up to 144 kbps, with average speeds of 50 – 70 kbps. The Merlin C201 is also compatible with Microsoft Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows Millennium Edition operating systems, as well as Windows CE 3.0.

Having already garnered positive reviews in many leading publications such as Barron’s, The Wall Street Journal, and The USA Today, the Merlin C201 is widely available in North America throughout Novatel Wireless’ extensive distribution and reseller network, including CDW, Global Wireless Data, Ingram Micro, Tech Data and Trio Teknologies, to name a few. The card is also available through Sprint at Sprint Stores, Sprint business channels and the PCS Business SolutionsSM Program, third party retailers and online at www.sprintpcs.com. In addition, the Merlin C201 is also bundled with notebook computers from IBM and Toshiba and sold through their enterprise channels. According to the CDMA Development Group (CDG), there are already well over 55 million CDMA2000 1X users in North America, and that number is growing steadily.

"Microsoft is pleased that Novatel Wireless is developing wireless products that meet the standards of the Designed for Windows XP Logo Program," said Rogers Weed, Vice President of Windows Product Management at Microsoft. "Using Novatel Wireless' PC card modem with Windows offers customers very efficient access to email, corporate databases and the Internet, which is a great way to boost user and enterprise productivity."

“The Designed for Windows XP designation is an important acknowledgement that our wireless modem meets the highest performance standards for the most advanced PC operating system,” said Peter Leparulo, senior vice president, CDMA operations for Novatel Wireless. “It also allows our Merlin C201 PC card to be placed in the Windows Catalog of hardware devices, which will give our product even greater visibility and accessibility to worldwide computing customers.”

ABOUT NOVATEL WIRELESS, INC.

Novatel Wireless, Inc. is a leading provider of wireless data modems and software for use with handheld computing devices and portable personal computers. The Company delivers innovative and comprehensive solutions that enable businesses and consumers to access personal, corporate and public information through email, enterprise networks and the Internet. Novatel Wireless also offers wireless data modems and custom engineering services for hardware integration projects in a wide range of vertical applications. The Novatel Wireless product portfolio includes the Merlin Family of Wireless PC Card Modems, Expedite Family of Wireless Embedded Modems, Minstrel® Family of Wireless Handheld Modems, Lancer 3W Family of Ruggedized Modems and Sage® Wireless Serial Modems. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Novatel Wireless is listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq: NVTL). For more information, please visit the Novatel Wireless web site: www.novatelwireless.com or call 888-888-9231.

^© 2002 Novatel Wireless. All rights reserved. The Novatel Wireless logo, Minstrel, Merlin, Merlin C201, Sage, Lancer 3W and Expedite are trademarks of Novatel Wireless, Inc. Minstrel and Sage are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. 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.